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Joined: May 2008 Posts: 551 | Nick,
I'm curious - what is your Mom's body type, if I may ask? My docs never said anything about my height or weight being an issue when they decided weekly chemotherapy was appropriate for me.
Stage IV SCC lt lateral tongue, surgery 5/19/08 (partial gloss/upper neck dissection left side/radial free flap reconstruction) IMRT w/weekly Cisplatin & Erbitux 6/30/08, PEG 1 6/12/08 - out 7/14 (in abdominal wall, not stomach), PEG 2 7/23/08 - out 11/20/08, Tx done 8/18/08
Second SCC tumor, Stage 1, rt mobile tongue, removed 10/18/2016, right neck dissection 12/9/2016
Third SCC tumor, diagnosed, 4/19/2108, rt submandibular mass, HPV-, IMRT w/ weekly Cisplatin, 5/9 - 6/25/2018, PEG 3 5/31/2018
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 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: 6 |
If your mom needs help with the PEG feedings please post. I have several tricks that will help her make it easier and cause her less nasuea. I unfortunately learned these things the hard way. Please let her know that there are many people who here that will help her thru this. You both are not alone in this fight.
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: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | What did they say about the height and weight being a factor?
No one has ever said that as a reason to do or not to do ANYTHING, much less breaking up poison into smaller doses?
Interested in your response.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 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: 6 |
I was wondering the same thing. Very odd how height would have a bearing on this. Maybe thats just a nice way saying height and weight when they really mean how chubby somebody is. I was chubby when I started chemo and was given 3 doses but only got 2 because of such a bad reaction.
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: May 2008 Posts: 551 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 551 | Christine,
I was a good 75 pounds, or more, overweight when I started treatment and I got weekly chemotherapy. My weight was never even mentioned.
Stage IV SCC lt lateral tongue, surgery 5/19/08 (partial gloss/upper neck dissection left side/radial free flap reconstruction) IMRT w/weekly Cisplatin & Erbitux 6/30/08, PEG 1 6/12/08 - out 7/14 (in abdominal wall, not stomach), PEG 2 7/23/08 - out 11/20/08, Tx done 8/18/08
Second SCC tumor, Stage 1, rt mobile tongue, removed 10/18/2016, right neck dissection 12/9/2016
Third SCC tumor, diagnosed, 4/19/2108, rt submandibular mass, HPV-, IMRT w/ weekly Cisplatin, 5/9 - 6/25/2018, PEG 3 5/31/2018
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 35 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 35 | Okay I had told my mom to ask the doctor about possibly having smaller and more frequent dosages of cisplatin like many of you had mentioned. The doctor said the dosage was pre-determined before treatment began based on her weight and will not be changed.
She had her 2nd chemo session yesterday and she said she felt A LOT better than she did after the first. Due to the medications they gave I assume.
CG to mother. Diagnosed with SCC August 08. Surgery Sep 08 to remove right mandible and replace it with fibula from left leg. Also neck dissection with one pos. node. Rad/Chemo with cisplatin completed Nov 30, 2008.
Passed away Dec 15, 2014
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Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Her doctors can adjust her Tx anytime they want and they should if it's to react to a patient's bad reaction. She should never have been set to get 3 doses when most docs now feel very comfortable giving the less toxic weekly doses.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | I am not sure that more frequent and smaller doses of Cisplatin make it "less toxic". It is a very toxic drug to be sure. It might be more tolerable in more frequent, smaller doses but not less toxic. The stuff is made from platinum. If your hydration level isn't up to par, kidney danage can result, so adequate hydration is vital. Staying propetly hydtated will make you feel a lot better as well. I had to be rehydrated by IV once in the ER and twice in infusion. It's MUCH better, more comfotable and faster in the infusion unit. Make an appointment first - they don't take drop ins.
Cisplatin works as an alkylating agent that makes the tissue more responsive to radiation. It is most effective an adjunct to radiation.
Some here have been changed over to it's less toxic cousin, Carboplatin if hearing problems have arisen. Treatment plans CAN be changed and/or modified.
Cisplatin has been around for a long while and can add around 13-15% improvement to the survival odds. It has a proven track record and the gold standard when used in conjunction with radiation.
My reaction time to ct peaked in negativity about 2 days post infustion and got better slowly as time went on until the next treatment. I think part of the reason for that is that they hydrate you first before they add the smaller bag of Cisplatin and Zofran.
Last edited by Gary; 11-18-2008 02:57 AM.
Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 35 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 35 | Wow, when I had talked to her on Thursday the day she had her 2nd round of cisplatin she said she was feeling good. But the next 3 days or so were once again terrible for her. She said shes been constantly throwing up and doesn't plan on going back for her 3rd and final cisplatin treatment. After reading the above post, I have to once again try to talk her into it or get this treatment plan changed.
CG to mother. Diagnosed with SCC August 08. Surgery Sep 08 to remove right mandible and replace it with fibula from left leg. Also neck dissection with one pos. node. Rad/Chemo with cisplatin completed Nov 30, 2008.
Passed away Dec 15, 2014
| | | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 551 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 551 | Nick,
It doesn't sound like the docs have the right anti-nausea drugs. The first two weeks of cisplatin were bad for me too, but after a change in drugs, I did very well tolerating it.
Your Mom really needs to speak up about this. Her life truly depends on it!
- Margaret
Stage IV SCC lt lateral tongue, surgery 5/19/08 (partial gloss/upper neck dissection left side/radial free flap reconstruction) IMRT w/weekly Cisplatin & Erbitux 6/30/08, PEG 1 6/12/08 - out 7/14 (in abdominal wall, not stomach), PEG 2 7/23/08 - out 11/20/08, Tx done 8/18/08
Second SCC tumor, Stage 1, rt mobile tongue, removed 10/18/2016, right neck dissection 12/9/2016
Third SCC tumor, diagnosed, 4/19/2108, rt submandibular mass, HPV-, IMRT w/ weekly Cisplatin, 5/9 - 6/25/2018, PEG 3 5/31/2018
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