| Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 | 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.
Kelly Male 48, SCC (Soft Palet) Rt., Stage 1, T3n0m0, Dx, 8-09, Start IMRT 35 9-2-09 end 10-21-09 04-20-10 NED 8-11 recurrence, node rt. neck N2b 10-11 33 IMRT w/chemo wkly 3-12-12 PET - residual cancer 4-12 5 treatments with Cyberknife & Erbitux 6-19-12 Pet scan CLEAR 12-3-12 PET - CLEAR
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | 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!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | 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 65 yr Old Frack Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+ 2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG 2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery 25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Apaghia /G button 2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa 40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 | 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
Julieann Nov 2007 SCC on right tonsil following tonsillectomy. Was smoker, QUIT. (Stage IV T2 N2b) 7 weeks radiation one day/wk chemo (carboplatin and 5-FU). Allergic to Taxol; PEG in, lost 30 lbs. TX completed January 2008. PEG out mid- 2008. PET/CT 1/17/2011;2/3/12 NEGATIVE for cancer | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 | 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.
Karen Love of Life to Alex T4N2M0 SCC Tonsil, BOT, R lymph nodes Dx March 2010 51yrs. Unresectable. HPV+ve Tx Chemo x 3+1 cycles(cisplatin,docetaxel,5FU)- complete May 31 Chemoradiation (IMRTx35 + weekly cisplatin) Finish Aug 27 Return to work 2 years on 3 years out Aug 27 2013 NED Still underweight
| | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 | 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.
Kelly Male 48, SCC (Soft Palet) Rt., Stage 1, T3n0m0, Dx, 8-09, Start IMRT 35 9-2-09 end 10-21-09 04-20-10 NED 8-11 recurrence, node rt. neck N2b 10-11 33 IMRT w/chemo wkly 3-12-12 PET - residual cancer 4-12 5 treatments with Cyberknife & Erbitux 6-19-12 Pet scan CLEAR 12-3-12 PET - CLEAR
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Yeah.. Hopefully you won't be too badly affected! Good luck!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 595 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 595 | Good luck and best wishes and keep up the positive attitude!!!Semper-Fi Bob
Bob age 57, non smoker,non drinker, ended treatment on 11 Nov 2007 and started back to work on 29 Nov 2007. Veterans Day 2012 the Battle was lowered, folded, Taps was played and the Flag buried as I am know a 5 year survivor. Semper-FI !!!
| | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 571 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 571 | Keep moving forward! Good luck with treatment!
Sandy
Ex-spouse MISDIAGNOSED with SCC-HN IVa 12/10. Tonsils out 1/11. 4 teeth out 2/11. TX Erbitux x2, IMRT x2 2/11. 2nd opinion-benign BCC-NOT CANCER 3/11. TX stopped 3/11. New doctors 4/11. ENT agrees with 2nd opinion 5/11. ENT scoped him-all clear 7/11. Ordered MRI anyway. MRI 8/22/11 Result-all clear.
| | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 790 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 790 | 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
Tongue Cancer T2 N0 M0 / Total Glossectomy Due to Location of Tumor
Finished all treatments May 25 2007 Surviving!!!
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