amifostine shot

Not every Oncologist or Cancer Center
agrees with the benefits of amifostine. I talked to one person here where I live who went to MD Anderson for treatment...they didn't offer amifostine there. Here where I'm getting treated, I chose my oncologist simply because he DOES offer amifostine...and believes in it...the other Oncologist here, does not. So it appears it's 6 of one, and half dozen of the other. I don't think your Oncologist goofed up, he is just one that doesn't see it as the end all, be all for salavary protection.

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KTeacher said:

Amifostine
is for protection during radiation treatments. The radiation oncologist would be the one to prescribe. I had it the first time around, made it almost 5 weeks. The second time around my body said no way. I am dealing with dry mouth but not as bad as some of the others.

my rad offered it to me 5
my rad offered it to me 5 years ago as something new, favorable results, and expensive($1500. a pop) I don't think she suggests it any more. Maybe not enough good results or insurance won't pay for it. I think it really helped me, but maybe I'm the exception. Everything seemed to work in my favor. I do remember that by the 35th injection I was vomiting it up, and went the last 5 rads without it.

Benefits
I haven't seen anything on the benefits of protection from Cisplatin damage before, might..not sure.

Actually what I have read and been told (by my chemo MD), she prescribed it (not my rads MD) to help minimize the thick ropey phlegm that many have during and after rads.

As a side benefit it might also help in regaining salivary function after the fact.

My rads MD didn't buy into it, feeling it had minimal of a few percent in salivary function... To me a few percent was better than nothing...

In my case I can only feel that it helped as well....

I never had problems with phlegm, and I have regained nearly 100% of my saliva, just a little dry at night during sleep.

Mine was prescribed mid 2009, and was around $150 per injection. Like mentioned, I also ended up only getting around 32 out of 35 prescribed. I started getting sever fever swings or chills and had to stop..finished out the last few rads with no problems.

Best,
John

Six of One . . .
I "interviewed" two ROs before treatment started. One group strongly recommended Amifostine - I was told it was initially designed to help protect organs in chemical attack (I believe that was it), and it was discovered later that it would help protect salivary function for rads patients. The other group believed that not only was there not evidence that it helped protect the "good" cells, there was a question of whether it might help protect cancer cells from treatment.

I went with "pro-Amifostine" group (for more reasons than the shots). I only made it about a third of the way through the injection series before the doc pulled the plug(at my center, I lasted longer than the other four who started at about the same time). Seems like my phlegm during treatment, while bad, wasn't as bad as many. Post treatment, I do notice reduced saliva, and have significant tooth damage. On the other hand, I can normally sleep through the night with only one bathroom break (I am thirsty when I get up to "go", but the reason I'm waking is to visit the bathroom). I can also go for hours without water now as long as I have chewing gum and am not exerting myself. Oh - and even after induction chemo and chemo rads, my kidney function is fine.

I'd ask the doc why he didn't mention the drug if I were you. He may have info you can use.