| Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 23 Member | OP Member Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 23 | I have a six week treatment with radiation and Cisplatin. The chemo is one dose on day 1, then another in 3 weeks and one the final day. I was sick the day after, not real bad but I had to start on the ant-nausea pills . The sickness is whats really getting to me and I was wondering if it will subside? I've read on here that some folks are getting there chemo in more frequent doses, is there anyone who's had experience with the "every 3 week" doses? I was wondering if the long time span between doses let the crappy feeling wear off or does it just stay with you ?
-thanks for your time, Jody
8/24/11- SCC stage3:tongue reconstruct from left arm & radical neck, feeding tube,trache. 3/28/12- SCC:radical neck again,chemo/radiation. Started Cisplatin/radiation 5/2/12. Finished 6/13/12. 37yr old male. 7/19/13: All checks/scans have been good. Body weight and strength have return.
| | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 | Jody, your treatments sound very similar to mine. I only got sick the first cisplatin treament, and I got REALLY sick. The next two cisplatins I was given an anti-nausea med to take the night before, as well as some anti-nausea meds in the IV. I also had pills to take at home when I needed them. I did feel pretty crappy, but I didn't have the vomiting that I had with my first dose. The worst problem was that I wasn't getting enough nutrition and had to be hospitalized for a few days after my treatments had ended, so it is really important to get the nutrition and stay hydrated. I had a PEG and hated it, but forced myself to use it.
Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Many of us, including myself went thru the 3 big doses of cisplatin. I was so sick my third dose was cancelled. Others will get a smaller weekly dose of cisplatin. They seem to handle the smaller doses much easier than the bigger 3 week doses.
Keep up with the anti-nausea meds. Every time you think you are doing ok it will sneak up on you and then its next to impossible to get ahead of it again. Nutrition and hydration are what will make this whole thing much easier to tolerate. Push yourself for every single day to get a minimum of 2500 calories and 48 oz of water. If you can do more thats even better.
Hang in there! ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | 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 | Hi - there are anti nauseants that do help, let your dr know how you feel. My doses were the same as yours - the more frequent ones are lesser doses, with the three you get a large dose three times as opposed to 6 smaller doses. Cisplatin is hard on the kidneys up your fluid intake, that may help a bit. Hugs - you'll get through this!
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: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 | Kevin got pretty sick after the first one, but he also had Taxotere and 5FU at the same time. The reaction to the 2nd and third was not quite as bad. Just to warn you though...he did lose quite a bit of hearing in his left ear. It is a side effect of Cisplatin, but not one that everyone has. Kathy
Kathy wife/caregiver to: Kevin age:53 Dx 7/15/11 HPV16+ SCC Stage IV BOT/R Non smoker, casual drinker 7/27/11 Cistplatin, taxotere,5FU 2/3week sessions, followed by IMRT 125cgy x 60 (2x daily) w/Erbitux weekly. Last rad 10/26/11. Last Erbitux 10/27/11 PEG placed 9/1/11 Removed 11/8/11 Clear PET 10/12 and 10/13 and ct in 6/14 | | | | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 31 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: May 2012 Posts: 31 | I didn't get very sick on my first treatment...I didn't puke, anyway. My Oncologist has a super duper nausea regime, tho...and he insists we stick to it by the letter for the first 2 days. 7 am, Zophran, 8 am Emend, 10 am Compazine, 1 pm Ativan, 3 pm Zophran, 6 pm Compazine...and Ativan at bedtime. I had a couple bad days during the first 5 days afterwards, where I'd take anti-nausea meds during the day. Sleep played a BIG difference in how I felt, tho...the more sleep the better the nausea would be.
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Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Stage III T1N2M0, diagnosed March, 2012...Treatments started April 24, 2012, finished 8/28/12.
| | | | Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 23 Member | OP Member Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 23 | Thanks,
Im also wondering what exactly dose the Dexamethasone do?
I took it days 2 through 4 (after) and I still have some left, would it help me feel better if I kept taking it ?
trying to keep up on the food/water....its hard though, everything tastes so bad and my tongue is burned/swollen from radiation. Im averaging around 1500cals a day and have only lost 3 pounds from wednesday. Ben & Jerry's ice cream is helping too.
-Jody
8/24/11- SCC stage3:tongue reconstruct from left arm & radical neck, feeding tube,trache. 3/28/12- SCC:radical neck again,chemo/radiation. Started Cisplatin/radiation 5/2/12. Finished 6/13/12. 37yr old male. 7/19/13: All checks/scans have been good. Body weight and strength have return.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Here is the link for info about Dexamethasone. http://www.chemocare.com/bio/dexamethasone.aspJody, watch your calories and hydration very closely. While 1500 calories may seem like alot, it is not enough. If you have lost 3 pounds in a week, its too much. Right now, you will need to take in a minimum of 2500 calories and 48 oz of water every single day. By taking in this much it will help your body to fight off the cancer and rebuild itself from the treatments. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 151 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 151 | Jody, Do you have a feeding tube to fall back on. My husband was determined not to have one but is very thankful he did!! It is five weeks post treatment and he takes almost everything by tube still. Food totally nauseated him but the last 2 weeks he has started very cautiously trying little bites. Try for a lot more calories. He has lost 35 pounds, 25 since radiation and chemo stsrted. Even with taking in over 2500 calories he still dropped 2 pounds last week. Luckily even though food nauseates him he was able to keep the tube feeding down most of the time. Only had trouble when the gagging from the gunk in his throat would eventually cause him to get sick. Hang in there. It will get better, we have finally reached the place last week where things are improving.
Husband diagnosed Oct '11 Cancer of the vocal cord Nov '11 removed right vocal cord. Neck Dissection, cancer in one node, .2, very small & contained) Jan '12 Radiation and Cisplatin, 6 doses. June '12 & Dec '12 clear Pet scan. April '13 Celebrating 1 year cancer free since treatment ended.
| | | | Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 23 Member | OP Member Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 23 | Finished chemo & radiation on the 13th. Got down to about 145lbs as of the 26th but I've been able to drink more and more Boost since the 13th. Calories are right around 2200 a day for the last 4 or 5 days so I hope my weight starts to go up.
What are peoples experience with the time frame for the "coughing-up slime" to stop?
8/24/11- SCC stage3:tongue reconstruct from left arm & radical neck, feeding tube,trache. 3/28/12- SCC:radical neck again,chemo/radiation. Started Cisplatin/radiation 5/2/12. Finished 6/13/12. 37yr old male. 7/19/13: All checks/scans have been good. Body weight and strength have return.
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