Taxotere Side Effects: What to Expect & Manage

In some clinical studies, Taxotere chemotherapy treatment--which is administered to cancer patients intravenously usually every three weeks--has been shown to slow the growth of cancer, shrink cancerous tumors and give patients a better chance at extending their life. Taxotere treatment, though, does come with side effects.

Drop in White and Red Blood Cells

• Treatment can drop level of red and white blood cells

  Taxotere treatment can cause a temporary drop in red and white blood cells in some patients. During this time, patients are more susceptible to infections.

Risk of Diarrhea

• Diarrhea is a common side effect of Taxotere

  Some patients experience sometimes severe diarrhea after receiving Taxotere treatment.

Vomiting Common

• Many patients report feeling nauseous

  Many patients report feeling nauseous and vomiting after their treatments.

Hair Loss

• Hair loss is another common side effect

  Many patients also lose hair. This can include head, pubic, underarm, eyebrow and eyelash hair.

Fatigue Not Uncommon

• Patients are frequently fatigued after treatment

  Patients receiving Taxotere chemotherapy often feel severely fatigued after their treatments. Others experience muscle and bone pain.