Chemo-more specifically_

pbmiller

My specific question is about Mitomycin vs cisplatin. All my research says mitomycin is the gold standard, but her rad/onc last week said we were going to have a hard time convincing this chemo dr otherwise....We are at MD Anderson and this chemo doc has been on every study confirming mitomycin........but that she will want to use the cisplatin. I'm confused. The cisplatin appears to be very toxic.

Any insight would be extremely helpful!

mp327

Hi!
I just left you a long message on your other thread about all of this. I didn't realize your sister was going to MDA. Is Dr. Eng her doctor? I know from communicating with others on the boards that she seems to favor using Cisplatin over Mito due to toxicity issues. I'm sure both drugs have toxicity issues and I can't really compare the two. The best thing to do is discuss this with the doctor and find out her reasons for preferring one over the other. I've read info in the past that indicated as far as effectiveness, both drugs came out about the same.

nellie67

mp327 said:

Hi!
I just left you a long message on your other thread about all of this. I didn't realize your sister was going to MDA. Is Dr. Eng her doctor? I know from communicating with others on the boards that she seems to favor using Cisplatin over Mito due to toxicity issues. I'm sure both drugs have toxicity issues and I can't really compare the two. The best thing to do is discuss this with the doctor and find out her reasons for preferring one over the other. I've read info in the past that indicated as far as effectiveness, both drugs came out about the same.

Cisplatin
I too am at MD Anderson and Dr. Eng is my doctor, I just got my first round of Cisplatin yesterday and also Im hooked up to a pump of 5fu which ill wear for 4 days. What I gathered from her choice of using the Cisplatin over the Mito is that its not as toxic, she said that the Mito dropped the blood levels too much. I was concerned too but she seems to know her stuff and has good results with the Cisplatin. I just started everything yesterday and wasnt prepared for such a long day. I got to the Mays clinic to have my pic line put in at 10:30 am, blood specimen done at 3:00 pm, radiation at 4:45 and then had my chemo at 6:00 pm. I did'nt realize it took 5 hours to do the Cisplatin, they do a 2 hour drip of saline before they drip the Cisplatin and then after that they do another 2 hour drip of saline. That way its not as hard on your kidneys, and before I left they hooked me up to the pump of 5fu. Needless to say it was long day, I did'nt get home until 11:30 last night. I'm pooped, but I don't feel too bad. I have a salty taste in my mouth and I was really tired when I woke up. However Im okie, does your sister have Dr Das as her radiologist doctor?

sissy310

I had the 5FU and Mito. My
I had the 5FU and Mito. My oncologist said only that studies she has seen with using the 5FU alone did not seem to work as well as adding tyhe Mito. She never mentioned Cisplatin but from what I have read and heard, both work well. I also had a picc line and the first round of 5FU and mito was very uneventful. I was tired but did not have much side effects which surprised me. However, the second round knocked me off my feet. I ended up in the hospital with severe diarrhea. Chemo doc blamed radiation and radiation onc blamed the chemo. Who knows. Hope that your treatment is uneventful and you do not have many side effects. I remember only having a taste of pepper on everything I ate. My tongue mostly. Odd how we react to the chemicals. Be well, Marilyne

pbmiller

nellie67 said:

Cisplatin
I too am at MD Anderson and Dr. Eng is my doctor, I just got my first round of Cisplatin yesterday and also Im hooked up to a pump of 5fu which ill wear for 4 days. What I gathered from her choice of using the Cisplatin over the Mito is that its not as toxic, she said that the Mito dropped the blood levels too much. I was concerned too but she seems to know her stuff and has good results with the Cisplatin. I just started everything yesterday and wasnt prepared for such a long day. I got to the Mays clinic to have my pic line put in at 10:30 am, blood specimen done at 3:00 pm, radiation at 4:45 and then had my chemo at 6:00 pm. I did'nt realize it took 5 hours to do the Cisplatin, they do a 2 hour drip of saline before they drip the Cisplatin and then after that they do another 2 hour drip of saline. That way its not as hard on your kidneys, and before I left they hooked me up to the pump of 5fu. Needless to say it was long day, I did'nt get home until 11:30 last night. I'm pooped, but I don't feel too bad. I have a salty taste in my mouth and I was really tired when I woke up. However Im okie, does your sister have Dr Das as her radiologist doctor?

sister
Thanks for your responses. Have had busy last few days getting through all doc meetings. She finally got her official start date of next Thurs with simulation today. As for chemo question.....Eng said mito not even offered at this institution. I had quite a lot of info and questions for her...she endured them, but pretty much shut me down. Think she must be tired of that question. She said faulty studies out there. Or maybe she was just having a bad day. On a positive note> our experience with all the other MD family has really been really great. Everyone very compassionate and eager to answer any questions or concerns. Dr Delclos is her rad/onc. Looks like we aren't far behind you in the treatment world. We are at the Rotary House.. and would love to stay in touch.

I am noticing on some or alot of these postings are talking about 2nd round of treatment? We are scheduled for 6 weeks rad/chem similtaneously so not sure what this means.

Good luck to you in your journey and thanks to everyone for all of their postings-they are invaluable..... Im so glad to have found yall - makes me feel like we're a little better armed to fight this battle.

mp327

pbmiller said:

sister
Thanks for your responses. Have had busy last few days getting through all doc meetings. She finally got her official start date of next Thurs with simulation today. As for chemo question.....Eng said mito not even offered at this institution. I had quite a lot of info and questions for her...she endured them, but pretty much shut me down. Think she must be tired of that question. She said faulty studies out there. Or maybe she was just having a bad day. On a positive note> our experience with all the other MD family has really been really great. Everyone very compassionate and eager to answer any questions or concerns. Dr Delclos is her rad/onc. Looks like we aren't far behind you in the treatment world. We are at the Rotary House.. and would love to stay in touch.

I am noticing on some or alot of these postings are talking about 2nd round of treatment? We are scheduled for 6 weeks rad/chem similtaneously so not sure what this means.

Good luck to you in your journey and thanks to everyone for all of their postings-they are invaluable..... Im so glad to have found yall - makes me feel like we're a little better armed to fight this battle.

Hi pb
Glad to hear that things are moving along swiftly and treatment will begin soon. As for the mention of 2nd. round of treatment on this board, I believe it is in reference to the 2nd. round of chemo, which in my case (and I got Mito) was during week 5. That is standard protocol for Mito/5FU chemo. I don't know if it differs when Cisplatin is used or not. Sending best wishes.

lizdeli

sissy310 said:

I had the 5FU and Mito. My
I had the 5FU and Mito. My oncologist said only that studies she has seen with using the 5FU alone did not seem to work as well as adding tyhe Mito. She never mentioned Cisplatin but from what I have read and heard, both work well. I also had a picc line and the first round of 5FU and mito was very uneventful. I was tired but did not have much side effects which surprised me. However, the second round knocked me off my feet. I ended up in the hospital with severe diarrhea. Chemo doc blamed radiation and radiation onc blamed the chemo. Who knows. Hope that your treatment is uneventful and you do not have many side effects. I remember only having a taste of pepper on everything I ate. My tongue mostly. Odd how we react to the chemicals. Be well, Marilyne

Mito vs Cisplatin
Dr. Eng is my doctor as well. I finished treatment last Sept. I had the same questions about Mito vs. Cisplatin. I received the same answers. She feels Cisplatin is not as toxic and just as effective. Just me speaking, but I feel Dr. Eng knows her stuff. She deals with many cases of anal cancer. I had no toxic effects from Cisplatin. No hair loss, no vomiting, no mouth sores, no blood level issues, no hand and foot syndrome. No break in treatment. I did feel queasy from time to time and any sense of taste disappeared for awhile and a few stomach cramps, but that's the worse of it as far as the chemo. I realize everyone reacts differently. The few people I met that went through treatment same time as I did at MDA had basically the same chemo response. We're all NED as well. I'm approaching one year NED as of 9/11.

When you go for your Cisplatin once a week, they are also giving you Magnesium and Potassium. That takes the longest. The small bag is the chemo and it takes about an hour. Try to go to the Mays Clinic versus the main building for your Cisplatin. Much nicer and quieter at Mays, nicer rooms, etc. You MUST stay hydrated during treatment because the one thing about Cisplatin is that it can be hard on the kidneys. Drink ALOT of water.

Your radiation treatment may be a little different at MDA as well. Not the treatment itself but the apparatus they use to protect the vaginal area. Embarassing, yes. But trust me, it makes quite a difference when all is said and done.

Wishing you well! Please let me know if you have any questions. Here to help!

Liz