Taxotere infusion contains the active ingredient docetaxel, which is an anti-cancer medicine known as a 'taxane'. Docetaxel is derived from a compound extracted from the needles of yew trees.
Cancers form when some cells within the body multiply uncontrollably and abnormally. These cells then spread and destroy nearby tissues. Docetaxel works by stopping the cancer cells from dividing and multiplying. This kills the cancer cells and stops the cancer growing.
Unfortunately, docetaxel also affects normal, healthy cells, particularly those that multiply quickly such as blood cells. The most important side effect is on the bone marrow where blood cells are made. Docetaxel can decrease the production of blood cells, leaving people susceptible to infection. Regular blood tests are therefore needed to monitor levels of blood cells.
Docetaxel is usually given in hospital every three weeks as a one hour drip into a vein (intravenous infusion). Some people may be prescribed a short course of corticosteroids to be taken by mouth for three days, starting one day before the infusion. This is to reduce the chance of experiencing allergic reactions to the medicine or the severity of any reactions. The aim of the treatment is to progressively shrink the cancer over several cycles of chemotherapy, allowing normal, healthy cells to recover in between.
Docetaxel is used for the treatment of advanced breast cancer or breast cancer that has spread to other areas of the body (metastatic breast cancer). In people who have not previously received chemotherapy for the disease it is licensed for use as first line treatment in combination with another chemotherapy medicine called doxorubicin. In people who have previously had unsuccessful treatment with chemotherapy containing an anthracycline medicine, such as doxorubicin, or an alkylating agent, such as cyclophosphamide, it is licensed as a second-line treatment used either on its own, or in combination with another chemotherapy medicine called capecitabine. It may also be used in combination with trastuzumab for metastatic breast cancer where the tumour cells are said to be HER2 positive.
Docetaxel can also be used to treat early breast cancer involving the lymph nodes. In this case it is used in combination with the chemotherapy medicines cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin.
Docetaxel is also used to treat non-small cell lung cancer that is advanced or has spread to other areas of the body (metastatic lung cancer).
It is licensed as a first-line treatment in combination with cisplatin, and as a second-line treatment if previous chemotherapy has been unsuccessful.
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Prostate cancer.
Docetaxel is licensed to treat prostate cancer that has spread to other areas of the body and is not responding to hormone treatment. For prostate cancer, it is used in combination with the corticosteroid prednisone or prednisolone.
Docetaxel is used in combination with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil to treat stomach cancer that has spread to other areas of the body.
- Head and neck cancer.
Docetaxel is used in combination with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil to treat advanced head and neck cancer that is not suitable for surgery.
Warning!
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- Chemotherapy medicines can decrease the number of blood cells in your blood. A low white blood cell count can increase your susceptibility to infections; a low red blood cell count causes anaemia and a low platelet count can cause problems with blood clotting. For this reason, you will need regular blood tests to monitor your blood cells during treatment with this medicine.
- Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms during your treatment, as they may indicate problems with your blood cells: unexplained bruising or bleeding, purple spots, sore throat, mouth ulcers, high temperature (fever) or other signs of infection, or suddenly feeling tired or generally unwell.
- While receiving treatment with this medicine you will also need regular blood tests to monitor your liver function.
- This medicine may be harmful to a developing foetus. Effective contraception should be used by women to avoid pregnancy and by men to avoid fathering a child. Contraception should be used both during treatment and for three months after treatment is finished.
- Your ability to become pregnant or father a child may be affected by treatment with this medicine. It is important to discuss fertility with your doctor before starting treatment.
- The manufacturer of this medicine has not studied its safety and effectiveness in children. It is not recommended for children.
Use with caution in
- Decreased liver function
- Severe fluid retention.
Not to be used in
- Low levels of a type of white blood cell (neutrophils) in the blood (neutropenia)
- Severely decreased liver function
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Pregnancy
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Breastfeeding.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby.
Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- This medicine must not be used in pregnancy as it may be harmful to an unborn baby. Men receiving this medicine should use effective contraception to prevent fathering a child, and women receiving this medicine should use effective contraception to prevent becoming pregnant, both during treatment, and for three months after treatment is finished. If you get pregnant during treatment seek medical advice from your doctor immediately.
- It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. Mothers who need treatment with this medicine should not breastfeed. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Side effects
. Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
- Decreased production of blood cells by the bone marrow (bone marrow suppression)
- Decrease in the number of white blood cells called neutrophils in the blood (neutropenia)
- Fever (pyrexia)
- Increased susceptibility to infections
- Decrease in the number of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia)
- Low red blood cell count (anaemia)
- Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
- Inflammation of the lining of the mouth (stomatitis)
- Alteration in taste
- Loss of appetite
- Hypersensitivity reactions to the infusion, eg flushing, rash, itching, chest tightness, back pain, shortness of breath, fever, chills, or more severe reactions such as a drop in blood pressure, narrowing of the airways or widespread rash or reddening of the skin.
- Soreness and redness of the palms of hands and soles of feet (hand-foot or palmar-plantar syndrome)
- Change in the colour of nails
- Hair loss (alopecia)
- Retention of water in the body tissues (fluid retention)
- Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias)
- Disorder of the peripheral nerves causing weakness and numbness (peripheral neuropathy)
- Weakness or loss of strength (asthenia)
- Pain in the muscles and joints
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
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