| | Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 56 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 56 | Had my first radiation and chemo (cisplatin) on 8/20/12 and the next day (today) I began having extended periods of hiccups. At first relaxation techniques seemed to help, not now. Tried the compazine prn as it is a relative of chlorpromazine (thorazine) that some have mentioned here as helpful, worked for a bit, waiting for this dose to kick in after hiccuping for more than an hour.
Am not sure what is causing this: is it the chemo? the anti-nausea meds (which have worked great so far)? I will be talking with my docs about it tomorrow but would like to know what others have heard about this, and experienced, and found to be helpful with, hiccups. Thanks.
Ed H, NE Ohio
SCC BOT with lymph node involvement, HPV+, diagnosed 7/12
Radiation and Cisplatin
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 8 Member | | Member
Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 8 | Hi Ed,
I had exactly the same hiccups you have now. Tried the same drugs you are using now plus Valium. After 6 or so hours they went away (the first occurrence), they lasted nearly 12 hours the second occurrence (really annoying). And then that was it, they never returned. I was told it was a reaction to the Cisplatin.
Hang in there, they will go away.
JT
Age 58 Dx Dec 2011, HPV 16+ SCC, T2N2M0, Stage IVa BOT and 2 nodes L&R, non smoker, casual drinker, Tx 27 Jan - 6 Mar 2012, Cisplatin x 3 with concurrent IMRT x 35, (70 Gy), Bilat & size (3.3 cm) made tumor inop, Peg Jan - May 2012, Esophageal Dilation x2, PET Clear 6 Jun 2012. Lost 60 lbs!
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 56 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 56 | Thanks! Am glad to hear it is temporary. Mine have maxed at 1-2 hrs, annoying enough, cannot imagine 12 hrs of them! Mine have subsided for now so am calling it a night. You sure lost a lot of weight; I hope you are doing better now.
Ed H, NE Ohio
SCC BOT with lymph node involvement, HPV+, diagnosed 7/12
Radiation and Cisplatin
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 | Hi Ed, glad to hear your hiccups have gone. Kris had intractable hiccups with his Cisplatin. They would come and stay for hours then go for an hour or two before returning again. This went on for about 10 days. He used chlorpromazine and lorazepam and haloperidol plus increased his maxalon to 20 mgs three times a day along with stemetil.
We were told the Cisplatin caused them but I did read a number of papers that attributed them to the anti nausea meds.
Tammy
Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 225 "OCF Down Under" Gold Member (200+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 225 | Simon had terrible hiccups, but didn't have cisplatin, but carboplatin.
Brother 49yo DX 22/6/11 Tonsil SCC HPV+ Stage IV T4N1(?)M0. Carbo/docetaxel (Taxotere)19/7, 11/8 (with E-tux), 1/9; E-tux 11/8, 25/8, 15/9, 30/9, 14/10, 28/10; IMRT X 35 (70gy tumour;63gy nodes;56gy gen area) 19/9-4/11/11. Clear PET scan 1/2/12. 1 and 2 year post treatment checks good.
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Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 | Hi Ed
I think you'll find it is more likely to be the anti-nausea drugs that do it to you. Alex also got the hiccups and we just assumed it was the Emend as it is a common and well known side effect. Also sleeping pills and pain killers can do it too. The good news is, that once the drug wears off, so too do the hiccups.
Karen
If you talk to your doctor, maybe they can suggest an alternative?
Karen Love of Life to Alex T4N2M0 SCC Tonsil, BOT, R lymph nodes Dx March 2010 51yrs. Unresectable. HPV+ve Tx Chemo x 3+1 cycles(cisplatin,docetaxel,5FU)- complete May 31 Chemoradiation (IMRTx35 + weekly cisplatin) Finish Aug 27 Return to work 2 years on 3 years out Aug 27 2013 NED  Still underweight
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 56 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 56 | Thanks, everyone, hiccups are on my list for the chemo doc this week. Yesterday was mostly hiccup-free but want to be prepared for the next round of chemo.
Ed H, NE Ohio
SCC BOT with lymph node involvement, HPV+, diagnosed 7/12
Radiation and Cisplatin
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