Carboplatin/Paclitaxel

MCKMNL
MCKMNL Member Posts: 40
in Caregivers #1
These are my dads chemo drugs. he will begin his first chemo treatment on Feb 9th, I was wondering if anyone here could give me some insight on what to expect from his treatments, as fas as side effects go. I did do reseach on both of them,but looking for thoughts with anyone who has personal experience. They said they will start out with LOw doses at first, and go from there.

Also nutrition, is there anything I can get him to eat to help him with strength,energy. amd overall health, and supplements also.

1 more question, what is PREmedication before chemo ? I was reading his papers, and it mention premedication before chemo, not sure what that means.

sory for all the questions, but I really would love to hear from those who have gone through, and are going through all this. Please do not hold back, I would love to hear, the good/bad/and the ugly.

TY..

Missy

Comments

  • karenbeth
    karenbeth Member Posts: 194
    #2
    good luck...
    ...to your dad. My partner is doing carboplatin and etoposide. Carboplatin is fairly mild as far as side effects go. He has fatigue, but no nausea. The pre meds are steroids and anti-emetics that they give to prevent the nausea. They load you up with anti-nausea meds up front because apparently once the nausea gets a hold of you it's difficult to get on top of it. He also gets a neuplasta shot 24 hours after the chemo round is over, to boost his white blood cell count. After a few rounds of chemo he had a little constipation, and had to take OTC senna. Then it was the reverse and he took Immodium.

    As far as nutrition, he drinks Ensure to help maintain weight. Some foods don't appeal to him some days, I think he has that metallic taste that people get, so whatever he is in the mood for, I make. After 4 rounds of chemo his red blood cell count is low, so they gave him a list of foods high in iron. If it gets too low, they will suggest a blood transfusion. I'm thinking the low blood cell count is one reason he tires so easily.

    That is just one person's experience, but I hope that it helps. We are heading into round 5 next week.

    Karen
  • Barbara53
    Barbara53 Member Posts: 652
    #3
    what to expect
    Hi Missy,

    Carbo/taxol is also first-line chemo for ovarian cancer. My mother had 6 infusions in 2009, then oral chemo, then carbo only for 8 cycles. Now she is in God's hands.

    This is pretty serious chemo. He will lose his hair after a couple of weeks. Expect things to go well for the first day or two after infusion, and then this laundry list of possible problems days 3-8: constipation, lethargy, a metallic taste in the mouth that leads to nausea, mouth sores, and uncomfortable pain and tingling in hands and feet. Lemonhead lemon drops help with the taste problem; warm packs help with the hands and feet. Mom has a BedBuddy you heat up in the microwave -- it's great for spot warming and local pain.

    He should take a stool softener daily starting on chemo day (Miralax or generic) and drink as many fluids as possible. Mom would always drink either milk chocolate ensure or hot apple cider.

    For mouth comfort there's a mouth rinse at all drug stores called Biotene. It feels slimy in the mouth, but Mom found that if she swished with it before trying to eat, foods didn't taste so funny. Should your dad develop serious mouth sores, ask the dr for a script for "miracle mouthwash." The druggist mixes it up -- liquid lidocane and several other things.

    Don't mean to scare you, but this can be a rough ride. By the way, my mother came to love the liquid benadryl she got in drip just before chemo. Said it floated her off to lala land in a most wonderful way.
  • MCKMNL
    MCKMNL Member Posts: 40
    #4
    Barbara53 said:

    what to expect
    Hi Missy,

    Carbo/taxol is also first-line chemo for ovarian cancer. My mother had 6 infusions in 2009, then oral chemo, then carbo only for 8 cycles. Now she is in God's hands.

    This is pretty serious chemo. He will lose his hair after a couple of weeks. Expect things to go well for the first day or two after infusion, and then this laundry list of possible problems days 3-8: constipation, lethargy, a metallic taste in the mouth that leads to nausea, mouth sores, and uncomfortable pain and tingling in hands and feet. Lemonhead lemon drops help with the taste problem; warm packs help with the hands and feet. Mom has a BedBuddy you heat up in the microwave -- it's great for spot warming and local pain.

    He should take a stool softener daily starting on chemo day (Miralax or generic) and drink as many fluids as possible. Mom would always drink either milk chocolate ensure or hot apple cider.

    For mouth comfort there's a mouth rinse at all drug stores called Biotene. It feels slimy in the mouth, but Mom found that if she swished with it before trying to eat, foods didn't taste so funny. Should your dad develop serious mouth sores, ask the dr for a script for "miracle mouthwash." The druggist mixes it up -- liquid lidocane and several other things.

    Don't mean to scare you, but this can be a rough ride. By the way, my mother came to love the liquid benadryl she got in drip just before chemo. Said it floated her off to lala land in a most wonderful way.

    BARBARA,,, I HOPE YOU SEE THIS
    I tried to figure out how to send you a message on here, but I have yet to figure it out, I wanted to THANK YOU soooooooooooooooooooooooo much for your reply, you had me getting everything my dad needed for his chemo, and i got it all. Magic mouth wash. stool softeners he already had those, but everything else my mom and i got him a few days before his forst chemo which he had today. Your reply ment the world to me, I needed and wanted to hear everything. Please know i really appreciated it, and ZI am so sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I have been running with my mom from morning til evening, and then i come home to y family, so time has been limited on the computer. Things should be slowing down soon. His radiation is done this friday ( which is a daily thing ).. You have been a blessing with this info!!!

    Missy
  • Barbara53
    Barbara53 Member Posts: 652
    #5
    MCKMNL said:

    BARBARA,,, I HOPE YOU SEE THIS
    I tried to figure out how to send you a message on here, but I have yet to figure it out, I wanted to THANK YOU soooooooooooooooooooooooo much for your reply, you had me getting everything my dad needed for his chemo, and i got it all. Magic mouth wash. stool softeners he already had those, but everything else my mom and i got him a few days before his forst chemo which he had today. Your reply ment the world to me, I needed and wanted to hear everything. Please know i really appreciated it, and ZI am so sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I have been running with my mom from morning til evening, and then i come home to y family, so time has been limited on the computer. Things should be slowing down soon. His radiation is done this friday ( which is a daily thing ).. You have been a blessing with this info!!!

    Missy

    happy to help
    I'm glad the info was helpful, and by posting it here other folks who are just reading can benefit. I hope your dad does well with the chemo, and that it buys him some good time. Everyone responds differently, but look for a big dip coming up this weekend. Mom spent a lot of time in the recliner on her bad chemo days -- she's one of those people who won't stay in bed.

    One thing that's helped her fighting spirit these last couple of years is speaking of being a cancer patient as the hardest job you'll ever have, and praising her courage for sticking it out. These days, I know she's finding tidbits of peace knowing she did everything she could with the full support of her family and friends.

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