Need help with cisplatin experiences

Mwee
Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hi Loves,
I'm being switched over from carbo/gemzar to cisplatin/gemzar this week. Has anyone done this combo? I'd really like to know what to expect so I can be prepared. I hear you have to drink/drink/drink and that is always a tough one for me for I have trouble downing all the liquids that I should be doing. I sure hope that I can tolerate this after all the allergic reactions I've experienced with the carbo!
(((HUGS))) Maria

Comments

  • nancygt
    nancygt Member Posts: 86
    #2
    Cisplatin
    I am halfway through 8 treatments of Cisplatin/Adriamycin(Doxirubicin). While the nausea is fairly well controlled with the Zofran, I have been battling blood values since the start. I sailed through the six treatments of carboplatin/taxol in 09 but was told that whilen Cisplatinn is stronger, it is certainly more toxic. However I have had two recurrences - on 5 months after comleting sandwich pottocol (Chemo/external radiation/brachytherapy/chemo)after surgery. Second recurrence was only three months after tomotherapy radiation follwed by a clean PET scan. So when my oncologist, the rerral gyn/at M.D. Anderson and the gyn/onc at Moffitt recommebnded this regimen, I was in. they also made a good point that I would never be in better shape to tolerate the treatment than now.
    My biggest challenge has been blood values. we had to delay chemo # 2 as WBC counts dropped so low. I am now taking daily neupogen shots and those have improved considerably.Then 3rd and 4th treatments brought RBC and hemoglobin crashing down-we seem to ge getting that under control and hope chemo # 5 next week can go off as scheduled.Looking
    back, I sort of wish i had opted for transfusion as it would have given quicker relief but we are using weekly procrit shots-probably for balance of chemo. If you experiebnce dizzy spells, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, severe fatigue, all those are symptoms for the chemo induced anemia - I could not walk the length of my house without those at worst point. However I keep telling myself that if this chemo is kicking my butt this bad, it must be effecting the cancer. I am Stage 4 USPC and after last clean PET post tomotherapy, my CA 125 had come down to 50-55 and stayed there awhile so onc thought that may be my "new Normal". It has now come from 150 to 100 to 50 and then a blip up to 55. But last pre chemo it was 38 and we both celebrted. I just had a CT scan and should get results next week-I will be happy to share then.
    If you search for Cisplatin in here, you should find Helen Stands for Hope who had the drug back when they used to put you in the hospital and she has made it 23 years with Ovarian. And GDPawel who posts here had really brutal run with the drug (some due to prior transplant,etc) but considered end result a success. And then there a few posts where people had fewer problems. Sometimes I reread their posts so tell myself it can work (hopefully long remission if not total cure) and to to say "well at least I haven'y had to deal with those problems yet and I am on down stretch for remaining chemos with next weeks treatment".
    Do try to drink a lot as I understand this can be had on kidneys-I try clear fruit juices in addition to water and Crystal light and so far kidney tests show good function.If you would like to correspond separately since I am a few months out and may have some other observations, let me know. Also the Ovarian discussion board and the Ovarian Cancer national Coalition may provide additional data as there seems to be more usage of Cisplatin for Ovarian.
    good luck-i have not enjoyed the low blood value/anemia but my doc is working with me and I do feel that is improving and hopeful the drug can give exciting results.
  • nancygt
    nancygt Member Posts: 86
    #3
    Current posting
    Right now on the board on Ovarian Cancer National Coalition website, there is a posting called Going Crazy with numrous women weighing in on Cisplatin.
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #4
    cisplatin
    Maria,

    Cisplatin/Gemzar was my 2nd line of treatment. The gemzar for me was tolerable. The longer I was on the cisplatin the more I became nauseated and vomited.

    I had one hour of fluids before the ciplatin/gemzar and one hour of fluids after.

    I became allergic to the cisplatin after several treatments.

    Have a great Easter,
    Libby
  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
    #5
    LPack said:

    cisplatin
    Maria,

    Cisplatin/Gemzar was my 2nd line of treatment. The gemzar for me was tolerable. The longer I was on the cisplatin the more I became nauseated and vomited.

    I had one hour of fluids before the ciplatin/gemzar and one hour of fluids after.

    I became allergic to the cisplatin after several treatments.

    Have a great Easter,
    Libby

    My three rounds of chemo
    prior to surgery were carbo/taxol and after surgery I was scheduled for day 1 taxol (intravenously), day 2 ip cisplatin and day 8 ip taxol. I was sick during my first rounds of chemo but the post-surgery was worse. I ended up in the hospital twice. After the first round my white blood count went so low I could not even stand. I called for an appt with my onc and when she saw me, I was wheeled across the street to emergency. She also kind of scolded me for not calling in sooner. I tried to explain it is hard to distinguish chemo sick and when something is really wrong. I was hospitalized for five days. I made it through the second round although I was really sick. I also was not recuperating between cycles. I was getting weaker. A couple of times the chemo was postponed because I decided I was too sick and was afraid I would end up in the hospital if I felt any worse. After day 2 of the third round I started feeling really sick. I couldn't eat, I felt light headed. I couldn't take care of myself. I also had severe nueropathy. I called the onc and was just told to make sure I ate and drank. A week later I called again. My feet and hands were twisting. If I sat on the toilet, I could hardly get up because my feet were bent out of shape. I called (it was Monday) and was given an appt for Friday. By then I could hardly stand. On the way to the onc (30 miles away) I told my son to take me to the ER. As we approached the hospital my speech was slurring. I thought I was having a stroke. Once bloodwork was completed they found my potassium was depleted as well as the other electrolytes. An ER doctor told me she didn't see how I made it. I regret not asking what she meant. To the ER or not dying? I was hospitalized for 8 days. The doctor again said she wished they had gotten me in sooner. Well I did call twice. She decided I would not get the last infusion of taxol because my body had been through enough. I know this isn't a very reassuring post but the bottome line is I would do it again because the results were great. Both the onc and gyn/onc were pleased. My CA 125 went from over 9000 before any chemo to 7 after the last chemo. The result in January was 5 and the one I just had was 3. I don't know if this will help you in any way but as I said I would do it again and now it seems like a blur. I remember what happened but there is no emotion attached to it.

    Karen
  • Lisa13Q
    Lisa13Q Member Posts: 677
    #6
    wellll
    Here's my experience with my mother.....She had 2 rounds of cisplatin and it put her into the hospital both times...ultimately she couldn't get it anymore...and in the long run it damaged her kidneys....make sure you have someone to supervise.....we thought she was just dehydrated, but her sodium went down to 116 and that was dangerous....at the same time, when she was finished, she got a 4 month break from chemo and there was only one teeny weeny spot on her colon...it has been the only time Mom has been able to have a break....it truly knocked the cancer back.....and gave her a great 4 months.....nothing else was able to do that...it is very powerful...study upon study indicates that women with OVCA who receive cisplatin have better prognoses than those who do not....keep us posted....fang fish....

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