 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Chemo does not kill this cancer but does affect the cells so they die easier with the radiation. We are told chemo adds somewhere between 10 and 30% to the radiation's killing effect so it's really not 1+1=3, more like 1+1=2.something. Anyway I and many others had the 3 Big Bag method of cisplatin and for me and most it's not fun, especially bags 2 and 3. Within the past few years some treatment facilities have been administring the cis in 6 smaller bag weekly doses and those that have had that method seem to have less side effects than the 3 Big Bag method.
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.
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