ciplatin with gemcitabin treatments

PRLMOM
PRLMOM Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Bladder Cancer #1
My mom was diagnosed with TCC (bladder cancer) in her renal pelvis & ureter in late Jan 2010. The cancer was also found in her lungs (4 small nodules 1-2cm)during routine Xray in prep for her surgery nephroureterectomy. We started chemo today with cisplatin & gemcitabine. Any one have experience with these drugs? She is 65 and feels healthy. I am cautious & hopeful everything will work out. (So is she)Anyone out there with experience with these drugs or similar situation?

Comments

  • neeni
    neeni Member Posts: 4
    #2
    Cisplatin & Gemcitabine
    Hello,

    My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer four months ago. He has responded wonderfully to this cocktail. The shrinkage of the tumor has been as hopefully expected and even more. Good luck to your Mom and your family
  • nana4two
    nana4two Member Posts: 4
    #3
    cisplatin and gemzar treatments
    Hi. I am currently on carboplatin and gemzar (gemcitabin) treatments. They will be switching me to cisplatin after I undergo a procedure to insert a tube in my right kidney to help it withstand the cisplatin. From what our oncologist explains, the combination your mom is getting has been proven the most effective in the larger clinical trials. Apparently cisplatin sometimes is rough on the kidneys and may cause more nausea, but the docs seem to favor it. Good luck to your mom. Has the tumor responded?
  • PRLMOM
    PRLMOM Member Posts: 3
    #4
    nana4two said:

    cisplatin and gemzar treatments
    Hi. I am currently on carboplatin and gemzar (gemcitabin) treatments. They will be switching me to cisplatin after I undergo a procedure to insert a tube in my right kidney to help it withstand the cisplatin. From what our oncologist explains, the combination your mom is getting has been proven the most effective in the larger clinical trials. Apparently cisplatin sometimes is rough on the kidneys and may cause more nausea, but the docs seem to favor it. Good luck to your mom. Has the tumor responded?

    cisplantin & gemzar
    Hello there,
    My mom has had 6 treatments of the gemzar cisplatin cocktail and she has had very minimal nausea (limited mostly to the day after the treatment). Her results are very promising (almost 50% shrinkage to lung nodules after just 4 treatments).
    Hydration after 48 hours of treatment seems to help her a lot. They do give her additional fluids during her chemo when she gets the cisplatin. The only issue she had was the drop in haemoglobin which they treat with procrit shots and she seems to be able to recover after that. Stay positive & everything will work out just fine. Good Luck & keep me posted.
  • nana4two
    nana4two Member Posts: 4
    #5
    PRLMOM said:

    cisplantin & gemzar
    Hello there,
    My mom has had 6 treatments of the gemzar cisplatin cocktail and she has had very minimal nausea (limited mostly to the day after the treatment). Her results are very promising (almost 50% shrinkage to lung nodules after just 4 treatments).
    Hydration after 48 hours of treatment seems to help her a lot. They do give her additional fluids during her chemo when she gets the cisplatin. The only issue she had was the drop in haemoglobin which they treat with procrit shots and she seems to be able to recover after that. Stay positive & everything will work out just fine. Good Luck & keep me posted.

    cisplatin and gemzar treatments
    Thanks, that is so good to hear. I an so glad your mom responded to the treatment. I have more of an idea now what to expect in a couple of days when I start the cisplatin.

    They have inserted a stent in my right kidney to help it drain and be able to handle the chemo better. What a roller coaster ride.

    I truly appreciate being able to communicate with someone that is going thru this, tho. Thanks
  • tomicbride
    tomicbride Member Posts: 1
    #6
    PRLMOM said:

    cisplantin & gemzar
    Hello there,
    My mom has had 6 treatments of the gemzar cisplatin cocktail and she has had very minimal nausea (limited mostly to the day after the treatment). Her results are very promising (almost 50% shrinkage to lung nodules after just 4 treatments).
    Hydration after 48 hours of treatment seems to help her a lot. They do give her additional fluids during her chemo when she gets the cisplatin. The only issue she had was the drop in haemoglobin which they treat with procrit shots and she seems to be able to recover after that. Stay positive & everything will work out just fine. Good Luck & keep me posted.

    cisplantin & gemzar
    I have been prescribed the treatment of these two drugs for a tumor in my bladder. I'm told that I have to be in the hospital for two days.
    Is that the normal procedure?
  • Dbr84
    Dbr84 Member Posts: 2
    #7
    Transitional cell carcinoma
    My husband just finished 8 treatments of the same chemo with andramycin added. He had 90% reduction in his tumors. He has mets -1 in the liver, one on his spine, lymph nodes and right kidney. He now is on a 8 week break then return in January to md Anderson for test. They cannot curre but hopefully buy him time. We hope 3-4 years.
    How is your Mom doing now after her treatments? I pray she is cancer free or in remission for a long time. This is a hard battle that we fight. Keep the faith.
  • PRLMOM
    PRLMOM Member Posts: 3
    #8
    Dbr84 said:

    Transitional cell carcinoma
    My husband just finished 8 treatments of the same chemo with andramycin added. He had 90% reduction in his tumors. He has mets -1 in the liver, one on his spine, lymph nodes and right kidney. He now is on a 8 week break then return in January to md Anderson for test. They cannot curre but hopefully buy him time. We hope 3-4 years.
    How is your Mom doing now after her treatments? I pray she is cancer free or in remission for a long time. This is a hard battle that we fight. Keep the faith.

    Transitional cell carcinoma
    My mom finished her 8 treatments with gemzar & cisplatin and had a nephrourectomy (ureter,kidney & bladder cuff) in August. Just found out after Thanksgiving that there are 8 new active nodes in her lungs all spread out. She completed 2 rounds of chemo just before Christmas. Her Dr has also told her they can't cure it but they can buy time. We are also looking at a few trials in the MD/DC/VA area to see other options. She is positive most of the time. My siblings & I just try to enjoy the happy times with her and make as many memories for our kids as possible. Like you said this is a tough battle. I will pray for you & your husband too. Stay positive and make each day count. Stay in touch!
  • Bepositive84
    Bepositive84 Member Posts: 4
    #9
    PRLMOM said:

    cisplantin & gemzar
    Hello there,
    My mom has had 6 treatments of the gemzar cisplatin cocktail and she has had very minimal nausea (limited mostly to the day after the treatment). Her results are very promising (almost 50% shrinkage to lung nodules after just 4 treatments).
    Hydration after 48 hours of treatment seems to help her a lot. They do give her additional fluids during her chemo when she gets the cisplatin. The only issue she had was the drop in haemoglobin which they treat with procrit shots and she seems to be able to recover after that. Stay positive & everything will work out just fine. Good Luck & keep me posted.

    Thats amazing!!! My dads
    Thats amazing!!! My dads chemo just started yesterday, i am new here!
  • Bepositive84
    Bepositive84 Member Posts: 4
    #10
    PRLMOM said:

    Transitional cell carcinoma
    My mom finished her 8 treatments with gemzar & cisplatin and had a nephrourectomy (ureter,kidney & bladder cuff) in August. Just found out after Thanksgiving that there are 8 new active nodes in her lungs all spread out. She completed 2 rounds of chemo just before Christmas. Her Dr has also told her they can't cure it but they can buy time. We are also looking at a few trials in the MD/DC/VA area to see other options. She is positive most of the time. My siblings & I just try to enjoy the happy times with her and make as many memories for our kids as possible. Like you said this is a tough battle. I will pray for you & your husband too. Stay positive and make each day count. Stay in touch!

    Please buy the book "
    Please buy the book " beating cancer with nutrition" . I really hatecthe title because it scares some people off, its meant to be used along with chemo. My dad was diagnosed w stage 4 bladder cancer that metastisized to his prostate and sourrounding lymph nodes. He started chemo yesterday but i have been making him do everything this book says.
  • lucas_88
    lucas_88 Member Posts: 10
    #11
    Dbr84 said:

    Transitional cell carcinoma
    My husband just finished 8 treatments of the same chemo with andramycin added. He had 90% reduction in his tumors. He has mets -1 in the liver, one on his spine, lymph nodes and right kidney. He now is on a 8 week break then return in January to md Anderson for test. They cannot curre but hopefully buy him time. We hope 3-4 years.
    How is your Mom doing now after her treatments? I pray she is cancer free or in remission for a long time. This is a hard battle that we fight. Keep the faith.

    Phase III: Stage 4 Cisplatin / Gemzar + Avastin(or)Placebo
    http://www.cancer.gov/search/ViewClinicalTrials.aspx?cdrid=649174&version=HealthProfessional&protocolsearchid=8637205

    Follow the link for another option for those with Stage 4 bladder cancer.

    So happy to see that your husband is responding so very well with the treatment (if it works, you may not wanna fix it!). My husband is going through the clinical trial, and after three courses of treatment, the cancer has been stable (no growth, but also no reduction in tumor numbers/sizes ... this is a good thing).

    Hope is always a good thing.
  • FREITAS
    FREITAS Member Posts: 1
    #12
    PRLMOM said:

    Transitional cell carcinoma
    My mom finished her 8 treatments with gemzar & cisplatin and had a nephrourectomy (ureter,kidney & bladder cuff) in August. Just found out after Thanksgiving that there are 8 new active nodes in her lungs all spread out. She completed 2 rounds of chemo just before Christmas. Her Dr has also told her they can't cure it but they can buy time. We are also looking at a few trials in the MD/DC/VA area to see other options. She is positive most of the time. My siblings & I just try to enjoy the happy times with her and make as many memories for our kids as possible. Like you said this is a tough battle. I will pray for you & your husband too. Stay positive and make each day count. Stay in touch!

    Bladder Cancer
    I am sorry to hear about anyone having to undergo chemo treatment..it is so great to have something that can stop the growth of cancer..and so deadly to other parts of your body..I pray that your Mom will have a lot of years..to keep looking up to God for strength, guidance, and faith..he will hold her hand..God can cure a stage 5 as well as a stage 1..
    I found out in Nov I had bladder cancer..stage 3 (I think),my urologist removed 1/3 of my bladder..as of Jan. 17th..I started my series of 8 chemo treatments..It is great to know that I am receiving gemzar and cisplatin like so many others with bladder cancer..you do wonder sometimes if they are making the right choices for you????..I do not have cancer anywhere else..I thank God for that everyday..so I am receiving "preventive" chemo in case I would have a cell float around..(which I know we all do)..I pray it does not attach to other organs..in months after treatment..my urologist is going to insert BCG in my bladder..as an another treatment..tell her remember "God is strong enough and capable to handle any thing we maybe going through..Will say a pray for her..Stay in touch!
  • Bart
    Bart Member Posts: 1
    #13
    lucas_88 said:

    Phase III: Stage 4 Cisplatin / Gemzar + Avastin(or)Placebo
    http://www.cancer.gov/search/ViewClinicalTrials.aspx?cdrid=649174&version=HealthProfessional&protocolsearchid=8637205

    Follow the link for another option for those with Stage 4 bladder cancer.

    So happy to see that your husband is responding so very well with the treatment (if it works, you may not wanna fix it!). My husband is going through the clinical trial, and after three courses of treatment, the cancer has been stable (no growth, but also no reduction in tumor numbers/sizes ... this is a good thing).

    Hope is always a good thing.

    Stage 3

    hi I'm new to cancer, stage 3 in right kidney not positive sphere but negative. Took kidney out. They want to do chemo for preventative. No data proves it works? High grade stage 3 any advise you can offer me please 

  • HalBo2
    HalBo2 Member Posts: 3
    #14
    Bart said:

    Stage 3

    hi I'm new to cancer, stage 3 in right kidney not positive sphere but negative. Took kidney out. They want to do chemo for preventative. No data proves it works? High grade stage 3 any advise you can offer me please 

    ...here's a related

    ...here's a related conversation on this site that may help you:

    http://csn.cancer.org/node/296580

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