Question about Cisplatin

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Dean54
Dean54 Member Posts: 160 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I have a question to those that have had multiple doses of this poison please. As far as your side effects go, were your 2nd or 3rd doses the same as the 1st, better, or worse? I'm getting close to my 2nd dose and the 1st made me extremely sick. Thanks in advance.

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  • OKCnative
    OKCnative Member Posts: 326 Member
    #2
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    I did the 3 large doses and I

    I did the 3 large doses and I'm one month out of treatment now.

    I did very well on Cisplatin. They told me I'd probably be sick about my 3rd day after getting it and remain sick for 2-5 days. That wasn't my experience. I was sick that same night and for the next 48 hours. However, 'sick' was about the same as a mild flu. Just wanted to stay in bed or on the couch, but not miserable.

    The second dose I probably felt a little bit sicker than the 1st, but not by much.

    The Third dose was actually not a big deal and I wasn't hardly sick from it at all (just tired of the whole treatment process).

    I never threw-up during treatment and probably only felt nauseous twice. I kept up with the rub-on anti-nausea medicine and also used some THC patches.

    However, most people I talk to say it gets progressively worse with each treatment for them. 

    I firmly believe that if you keep your calories and fluids up you'll fair much better. 

    I did IV fluids the day before chemo and 3 days later and again a week after that.

  • JBBW
    JBBW Member Posts: 30
    #3
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    I had two doses at 75%.

    Because I had renal problems my doctor decided to go with lower dosages of the Cisplatin.  Two doses separated by three weeks at 75% strength.  The first dose was the same week as the start of my radiation therapy.  The second dose might have been just a little worse than the first but only because the radiation treatment was in full swing and i was starting to feel down from that.  Also, I think the steriod they gave me the day before, morning of, and day after my chemo kept me from getting as much nasea.  I think it really helped more than anything else.
    Good luck.  I am sure you have heard it all but make sure you are hydrated before you go to treatement. 

  • Andy13460
    Andy13460 Member Posts: 115
    #4
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    3 doses at full strength

    Felt ok after all of them no sickness just a bit tired the next few days. I still put my easy passage down to loads of fluids drank and exercise every day walking 3 or 4 miles. The steroids for 3 days after are great for anti sickness.

  • Klingels
    Klingels Member Posts: 78
    #5
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    Rough time with Cisplatin

    My husband had the 3 heavy doses. He tells me he regrets the last one and wishes he had opted for the lower dosage for the last couple of weeks. His last Cisplatin infusion was delayed due to low white blood cell and platelet count. He was very sick for the entire week after every dose. The anti-nausea medicines did not work well for him. He couldn't eat nor would his body allow him too. Food came back up even using the feeding tube. Initially, he had IV hydration then that turned to TPN. He is 12 weeks post treatment, getting physical therapy, occupational therapy, and swallowing therapy. He started getting better around week 7 post treatment.

  • dtalbot1
    dtalbot1 Member Posts: 5
    #6
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    Very sick

    I had 3 doses of Cisplatin. I begged my oncologist to please let me forgo my last treatment. I had stage 3 Base of tongue cancer , surgery was not an option. I lost 40 lbs in 4 weeks. The chemo was rough for me. I had to get IV hydration twice.I would leave chemo and have to go to radiation. I remeber fighting the urge to vomit while under THE MASK . Yeah, I had a rough time with it too. I am now 15 months post treatment.

  • Dean54
    Dean54 Member Posts: 160 Member
    #7
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    Had my 2nd dose on Monday and

    Had my 2nd dose on Monday and felt crappy almost immediately this time and progessively got worse to today where I had dry heaves almost all day and even had to miss my radiation apt. And this is after having IV fluids yesterday that I didn't have the first time. Feel really dehydrated and not sure where to go from here but plan on having a long talk with the cancer doctor about forgoing the last round of this poison.

  • Curlyn
    Curlyn Member Posts: 189
    #8
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    Hi fean, I had my 5th half

    Hi fean, I had my 5th half dose yesterday. I'm feeling a biy lower than I did eith the others but they have given me odansetron (zofran- which heightens the steroid effects), decadron, emend. I also have ranitidine, metoclopromide to take as necesssry. Also*and what I found made the biggest difference* to me is that I receive extra fluids both on the day of chemo and a whole liter the day following. You need to tell them how miserable you are so they can help. My biggest misery today is a sore tongue ugh. Hugs! I hope they get conyrol of this for you and you feel better soon.

  • Curlyn
    Curlyn Member Posts: 189
    edited October 2017 #9
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    Omg, excuse spelling, lol, my

    Omg, excuse spelling, lol, my eyesight worse than I thought!!!!

  • Curlyn
    Curlyn Member Posts: 189
    #10
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    Andy13460 said:

    3 doses at full strength

    Felt ok after all of them no sickness just a bit tired the next few days. I still put my easy passage down to loads of fluids drank and exercise every day walking 3 or 4 miles. The steroids for 3 days after are great for anti sickness.

    Thanks for the fluid advice,

    Thanks for the fluid advice, I believe it has helped me the most.

  • Dean54
    Dean54 Member Posts: 160 Member
    #11
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    Thanks Curlyn. I tell them

    Thanks Curlyn. I tell them and all they say is are you taking the meds? The zofran just barely helps and the compazine totally knocks me out so I can't get out of bed to go to my apts. I do have another round of IV fluids to go thru tomorrow. Yesterday when I had my IV fluids they gave me a double dose of the zofran and all it did was make me more dopey and didn't help that much in my opinion. Have to get thru this somehow...

  • Sprint Car Dude
    Sprint Car Dude Member Posts: 181
    #12
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    IV

    I had IV fluids every other day for almost 2 months following my treatment. It was a life saver. I was on a very similar regiment of medication. I also would get a Relistor shot IV frequently for severe constipation. The joys of treatments.  Good Luck. Life is Good.

  • rush1958
    rush1958 Member Posts: 223 Member
    #13
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    Cisplatin

    Nothing like a bag of poison in the morning to start your day!

    My first dose wasn't too bad. It didn't have many side effects. My second dose put me in the hospital for four days and left me getting IV's for fluid for the remainer of that treatment. I couldn't even hold water down for about a week. The third dose wasn't too bad. It was similar to my first dose.

    The aftermath of the cisplatin was a pretty dramatic hearing loss in my left ear. I also expierenced a total weight loss of 97 pounds. That said, I'm alive and well and cancer free seven years out of treatment. It's rough, but doable. It's absolutely worth it!

  • nikolaf
    nikolaf Member Posts: 50
    #14
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    My husband didn’t really get

    My husband didn’t really get sick till the end of the fourth week.  He just finished his 5th week and one more to go.

     

    its been a roller coaster with increasing lows.  Friday he stayed home from work— he NEVER does that.

     

    I’m not sure how to parse our whether it is the cisplatin that is making him sick or the radiation...

  • Curlyn
    Curlyn Member Posts: 189
    #15
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    nikolaf said:

    My husband didn’t really get

    My husband didn’t really get sick till the end of the fourth week.  He just finished his 5th week and one more to go.

     

    its been a roller coaster with increasing lows.  Friday he stayed home from work— he NEVER does that.

     

    I’m not sure how to parse our whether it is the cisplatin that is making him sick or the radiation...

    Hi, I have 3 more day of rads

    Hi, I have 3 more day of rads to go. I actually feel like I'm dying but they insist I am doing so well. Didn't even shower today and swallowing is like consuming broken glass. But others have said to take all the meds and magic mouthwash, etc. So I increased my hydromorph tonight and I think it will help to dull the misery. Hang in there. You are a great advocate for your husband, as my man is for me. My docs all said the cisplatin and rad effects are cumulative...hugs!

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