Taxotere^®

Taxotere^® is a cancer medicine that slows the growth and spreading of cancer cells in the body. It fights cancerous cells by attacking their supporting structure (or "skeleton"), interfering with their ability to multiply.

Taxotere^® is currently the only chemotherapy drug in the United States indicated for treatment of five different types of cancer: breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, gastric cancer, and certain forms of head and neck cancer.

Taxotere^® is given intravenously (IV), into the vein. Treatment takes about one hour, and patients usually receive treatments every three weeks. However, your integrative care team at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) will ultimately determine the appropriate schedule for your treatment needs. You may also be prescribed other drugs along with Taxotere^®, to help reduce side effects or improve treatment effectiveness.

At CTCA, you are educated about and involved in all decisions regarding chemotherapy treatment with Taxotere^®. We will also help you evaluate alternative and complementary therapies designed to reduce treatment side effects.

To learn how our integrative approach makes CTCA different, chat now with an Oncology Information Specialist.

Chemotherapy treatment with Taxotere^® will affect each patient differently, based on his or her age and state of health, as well as the type of cancer, prescribed dosage and treatment schedule.

Because Taxotere^® is often used in conjunction with other chemotherapy drugs, side effects experienced could also be related to those other drugs. Possible side effects of Taxotere^® may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Drop in number of white and red blood cells
• Allergic reactions (chest tightness, itching or a warm sensation)
• Fluid retention
• Diarrhea
• Nausea/vomiting
• Chemotherapy hair loss
• Chemotherapy fatigue
• Muscle pain and bone pain
• Blotchy rash
• Nail changes (color changes or nail loss)
• Eye changes (frequent tearing)
• Numbness, tingling or burning sensations in the hands and feet
• Increased risk of infection
• Mouth and throat irritation
• Infusion site reaction (irritation around site of IV)

It is important to communicate with your care team at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) any or all site effects you experience as a result of taking Taxotere^® for cancer treatment, regardless of how serious and/or how mild they may seem.

At CTCA, we offer many complementary and alternative therapies that may not only reduce side effects of chemotherapy, but that can help increase the treatment effectiveness by strengthening your body and immune system.

Taxotere^® is currently the only anticancer drug in the U.S. indicated for treatment of five different types of cancer.

• Taxotere^® can be used as a chemotherapy drug to help treat breast cancer in several different stages.
• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Taxotere^® is indicated for first-line treatment of NSCLC along with cisplatin (a platinum-based chemotherapy drug), or as a second-line treatment of NSCLC after a platinum-based therapy.
• Used in combination with the drug prednisone, Taxotere^® has been shown to prolong the lives of men with androgen-independent (hormone-refractory) metastatic prostate cancer.
• Used in combination with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (also called 5-FU), Taxotere^® can help prolong the lives of patients with gastric (stomach) cancer and cancer of the gastroesophageal (GE) junction.
• Used combination with cisplatin and fluorouracil, Taxotere^® is indicated for the induction treatment of patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.