Strategies for dealing with Cisplatin?

Hi zen mama, I think you are doing great to get this far on Cisplatin. I was on it for only one round before my doctor switched me to Carboplatin, which I am tolerating quite well. I did have to miss treatment a few times due to severe anemia and severe neuropathy but I am actually going to have my last treatment today. Hooray! 

You too will get there. I was brought up not to complain about aches and pains so I feel like a jerk complaining to my doctors but in this case you absolutely have to tell your doctors everything. I can't believe that they are ok with you not being able to eat. Be honest. Tell them everything that's going on. They should be able to find a way to adjust or change your meds so you can tolerate the treatment better. My doctor has been very  concerned  with  my quality of life during treatment and yours should be too.

Hang in there. Fight for your life or if you can't, find someone who will. 

Kelly

I have stage 3-C UPSC diagnosed on 1/09.  I had a reaction to carbo during my 9 th treatment.  I was switched to Cisplatin.  I have had 10 treatments of the Cisplatin.  My treatments have always been every three weeks combined with Taxol.  Nausea was always my main problem.  I used compazine, Ativan, zofran and a patch called Sancuso.  It was a patch that I wore for a week after the chemo.  I have also had three recurrences.  The last was treated with radiation (SBRT) to a paratracheal lymph node.

Before my last round of chemo I found something on the internet called " Mouthcote"  spray.  I had such a metallic taste with my second round of chemo.  Everything tasted like metal, even water.  I did not have that taste with the third round of chemo, so I did not use it.  Lemon drops and black licorice is also supposed to  help the taste.

I am sorry the Cisplatin is working on your mind.   I am glad you do have an antidepressan.   Maybe you need something added to it. Cancer is certainly wearing on the mind and body.  The treatments take their toil on each person and their families.  I hope you are feeling better since you originally posted this.  In peace and caring.

I'm sorrry to hear of your troubles with cisplatin...yes, it sucks........to put it mildly.  It probably wasn't the best solution, but I "self medicated" for my very worst days.  My husband cringed when I told him what I did, but I slept thru the day, not even feeling "guilty" for missing a day. I have been on Prozac for many years, which does help with coping.  I also take Restoril and xanax, and just took an extra dose so I would sleep thru the nastiest days. Pharmeceuticals aren't the answer, I get really upset with all of the fighting against medical marijuana; I think that would be far less harmful than doing what I resorted to. I had breast cancer twice in the early 80's, and I basically had to "suck it up", didn't even have the "pre-chemo" cocktail for nausea they now give. Diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer Feb. 2009, reoccurance in April 2014. Makes me laugh inside when everyone tells me "how strong I am"..."what a fighter and survivor I am".  I just have a LOT of crutches.  I do hope you get better, and find some way of dealing with all the nastiness. These discussion boards are a GREAT support system.