Cisplatin and Vinorelbine

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Fullrecoveryplease
Fullrecoveryplease Member Posts: 7
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I have parotid cancer metastasis to lymph nodes and lungs. After meeting w 2 oncologists, I was surprised to hear that radiation would not be in my course of treatment after all. I'm getting a port put in next week and starting chemo. It's going to be cisplatin and vinorelbine. Does anyone have experience with this? Am anticipating hair loss, nausea and possible hearing issues. Do these side effects happen to everyone? Should I ask for Carboplatin instead? The first of many forks in the road, I was actually more mentally and physically prepared for radiation than this chemo. Thanks for all support and advise. Thinking strong and positive to get through this.

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  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #2
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    full, i didn't have chemo but

    full, i didn't have chemo but wanted to say good luck and i'll be praying for you.

    God bless you,

    dj

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #3
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    Chemo

    Get a hearing test before you start so you have a baseline.

    Chemo, even without radiation, can cause mucositis, so put that in the search field for messages here and read about it and what you can do to try and reduce its effects.

    There are many different anti-nausea drugs, Work with your doctors to find one that works for you if possible to reduce the nausea that accompanies chemo.

     

    best of luck - we'll be pulling for you!

    Barbara

  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    #4
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    I had different cancer and

    I had different cancer and treatment, but I can comment on a few things about Cisplatin. I had it, and there are a few thing to look for.

    Firstly, need to be very well hydrated, to protect the kidneys. I had perfusion with saline 2 hours prior to chemo, on top of what I was already drinking. Secondly, need to prevent nausea; Emend was effective. Thirdly, hearing loss. I had that, big time; because of that they switched to carboplatin. As Barbara mentioned – a hearing test would help, before the first treatment. Cisplatin is considered to be more effective, so it’s the first choice.

     

    No experience with Vinorelbine. 

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #5
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    corleone said:

    I had different cancer and

    I had different cancer and treatment, but I can comment on a few things about Cisplatin. I had it, and there are a few thing to look for.

    Firstly, need to be very well hydrated, to protect the kidneys. I had perfusion with saline 2 hours prior to chemo, on top of what I was already drinking. Secondly, need to prevent nausea; Emend was effective. Thirdly, hearing loss. I had that, big time; because of that they switched to carboplatin. As Barbara mentioned – a hearing test would help, before the first treatment. Cisplatin is considered to be more effective, so it’s the first choice.

     

    No experience with Vinorelbine. 

    Anti nausea

    Yes, we also had 2 liters of fluid with the chemo, and emend was given with the infusion. It helped a lot. For two days following chemo we also had a steroid - decadron to reduce nausea. Our first time we were given olanzapine  for nausea and my husband reacted very badly to that (hallucinations) so it does seem to be somewhat individualized. Once we knew the emend worked we stuck with that.

    Barbara

  • Tragic-king
    Tragic-king Member Posts: 12
    #6
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    Cisplatin effects

    I am getting my third and last round of Cisplatin as I type this.  The main problems I had were with nausea, though its more of a pain than the usual seasick feeling.  For me, a key is to stay on the meds past the required time, I take decadron and zofran, the zofran is particularly effective.  I also have ativan which helped with sleeping once I stopped the zofran.

    I did not lose much hair, though I did experience some ringing in my ears.  I was also pretty wiped out for about 1-2 weeks, but that was partly due to all these drugs and radiation going on at the same time.

    best of luck!

  • Fullrecoveryplease
    Fullrecoveryplease Member Posts: 7
    #7
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    Cisplatin or Carboplatin?

    So I'm getting a port put in tomorrow and my oncologist is going to give me the Carboplatin instead of the Cisplatin along with the Vinonelbine.  So I'm wondering if I should have requested the change and just deal with the hearing issues witch Cisplatin. I'm a vocal music school teacher. What is the difference between these 2 drugs as far as effectiveness goes.. Thoughts?

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #8
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    Tragic-king said:

    Cisplatin effects

    I am getting my third and last round of Cisplatin as I type this.  The main problems I had were with nausea, though its more of a pain than the usual seasick feeling.  For me, a key is to stay on the meds past the required time, I take decadron and zofran, the zofran is particularly effective.  I also have ativan which helped with sleeping once I stopped the zofran.

    I did not lose much hair, though I did experience some ringing in my ears.  I was also pretty wiped out for about 1-2 weeks, but that was partly due to all these drugs and radiation going on at the same time.

    best of luck!

    Zofran and Ativan

    yes, these were very helpful to us as well for the reasons you mentioned. The emend was only given at the time of the infusion. The Zofran you can take ongoing. And the Ativan helped my husband sleep as well.

    Barbara

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #9
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    Fullrecoveryplease said:

    Cisplatin or Carboplatin?

    So I'm getting a port put in tomorrow and my oncologist is going to give me the Carboplatin instead of the Cisplatin along with the Vinonelbine.  So I'm wondering if I should have requested the change and just deal with the hearing issues witch Cisplatin. I'm a vocal music school teacher. What is the difference between these 2 drugs as far as effectiveness goes.. Thoughts?

    Carboplatin/Cisplatin

    I am not sure of studies which compare the two and their effectiveness. With either one you will have to live with side effects, long term and short term. Having said that...it seems to me that hearing would be an important skill in your line of work, and I would think in your quality of life. Cisplatin does carry a risk of ototoxicity. I'm not sure what I would choose- but maybe talk over all the pros and cons with your oncologist.

    Barbara

  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    #10
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    Fullrecoveryplease said:

    Cisplatin or Carboplatin?

    So I'm getting a port put in tomorrow and my oncologist is going to give me the Carboplatin instead of the Cisplatin along with the Vinonelbine.  So I'm wondering if I should have requested the change and just deal with the hearing issues witch Cisplatin. I'm a vocal music school teacher. What is the difference between these 2 drugs as far as effectiveness goes.. Thoughts?

    You can check this thread:

    You can check this thread:

    http://cancergrace.org/forums/index.php?topic=9883.0

    Not entirely applicable, as it’s a different pathology, but in terms of side effects and management is relevant.

     

    Also to your question, another option would be to start on cisplatin, and then switch to carboplatin if proved to be too toxic.

  • JC F
    JC F Member Posts: 74
    #11
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    corleone said:

    You can check this thread:

    You can check this thread:

    http://cancergrace.org/forums/index.php?topic=9883.0

    Not entirely applicable, as it’s a different pathology, but in terms of side effects and management is relevant.

     

    Also to your question, another option would be to start on cisplatin, and then switch to carboplatin if proved to be too toxic.

    Chemo...

    My first two sessions were with cisplatin but asked them to switch to carboplatin for the third one because the hearing loss had become very perceptible after the second cisplatin. The chemo onc said that was an acceptable regimen for effectiveness...

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