#36455 03-26-2003 04:58 PM | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 546 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP  "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 546 | Hi everyone, Heather needs to decide soon what type chemo she wants to get to battle this new tumor. Since the oncologists are dragging their heels, I'm doing my own research. I've read about several chemo types and have also received some helpful e-mails from some of you here at OCF, so I do know a little. I'm wondering, though, if those of you who have had chemo would be willing to post what kind you had? Also what side effects you experienced? And any helpful little tidbits, like the loss of hearing issue with cisplatin. Any info will be greatly appreciated and I'm sure will be a help to others also. Thank you in advance. Rainbows & hugs,  Rosie
Was primary caregiver to my daughter Heather who had stage IV base of tongue SCC w/ primary recurrence. Original diagnosis August 21st, 2002. Primary recurrence March 18th, 2003. Died October 6th, 2003.
| | | 
#36456 03-26-2003 05:35 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 | Rosie, I hope this helps. When I had a bad reaction to cisplatin, I was switched to weekly carboplatin and taxol. No nausea or hearing issues, I just lost my hair. I was given to understand that this was a pretty common mix in conjunction with radiation. Please know you and Heather and your granddaughter are in my prayers.
Joanna | | |
#36457 03-26-2003 06:11 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 541 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 541 | Hello Rosie,
I had 4 shoots of cisplatin to treat my stage 4 tonsil cancer. I was given an injection to prevent nausea before the chemo. No hair loss and there was buzzing sound for a while after completing treatment but it disappeared gradually. Now my hearing is very normal.A well known side effect is you will feel very depressed. There are also some long term side effects you may have to ask the doctors but at this stage the most important is to stop the tumor from growing in Heather's body. Hope this helps.
Karen stage 4 tonsil cancer diagnose in 9/01.
Karen stage 4B (T3N3M0)tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/2001.Concurrent chemo-radiation treatment ( XRT x 48 /Cisplatin x 4) ended in 12/01. Have been in remission ever since.
| | |
#36458 03-27-2003 05:08 PM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 189 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 189 | My husband received cisplatin on day one followed with four days of 5FU. He did experience some nausea toward the end of his treatments, but not anything horrible. And no hair loss.
I hope this helps.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all,
Mandi
Husband diagnosed with stage III tonsil and floor of mouth cancer in August 2002. Three rounds of chemo/42 RAD treatments. Upper right lung lobectomy in March 2003. (Benign)
| | |
#36459 04-01-2003 04:19 AM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 3 Member | | Member
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 3 | Hello....I was given Paraplatin & Taxatere with a push of Zofran to help with nausea. These were given in low doses because it was to enhance the radiation(boy did it ever enhance the rad) and kill any loose cells. Even in low dosage I felt the side effects....no hair loss but I got really sick for the next three days after.(I did loose my full beard but it was from the rad) On the day of recieving the chemo I felt Great!! It had to be all the Zofran they pushed in me....I had chemo one day a week for 7 weeks and after the 3rd week it got rough....I was also given amifostine,2 shots in the stomach every day until after the second week I had a reaction with a 103 degree fever and spent the night in the hospital.Well we stopped the amifostine....Side affects from the Chemo were sores in the mouth and my lower lip broke out in one big sore and felt like it was on fire...and of coarse the nausea for at least 3 days after I was given the chemo.I had a rough time with the chemo and I was only given a low dose!!!! Im new at writing on line but I really like this web site and I hope I can help you and anybody that has to go through this...hope this info helps you ... 
John Moran Diagnosed Sept.12,02
S.C.C. Stage 4,Right Tonsil Cancer
Survivor
| | |
#36460 04-01-2003 05:22 PM | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 546 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 546 | Hi guys, Thanks for your input. I appreciate it. We do the consult at Johns Hopkins Thursday. Wish us luck! Rainbows & hugs, Rosie
Was primary caregiver to my daughter Heather who had stage IV base of tongue SCC w/ primary recurrence. Original diagnosis August 21st, 2002. Primary recurrence March 18th, 2003. Died October 6th, 2003.
| | |
#36461 04-04-2003 12:55 PM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 | Rosie,Heather,
I have nothing else to say except if you try real hard you can feel me helping to hold you up...
Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.
| | |
#36462 04-07-2003 07:21 AM | Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 246 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 246 | Hi Rosie:
Apparently I missed this thread the last time I read the board. My apologies for being tardy but our sentiments are no less timely.
Dave and I are pulling for you, Heather, and your family as you face the current new challenge. Clearly, the latest round in the ongoing ordeal is exhausting and frightening for all of you.
Offering a virtual shoulder,
David & Kim
kcdc
Wife of Dave,diagnosed with Stage III Tonsillar SCC,August '02
Modified radical neck dissection followed by radiation therapy
'There is glory and radiance in the darkness and to see we have only to look"
| | |
| Forums23 Topics18,267 Posts197,182 Members13,366 | | Most Online1,788
Jan 23rd, 2025 | | |
|
