Carol:
I couldn't tell much from the second and third treatment, but by then I was pretty "worn". Pay attention to his Hearing and immediately report ringing or fuzziness. The combination can take an effect on High Frequency hearing. Everyone above is correct about the hydration. It's key.... It all gets better as you climb out of the "treatment tunnel" and finish up.

Best of Luck,
Steve

Insomnia is common and I still have it 4+ years later!

Zofran is the anti-emetic of choice but it has some limitations. First it is mainly effective for 3-5 days at a time (according to the manufacturer), then you must switch to something else for a while, secondly it is effective in about 60% of patients. There are other equally effective anti-emetics on the market now.

My 2nd Cisplatin Tx reaction was so severe that they decided not to give me a third.

Fortunately I didn't have any hearing problems and they are rather rare as I understand. As Steve suggested, do pay close attention to any changes and discuss it with your MO immediately. You should have had a baseline hearing test prior to starting treatment and one during treatment and one after.

I will emphasize again what others have said that hydration is not only key to protecting your other organs from permananet damage but also for the drug to work properly.

Today is day 4 and he seems alot better now. I realized that the instructions from the hospital stated he was to take a certain drug early in the morning. He took it late in the evening when he arrived home from the hospital Dexamethasone with food and the other drug Granisetron was to be taken and started the next day. Prochlorazine is to be taken when needed. All medications are for nausea to be taken after chemo. 10 days of radiation to go and 1 chemo. We have to make it!!! Thanks for all the replies. Carol.

You will make it. we are on a 4 wek break from treatments. Now thay want us to do a chemo pump for 3 treatments of 96 hrs. each. My husband doesn't know what to do. He was so sick with his first 3 rounds of chemo. Keep him hydrated thats the best advice I can give. This disease is a beast. MY husband said it is the most brutal thing he has had to do and He was in Vietnam! I will be praying for you both.

This is my first post. My mom had her first chemo treatment last week. She had chemo monday and tuesday at the hospital and had to wear a pump monday thru friday. Side effects hit her thursday. Nausea, vomiting (some "violent") and mouth sores on saturday. She says she hasn't sleep since the saturday before her first treatment.

My questions are:

1. Is insomnia common?

2. Are there anti-emetics that work better when cisplatin is used versus other chemos?

3. Will she tend to have the same side effects after the second and third treatments as all the "stuff" builds up in her body and good cells are already destroyed?

She was really positive after dianosis and before chemo began. She's not positive now and she hasn't even started radiation.

Any advice? Thank-you!

My heart goes out to you both. Its not an esy journey but you will make it. The Cisplatin made my husband very nausea the first time and also the violent vomiting. Infact he lost 14 lbs the first week!.. He then tried E-mend for the nausea and it really helped. Also to keep hydrated that is so important. I would also strongly suggest a peg-tube. It really saved my husband. Wish we would of done it in the very beginning instead of 4weeks later. That is what they want my husband to do in June go on the pump for one week each month for 3 months. This would be his second round of chemo. PLease keep me posted. YOu are in my prayers.

Carol:
I couldn't tell much from the second and third treatment, but by then I was pretty "worn". Pay attention to his Hearing and immediately report ringing or fuzziness. The combination can take an effect on High Frequency hearing. Everyone above is correct about the hydration. It's key.... It all gets better as you climb out of the "treatment tunnel" and finish up.

Best of Luck,
Steve

Insomnia is common and I still have it 4+ years later!

Zofran is the anti-emetic of choice but it has some limitations. First it is mainly effective for 3-5 days at a time (according to the manufacturer), then you must switch to something else for a while, secondly it is effective in about 60% of patients. There are other equally effective anti-emetics on the market now.

My 2nd Cisplatin Tx reaction was so severe that they decided not to give me a third.

Fortunately I didn't have any hearing problems and they are rather rare as I understand. As Steve suggested, do pay close attention to any changes and discuss it with your MO immediately. You should have had a baseline hearing test prior to starting treatment and one during treatment and one after.

I will emphasize again what others have said that hydration is not only key to protecting your other organs from permananet damage but also for the drug to work properly.