I start chemo on Monday. I will be getting low doses of Carboplatin and Paclitaxel weekly for 7 weeks during radiation. I was wondering if anyone here has done same. Also wondering what side affects you encountered. I have sheets on both of these from U of M but thought some personal experience from our members might help. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Lots of us have done the combo, it think carbo is a lot like cisplatin. Those who've had carbo will surely pipe up! I did cis... And it was okay - other than a bit of nausea I was ok! Good luck!

Kelly

My carboplatin TX was so much better than my Erbitux experience that I would have to go back and read my posts from two + years ago to recall what side effects bothered me. I don't need any such reminder about the travails of Erbitux. So carboplatin just didn't leave a negative impression or seem bad to me at all.
It seemed to have the same kick as I would have gotten with Cisplatin but without the hearing loss risk.
Hope it goes as smoothly for you.
Charm

Hi Kelly:

I had carboplatin and 5-FU, had an allergic reaction to Taxol. If you type carboplatin in the Search box (upper right), you will see others who had it. I had the normal side effects as others to include the loss of appetite, trouble swallowing (which I think was from the radiation, not the chemo), no energy, mouth sores and mucus. I had a feeding tube, which I didn't use at first, but later was glad I had it because I had the swallowing problem, plus no appetite. Everything tasted horrible. Good luck, and check out what others posted abour carboplatin.
julieann

Hi Kelly

Can't help you with the specifics, but wanted to wish you luck.

Alex only had cisplatin with his radiation but experienced the full force of triple therapy chemo in the months before (taxotere similar to taxol and cisplatin similar to carboplatin).

He barely noticed the chemo component of the chemoradiation other than nausea which was controlled with his anti-nausea medications. Previous experience had taught us to take ALL meds, even if you think you don't have nausea. You do, just the drugs are so good they are keeping everything in check (if that makes sense ...).

With full dose triple therapy Alex got all the side effects and was most affected by the fatigue, taste disturbance, froth, and of course nausea. During this period, the side effects hit him hard around day 2, started to improve around day 7 and he felt normalish around day 14 - just in time to get another round on day 21. And so it went on for 3 cycles.

With the chemoradiation, we noticed the side effects from chemo didn't last as long as full dose and Alex felt great on the first day (all the hydration they forced into him) then went downhill for 2-3 days and then back to "normal" for another 2-3 days. The effects of the radiation sort of eclipsed the chemo stuff and Alex always had the sense that the radiation was the thing that needed managing.

Not quite the same as what you will be treated with but expect the effects will be similar.

We were also told that hair loss is inevitable with the *taxelsat standard doses, (not sure about the baby doses you will get) and don't forget this includes eyelashes, pubic hair etc. Alex didn't lose his eyebrows, but everything else went and he shaved his head because he got sick of hair coming out in clumps. He had hoped the loss would be a graceful strand by strand thinning, but it came out in clumps from the back first and then the top - looked like the cat after a skirmish with a possum.

Got my first dose of Chemo today. No adverse symptoms yet (knock on wood). I'll be keeping an eye out tomorrow.

Had a big yogurt, carnation 560,fruit shake when I came home and that went well.

Radiation was canceled as RO felt field was too close to my eye. He will make adjustment and I go back tomorrow.

All in all a long first day. Thanks all for your input. I'll keep a running post of problems if they occur in case any others start on a low dose weekly chemo regime.

Yeah.. Hopefully you won't be too badly affected! Good luck!

Good luck and best wishes and keep up the positive attitude!!!Semper-Fi Bob

Keep moving forward! Good luck with treatment!

Sandy

Glad you are embarking on your treatment plan. I am praying for a full recovery for you. Sending you lots of positive vibes.

LOVE Kate

Hope you are doing well.