TPF is a combination of chemotherapy drugs that includes docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil. It is a treatment for head and neck cancer.
What is TPF?
TPF is a combination of chemotherapy drugs that includes:
- docetaxel (also known by the name Taxotere)
- cisplatin
- fluorouracil (5FU)
It is a treatment for head and neck cancer.
How does TPF work?
These chemotherapy drugs destroy quickly dividing cells, such as cancer cells.
How do you have TPF?
You have all 3 drugs as a drip into your bloodstream (intravenously).
Drugs into your bloodstream
You might have treatment through a long plastic tube that goes into a large vein in your chest. The tube stays in place throughout the course of treatment. This can be a:
- central line
- PICC line
- portacath
If you don't have a central line
You might have treatment through a thin short tube (a cannula) that goes into a vein in your arm. You have a new cannula each time you have treatment.
How often do you have TPF?
You usually have TPF chemotherapy as cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next.
Each cycle is 21 days (3 weeks). You have up to 4 cycles, taking up to 12 weeks in total.
This treatment is often followed by a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy (chemoradiotherapy). You usually have each treatment cycle in the following way:
- You have docetaxel as a drip into your bloodstream over 1 hour.
- You have cisplatin as a drip into your bloodstream over 1 to 2 hours.
- You have fluorouracil as a continuous drip (infusion) through an infuser or pump into the bloodstream for 96 hours.
- You continue to have fluorouracil as an infusion.
- Fluorouracil is disconnected.
- You have no treatment.
Then you start the cycle again.
You may stay in hospital (inpatient) to have TPF for 4 or 5 nights. In some hospitals you might have it as an outpatient.
Tests
You have blood tests before and during your treatment. They check your levels of blood cells and other substances in the blood. They also check how well your liver and kidneys are working.
What are the side effects of TPF?
How often and how severe the side effects are can vary from person to person. They also depend on what other treatments you're having.
When to contact your team
Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will go through the possible side effects. They will monitor you during treatment and check how you are at your appointments. Contact your advice line as soon as possible if:
- you have severe side effects
- your side effects aren’t getting any better
- your side effects are getting worse
Early treatment can help manage side effects better.
We haven't listed all the side effects here. Remember it is very unlikely that you will have all of these side effects. But you might have some of them at the same time.
Common side effects
These side effects happen in more than 10 in 100 people (more than 10%). You might have one or more of them. They include:
Increased risk of getting an infection
Increased risk of getting an infection
is due to a drop in white blood cells. Symptoms include a change in temperature, aching muscles, headaches, feeling cold and shivery and generally unwell. You might have other symptoms depending on where the infection is.Infections can sometimes be life threatening. You should contact your advice line urgently if you think you have an infection.
Breathlessness
You might be
breathless and look pale
due to a drop in red blood cells. This is called anaemia.Breathing problems
You might have a sudden feeling of tightness in your chest, difficulty catching your breath, wheezing and a cough. This is caused by spasms in the muscles of your airways. Contact your healthcare advice line or tell your doctor.
Bruising, bleeding gums or nosebleeds
This is due to a
drop in the number of platelets in your blood
. These blood cells help the blood to clot when we cut ourselves. You may have nosebleeds or bleeding gums after brushing your teeth. Or you may have lots of tiny red spots or bruises on your arms or legs (known as petechiae).Feeling or being sick
Feeling or being sick
is usually well controlled with anti sickness medicines. Avoiding fatty or fried foods, try eating small meals and snacks, drinking plenty of water, and relaxation techniques can all help.It is important to take anti sickness medicines as prescribed even if you don’t feel sick. It is easier to prevent sickness rather than treat it once it has started.
Hair loss
You could
lose all your hair
. This includes your eyelashes, eyebrows, underarms, legs and sometimes pubic hair. Your hair will usually grow back once treatment has finished but it is likely to be softer. It may grow back a different colour or be curlier than before. Some people may have permanent hair loss although this is rare.Soreness of inflammation of the digestive tract
Soreness or inflammation can happen in any part of your gastrointestinal tract. It includes the mouth, stomach, large and small intestines, and the back passage (rectum).
This might cause difficulty and pain with swallowing because of inflammation of the food pipe (oesophagus) or if you have a very sore mouth and throat.
Your might have tummy (abdominal) pain, sore back passage or pass blood if the lower part of your digestive tract is affected.
Let your nurse and doctor know if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, so they can give you medicines to help.
Fatigue
Tiredness and weakness (fatigue)
can happen during and after treatment. Doing gentle exercises each day can keep your energy up. Don't push yourself, rest when you start to feel tired and ask others for help.Diarrhoea or constipation
Tell your healthcare team if you have
diarrhoea or constipation
. They can give you medicine to help.Loss of appetite
You might
lose your appetite
for various reasons while having cancer treatment. Sickness, taste changes or tiredness can put you off food and drinks.Skin changes
Skin problems includes itching, and less commonly a rash or dry skin.
Rarely, you might have patches of discolouration on the skin, irritation such as cracked or broken skin, and sensitivity to sunlight. You might also have peeling or shedding.
Taste changes
Taste changes
may make you go off certain foods and drinks. You may also find that some foods taste different from usual or that you prefer to eat spicier foods. Your taste gradually returns to normal a few weeks after your treatment finishes.Soreness, redness or peeling on palms or soles of the feet
The
skin on your hands and feet may become sore, red, or may peel
. You may also have tingling, numbness, pain and dryness. This is called hand-foot syndrome or palmar plantar syndrome.Moisturise your skin regularly. Your healthcare team will tell you what moisturiser to use.
Hearing changes
You might have some hearing loss, especially with high pitched sounds. You might also have some ringing in your ears (tinnitus). Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice any changes.
Fluid build up
You may have swelling of your hands, feet and legs due to a build up of fluid (oedema).
Numbness or tingling in fingers or toes
Numbness or tingling in fingers or toes
is often temporary and can improve after you finish treatment. Tell your healthcare team if you're finding it difficult to walk or complete fiddly tasks such as doing up buttons.Heart problems
This might be a change in heart rate or rhythm (arrythmia) or less commonly chest pain.
Rarely you might have an enlargement of the heart (called cardiomyopathy), changes to the heart muscle or a heart attack.
Feeling generally unwell
You might feel weak and generally unwell. This is called malaise.
Low sodium levels in the blood
You will have regular blood tests to check for this.
Rarely, you might have low levels of magnesium in the blood.
Weight loss
You might lose weight. It is important to eat as much as you can. Eating several small meals and snacks throughout the day can be easier to manage. You can talk to a dietitian if you are concerned about your weight loss.
Changes to your sense of smell
Talk to your team about this.
Occasional side effects
These side effects happen in between 1 and 10 out of every 100 people (between 1 and 10%). You might have one or more of them. They include:
- blood clots that can be life threatening; signs are pain, redness and swelling where the clot is. Feeling breathless can be a sign of a blood clot in the lung. Contact your advice line or doctor straight away if you have any of these symptoms
- an allergic reaction can happen during the first or second treatment – let your nurse know if you have flushing, itching, dizziness or breathing difficulties
- dizziness- don’t drive or operate machinery if you are dizzy
- eye problems such as excessive tears, or inflammation of the part of the eye called the conjunctiva (called conjunctivitis). Rarely you might have rapid involuntary eye movements
- indigestion, symptoms include heartburn, bloating and burping
- dark poo – this might be caused by bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract
- pain in different parts of the body such as in your muscles, tummy (abdomen) and at the site of your cancer
- weight gain
- nail problems such as change in colour, pain and thickening of the nail bed, or a skin infection around the nails
Rare side effects
These side effects happen in fewer than 1 in 100 people (less than 1%). You might have one or more of them. They include:
- a second cancer (such as leukaemia) some time after finishing treatment
- headaches
- being very drowsy
- low blood pressure
- ulcers along the digestive tract
- intense feeling of happiness or excitement (euphoria)
- weakness in your legs or an increase in the muscle tone of your legs and feet causing them to be stiff
- symptoms of Parkinson’s disease such as tremor, slower movements, or memory problems
Coping with side effects
We have more information about side effects and tips on how to cope with them.
What else do I need to know?
Low levels of DPD
Between 2 and 8 out of 100 people (2 to 8%) have low levels of an enzyme called dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) in their bodies. A lack of DPD can mean you’re more likely to have severe side effects from capecitabine or fluorouracil. It might take you a bit longer to recover from the chemotherapy. These side effects can rarely be life threatening.
Before starting treatment with capecitabine or fluorouracil you have a blood test to check levels of DPD. So you may start treatment with a lower amount (dose) of the drug or have a different treatment. Your doctor or nurse will talk to you about this.
Other medicines, foods and drink
Cancer drugs can interact with some other medicines and herbal products. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any medicines you are taking. This includes vitamins, herbal supplements and over the counter remedies.
Sodium
Fluorouracil and cisplatin contain sodium (salt). You might need to take account of this if you are on a controlled sodium diet. Tell your doctor if you are on a low salt diet.
Pregnancy and contraception
This treatment might harm a baby developing in the womb. It is important not to become pregnant or father a child while you're having treatment and for 6 months afterwards. Talk to your doctor or nurse about effective contraception before starting treatment.
Loss of fertility
You may not be able to become pregnant or father a child after treatment with these drugs. Talk to your doctor before starting treatment if you think you may want to have a baby in the future.
Men might be able to store sperm before starting treatment. And women might be able to store eggs or ovarian tissue. But these services are not available in every hospital, so you would need to ask your doctor about this.
Breastfeeding
Don’t breastfeed during this treatment. This is because the drugs may come through in your breast milk.
Treatment for other conditions
Always tell other doctors, nurses, pharmacists or dentists that you’re having this treatment. For example, if you need treatment for anything else, including teeth problems.
Immunisations
Don’t have immunisations with live vaccines while you’re having treatment and for up to 12 months afterwards. The length of time depends on the treatment you are having. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how long you should avoid live vaccinations.
In the UK, live vaccines include rubella, mumps, measles, BCG, yellow fever and one of the shingles vaccines called Zostavax.
You can have:
- other vaccines, but they might not give you as much protection as usual
- the flu vaccine (as an injection)
- the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine - talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the best time to have it in relation to your cancer treatment
Members of your household who are aged 5 years or over are also able to have the COVID-19 vaccine. This is to help lower your risk of getting COVID-19 while having cancer treatment and until your
recovers from treatment.
Contact with others who have had immunisations - You can be in contact with other people who have had live vaccines as injections. Avoid close contact with people who have recently had live vaccines taken by mouth (oral vaccines) such as the oral typhoid vaccine. Sometimes people who have had the live shingles vaccine can get a shingles type rash. If this happens they should keep the area covered.
If your immune system is severely weakened, you should avoid contact with children who have had the flu vaccine as a nasal spray as this is a live vaccine. This is for 2 weeks following their vaccination.
Babies have the live rotavirus vaccine. The virus is in the baby’s poo for about 2 weeks and could make you ill if your immunity is low. Get someone else to change their nappies during this time if you can. If this isn't possible, wash your hands well after changing their nappy.
More information about this treatment
For further information about this treatment and possible side effects go to the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) website. You can find the patient information leaflet on this website.
You can report any side effect you have to the Medicines Health and Regulatory Authority (MHRA) as part of their Yellow Card Scheme.
