Any info or advice about IP chemo?

Karen9182
Karen9182 Member Posts: 60
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I am getting ready to start IP chemo (taxol/cisplatin) next week. I am 5 weeks out from my (very successful) debulking surgery, and before that, 3 cycles of IV chemo (taxol/carbo), which is what I believe helped to make the surgery successful. Nancy, I hope you read his because you mentioned having IP chemo. What should I expect? I understand it can be pretty bad and I am a bit scared. Does any one else have expierence with this? The side effects from the IV chemo were rough, but tolerable. Should I expect the same? Any info/advice would be helpful. You women are all so strong, informed and so willing to share your knowledge. What a gold mine of comfort this site has been. Thank you all for sharing. Keep hangin' in. ---Karen

Comments

  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #2
    IP chemo
    Karen,
    Congrats on your successful surgery! There are three Nancys on here. Two of us visit often. The other Nancy had IP chemo as well. I did have 3 rounds of cisplat IP. It was rough but worth the effort. It is superior to the carbo/taxol regimen...that is what my surgeon at memorial sloan kettering in NYC told me. Consider yourself lucky that your doctor is doing this and remember it will be worth it!!!

    The IP cisplat is infused with 2liters of fluid into the abdominal cavity. I had to lie recline during the infusion. 2liters of IV fluid infuses also. After the infusion I had to turn on each side for 30minute intervals for a total of one hour. Your stomach will be slightly bloated for the first 24hrs. I also had HORRIBLE gas. The normal side effects for chemo. Fatigue and hairloss. NO nausea because I had a great antinausea regimen. The biggest factor, in my opinion, was fatgue. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!
  • Karen9182
    Karen9182 Member Posts: 60
    #3
    nancy591 said:

    IP chemo
    Karen,
    Congrats on your successful surgery! There are three Nancys on here. Two of us visit often. The other Nancy had IP chemo as well. I did have 3 rounds of cisplat IP. It was rough but worth the effort. It is superior to the carbo/taxol regimen...that is what my surgeon at memorial sloan kettering in NYC told me. Consider yourself lucky that your doctor is doing this and remember it will be worth it!!!

    The IP cisplat is infused with 2liters of fluid into the abdominal cavity. I had to lie recline during the infusion. 2liters of IV fluid infuses also. After the infusion I had to turn on each side for 30minute intervals for a total of one hour. Your stomach will be slightly bloated for the first 24hrs. I also had HORRIBLE gas. The normal side effects for chemo. Fatigue and hairloss. NO nausea because I had a great antinausea regimen. The biggest factor, in my opinion, was fatgue. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!

    You are her...
    Yes, you were the woman who mentioned your IP chemo...thanks for the response. I'm lined up with good nausea meds too. Mine will be administered inpatient, over night and I hear don't plan on sleeping much 'cause I'll be up peeing all night. We are fortunate to be close to good hospitals. I am working through UCDavis and my husband was advised through UCSF/Stanford. I am still surprised that the HMO has been picking up all tabs to tis point. Not looking forward to the gas--still fighting that from the debunking surgery.
    Thanks again, Karen
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #4
    How old are you karen and
    How old are you karen and what were you staged at? When do you start IP? I don't recall having to pee an awful lot. I didn't need to stay overnight either. Yes, I know the gas issue well. Since my surgery my bowels have never been the same. I had a temporary illeostomy after my debulking. It was reversed after 5 infusions of IV carbo/taxol. WHen they reversed it they took a 'second look' and biopsied some areas and put in the IP port.
    GOOD LUCK!!!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #5
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #6
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    I really wanted to do IP
    I really wanted to do IP chemo and almost changed doctors over this issue. My doctor refused to do it because I had so many post-surgical complications, he did not think I would be able to tolerate it. And, he said, pulling me off it and waiting for my body to recoup would delay the IV therapy.

    After I finished my initial treatments I was NED (no evidence of disease), so he said, "See, you got all the benefits of IP without having to go through all that."

    I understand that only about 40% of everyone who receives IP treatment complete it. I hope you are one of the successful ones, as studies show it adds an extra 12-18 months to the patient's long-term survival.

    Carlene
  • groundeffect
    groundeffect Member Posts: 639 Member
    #7
    IP/IV
    Hi Karen,

    I had six rounds of IV/IP taxol & carboplatin. I finished them on Feb. 23rd this year. It's harder than having IV only, but if you have an experienced chemo nurse accessing the IP port, you shouldn't have any trouble.

    I didn't have any problem with gas, and my appetite was good through most of the chemo, with maybe a day or two after a treatment when I didn't feel like eating much. I think having good anti-nausea medications is important, and drinking water is after the chemo administration to help it move along out of your body.

    A friend had me a little freaked out going in to it because she had a rough time with it, but it just got to be a bit of a bore for me. I drove myself to and from the treatments without trouble, so it couldn't have been too bad, right?

    I had a wound vac (which I dubbed Mr. Chuckles) going into it, also...

    Depending on where you have your chemo, you should be prepared to take a lunch/drinks to your treatments. I had my first chemo at the same place, so I knew the best thing for me to do was to be a good "always prepared" girl scout, and take my own. A little note on that-our cancer center doesn't restrict what people bring in to eat, and I know some people have a tough time with smells when they're being treated; McDonald's and some other foods are very fragrant in such a setting!

    I had different nurses at times for the chemo, and a couple of them did not allow me to get up to go to the restroom for fear of dislodging the IP needle. It makes sense to me, but I just chose to get myself up and take the IV pole along when I needed to go. One of those times that it's easier to ask forgiveness rather than permission situations.

    Relax, take some good music to listen to, and something to read.

    Good luck!

    Sue
  • MK_4Dani
    MK_4Dani Member Posts: 314
    #8
    I did IP
    I had 6 rounds carboplatin IP. I did not have problems..just the bloating that Nancy mentioned. It was not too bad...pre dx bloating was much worse. The treatment takes 6-8 hours...bring plenty of reading material. It is tough to do much (crafts, needle work, etc.) since you are in a bed. I had to move around every 15-30 minutes to "swish" around. Like Ground Effect said, be very careful when you go to bathroom cause the needle is easily dislodged. INSIST on a nurse who has experience, knows what length of needle to use and how to insert and remove.
    Good Luck,
    Mary
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #9
    MK_4Dani said:

    I did IP
    I had 6 rounds carboplatin IP. I did not have problems..just the bloating that Nancy mentioned. It was not too bad...pre dx bloating was much worse. The treatment takes 6-8 hours...bring plenty of reading material. It is tough to do much (crafts, needle work, etc.) since you are in a bed. I had to move around every 15-30 minutes to "swish" around. Like Ground Effect said, be very careful when you go to bathroom cause the needle is easily dislodged. INSIST on a nurse who has experience, knows what length of needle to use and how to insert and remove.
    Good Luck,
    Mary

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #10
    MK_4Dani said:

    I did IP
    I had 6 rounds carboplatin IP. I did not have problems..just the bloating that Nancy mentioned. It was not too bad...pre dx bloating was much worse. The treatment takes 6-8 hours...bring plenty of reading material. It is tough to do much (crafts, needle work, etc.) since you are in a bed. I had to move around every 15-30 minutes to "swish" around. Like Ground Effect said, be very careful when you go to bathroom cause the needle is easily dislodged. INSIST on a nurse who has experience, knows what length of needle to use and how to insert and remove.
    Good Luck,
    Mary

    PEE
    I was able to get up and go pee. Never mentioned the possibility of dislodging the needle. Needle never became dislodge either.

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