 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | There has been a trend in more frequent, lower dose chemotherapy. The "every 3rd week" Cisplatin "slam" can be pretty brutal. The more frequent lower dose protocol seems to be as effective as the high dose type. Carboplatin typically has fewer side effects as Cisplatin. Taxol has been used for breast cancer for some time - its application for H&N cancer is relatively new or off-label.
FYI, Cisplatin was one of the first platinum based chemo drugs. It gained a new life when it was discovered it was a very effective adjunct to radiation (enhancing survival rates an additional 13%). Carboplatin was developed because some have extreme reactions to Cisplatin, including permanent hearing loss (although this is rare).
Last edited by Gary; 12-03-2011 07:32 PM.
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)
| 
