The reactions to cisplatin can vary widely.
It also GREATLY depends how much you are getting. Some people are scheduled for 3 tx 3 weeks apart while others get it weekly. If you are getting this weekly (and only a third of the dose) then the side effects are normally less.
I had 2 cisplatin treatments. About 3 days after the first infusion I started to get the ringing. I informed my MO and he figured that this was just in my head (no kidding!!). Well it went mostly away by the time the second infusion was due. And then it got really annoying. We switched to carboplatin. Which they then they tell you is "just" as good as cisplatin but with fewer side effects...... If you can tolerate it stick with cisplatin there is more data for it. I never felt tired from the cisplatin, however consider they I had a lower dose because I got it weekly and it was at the beginning of the rad tx as well. I got all kinds of nausea pills which I did not end up using at all. For the cisplatin I only had trouble exactly two days before the next treatment and I took a pill the night before. Once we switched to carboplatin I did not even have to do that. Although I got both rad and cisplatin at the same time I would rate the chemo as "benign" compared to the rad tx later on.
Best

Markus





Partial glossectomy (25%) anterior tongue. 4/6/07/. IMRT start @5/24/07 (3x) Erbitux start/end@ 5/24/07. IMRT wider field (30x) start 6/5/07. Weekly cisplatin (2x30mg/m2), then weekly carbo- (5x180mg/m2). End of Tx 19 July 07.