Treatment

I have bone cancer for over a year which came from breast cancer.  Last year I had radiation and was put on harmone treatment.  Cancer was in remission until November when it came back. I was then put on chemo Taxol but changed to Taxotere which I took for 6 months.  I just had a catscan and bone scan.  The catscan showed fluid in my lungs which I am going to a specialist for.  My oncologist is going to put me on a harmone known a faslodex.  I would like to know if you think the fluid in the lungs may be a sympton of the taxotere and if faslodex is the way to go.  I am going to a heart doctor and pulmonary doctor for the fluid.  Thank you for your response.

[Dr Vinod]

For your information Taxotere causes fluid retention and it consists of a drug called Docetaxel.
Fluid retention means your body is holding extra water. If this fluid retention is in the chest or around the heart, it can be life threatening. If you notice swelling in the feet and legs or slight weight gain, these may be the first warning signs of fluid retention.

Fluid retention usually does not start immediately with Docetaxel treatment. If it occurs, it may start around your fifth treatment. Generally fluid retention should have  gone within weeks or months after you stopped your treatments, as in majority of cases.

Your doctor would have prescribed a medication called dexamethasone to help protect you from significant fluid retention. It is important that you take this medication as prescribed. If  you did not take it as prescribed, it is important you should have told your doctor when you had Taxotere treatment.

Now your oncologist has put you on faslodex and it is always good to follow your clinician as he knows the best about you and your treatment.

Take care!