Dear Friends,

Just a quick update on my father's condition. Latest CT showed new growth. Depends which doctor you talk to. One doctor says it a recurring tumor. Another states its now in an area below the previous area. However, I was really devastated, because my father had stated previously that he would not go thru that again. Had 39 IMRT treatments. Chemo of 5FU and Cisplatin.

We talked at length this weekend about his options, and much to my relief he agreed to try chemo again. We have our chemo teaching next Monday and he begins treatment on Wednedsay.

My question is the course of treatment this time is Taxol with a carbo-combination. Anyone familiar with this form of chemo? What's the difference with this as opposed to the Cisplatin? Thanks again to all you wonderful people for your prayers and insight.

VickieM

Vickie,

I cannot speak on the differences since I am on, and have only had the Taxol/Carbo mix. I had my first round on 7/7/04 and my second on 7/28/04. My hair thinned heavily at week 3 and the only other problems I experienced was some sleeplessness the first few days after treatment and some joint pain. The joint pain only lasted a few days. That is it! Some breads had a kind of cardboard taste, I'm assuming on the taste of cardboard. I'm told the sleeping problem was from the premeds, sleeping pills took care of that.

It really has been easy.

Glenn

Vickie,I had a course of Taxol and Carboplatin and the only side effect was baldness. I was switched to that after Cisplatin had altered my hearing. Frankly, that first chemo was much more difficult to take with all its associated anti-nausea pills and urine output monitoring, so the other mixture was a relief. And my hair grew back just fine. I worried a bit, thinking I was suppposed to suffer a bit more because it was so easy, but I am now two years out and all is well. Good for your dad to give it try! It will not beat him up at all.

Vicki,

I had both. Same reactions as GRE1.
Here is a link to the Taxol web site that shows how it was invented. Check it out. It's pretty cool.
http://www.taxol.com/timeli.html

Carbo V.S. Cis:
It seems that the differences between the 2 agents are minimal and may be insignificant in terms of survival. The real differences are in the toxicity profiles. Cis is much more toxic in terms of side effects.

Also,

I am from Chicago. Where is your dad getting treated?

The U of C has an excellent re-iradiation (IMRT) plan with 5FU, Iressa and Hydrea. If this is in fact not a recurrance this would be the absolute best protocol for your fathers long term survival.
(Brett this is not a plug, please dont sensor me)
Call or e-mail me if you have any questions.

Robert

Thanks to all who replied. My fathers radiologist and oncologist both work out of Palos Heights, Il. Intermed Oncology and SWC Oncology Center to be exact. Will write again on Tuesday, after the initial Chemo teaching


VickieM

Hello Vicki M,

I just completed 6 weeks of Taxol and Carboplatin with one week off in the middle.
I had very little side effects. My hair thinned out so I had the barber give me a buzz. I seem to get tired easier. Today I slept from noon til 6pm. Just felt really tired.

Nothing was ever explained to me about why she selected those two drugs to use. After reading your post I intend to ask her on Monday why she selected them.
If the scan shows no improvement or help, I'm sure she will want to try some different ones. Thats my toughest decision, What do I do? If you keep telling me that it can't be cured "Whats the Point" I'll find out Monday morning.

Best wishes, Danny Boy