2nd Opinion? In Patient / Out-Patient Chemo

Bunnymom
Bunnymom Member Posts: 212 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I need help!


1. Has anyone done chemo out patient? How did that work out?

2. Please tell me the chemo drugs that were used for you.

3. Has any one gone to the University of Chicago Medical Center, and if so how was your treatment?

4. When it came to chemo recommendations, were your drugs tailored to you specifically or were the drugs basically given to everyone the same based on your institutions protocol?

5. did you seek second opinions?

thank you 

bm

 

Comments

  • Ladylacy
    Ladylacy Member Posts: 773 Member
    #2
    Chemo

    My husband's chemo, both times, was done out-patient.  In fact when my sister and an aunt underwent chemo they were both done out-patient.

    My husband had cisplatin and carboplatin.  When he underwent a second round of radiation and chemo, each week the strength of his chemo depended on blood work and his weight.  His oncologists decided based on protocol for laryngeal cancer what was used.

    You should always get a second opinion.  Something in hindsight we wished we had done the first time.  Although after much research and consultant with the oncologist and radiologist the treatment my husband underwent, radiation and chemo first, was what was done for laryngeal cancer plus after a PET/CT scan which showed no spread anywhere.  He did have a second biopsy 3 months after treatment ended and was then referred to a head and neck specialist.  He then had surgery but no further chemo as margins were clear.

    Wishing you the best -- Sharon

     

  • Guzzle
    Guzzle Member Posts: 710
    #3
    Ladylacy said:

    Chemo

    My husband's chemo, both times, was done out-patient.  In fact when my sister and an aunt underwent chemo they were both done out-patient.

    My husband had cisplatin and carboplatin.  When he underwent a second round of radiation and chemo, each week the strength of his chemo depended on blood work and his weight.  His oncologists decided based on protocol for laryngeal cancer what was used.

    You should always get a second opinion.  Something in hindsight we wished we had done the first time.  Although after much research and consultant with the oncologist and radiologist the treatment my husband underwent, radiation and chemo first, was what was done for laryngeal cancer plus after a PET/CT scan which showed no spread anywhere.  He did have a second biopsy 3 months after treatment ended and was then referred to a head and neck specialist.  He then had surgery but no further chemo as margins were clear.

    Wishing you the best -- Sharon

     

    In Patient

    BM, I am week 3 of rads. Weeks 1,4 and 6 Cisplatin. They are keeping me in as they like to hydrate you before and after and monitor you. Also I would have to travel back next day for rads. They use to review treatment and side effects. Don't think there is a right or wrong it depends on your needs. G.

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #4
    I was out patient....

    I'd go in at 8:00 in the morning, and get out of there about 4:00 or 4:30 in the afternoon.....they'd unhook me at 2:00 in order for me to go to radiation, then I'd come back and finish up the chemo.....then home.  I did this 3 times (once every 3 weeks).  My chemo was Cisplatin.  After rads I had 3 more rounds of chemo.....again every 3 weeks and Cisplatin.....but this time they'd send me out with a fanny pack pump of 5FU, which would pump for 4 days.

    My Dr. got a second opinion from MD Anderson.....same treatment so I stayed here at home.  My treatment was the protocol given for NPC (nasopharyngeal carcinoma).

    p 

  • KB56
    KB56 Member Posts: 318 Member
    #5
    chemo

    Bunnymom, I had Erbitux and it was all done out patient.  It would take 1-2 hours but I would go in and get the IV and when I was finished I went home.

     

    Keith

  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    #6
    2nd opinion

    Bunnymom

    Not sure exactly where you live, but for a second opinion I would go to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, IL.

    My surgery and treatment was done there 3 years ago and I am doing fine.   You will be fine, too.

    You are just at the stage where everything gets thrown at you at once -- without too much explanation.

    And some doctors just have no bedside manner -- but they are still great doctors.   Good nurses make up for them.

    So far everything you have mentioned sounds right to me and the Univ of Chicago is one of the top Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country.

    I sent you a private message also.

    Look in CSN Email.

     

     

  • bjohn
    bjohn Member Posts: 20
    #7
    Hi Bunnymom

    Hello

     my husband is treated at both Loyola and University of Chicago for his tumor  ( estesioneuroblastoma rare). We went to U of C after he needed more treatment. I really like his surgeons at Loyola but the oncologists at U of C seemed more aggressive and hopeful.He has other doctors there unrealated  to cancer and I have felt comfortable with all of them.  A second opinoin is always good, but I do think U of C has a large reearch department which is always good.  Best of luck!

  • PJ47
    PJ47 Member Posts: 376
    #8
    Good to get a second opinion

    For you own peace of mind...  I went to 2 radiation oncologists and 2 medical oncologists and both of the medical oncologists had differing treatments they wanted to offer. One said Certubimax (Erbitux)weekly concurrently with radiation to be done in the office,  the other said Cisplatin weekly concurrently with radiation done in the office.  They both presented reasons why I should not do each other's recommendation. It was interesting.

     

    Best to you,

    PJ

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    #9
    answers...

    Has anyone done chemo out patient? How did that work out?

    All my chemo was done outpatient. Induction TPF was once a week Mondays at infusion center, about 4 hours. 5FU was administered via portapump, returned on Fridays to have it removed. Worked out fine. Induction was 3 cycles on a 3 week cycle. Just when I was feeing sort of recovered, the cycle was starting over.

    2. Please tell me the chemo drugs that were used for you. Induction TPF is Taxotere, Cisplatin, and 5FU - likely the most potent and debililitating combination. Both chemo and rads were given and the chemo was Carboplatin, a kinder form of platinum. I had zero side effects from the chemo during rads.

    4. When it came to chemo recommendations, were your drugs tailored to you specifically or were the drugs basically given to everyone the same based on your institutions protocol? The chemo drugs are all tailored specifically to your treatment and also your body condition on every day of infusion. They do the blood labs and will mix and adjust the chemo for that specific infusion session.

    5. did you seek second opinions?

    I did not and went with the group tumor board recommendation. I had full faith in them and what was being explained to me seemed 100% logical and fit everything I had read including NCCI guidelines, etc. Getting second opinions are generally a good idea but what happens when you get two different recommendations? You have to decide; sometimes having one recommendation you believe in works well. Maybe if you don't feel comfortable with the initial recommendation, then seek a second. Good luck, Don

    thank you 

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