#40568 12-22-2006 08:33 AM | Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 2 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 2 | I'm getting ready to start my chemo next week. My MO gave me a choice of 7 weekly or 3 bigger doses during my 7 week IMRT Tx... I'm wondering Why? Looks like most do the Bigger dose X3... any ideas?
Daniel B. Steinke
alive and fighting
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#40569 12-22-2006 10:54 AM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 417 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 417 | Take the seven doses, the large doses will make you sick...
Been there, done that...
Stage 3, T3,N1,M0,SCC, Base of Tongue. No Surgery, Radiationx39, Chemo, Taxol & Carboplatin Weekly 8 Treatments 2004. Age 60. Recurrence 2/06, SCC, Chest & Neck (Sub clavean), Remission 8/06. Recurrence SCC 12/10/06 Chest.
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#40570 12-22-2006 01:05 PM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Dan,
I wasn't offered the weekly but I would definately ask the MO. Without knowing anything else one advantage of the big bag is you only have to go through the chemo 3 times, not seven.
Let us know what the MO tells you re the advantages/disadvantages.
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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#40571 12-23-2006 04:21 AM | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 | I wasn't offered an option either. If the smaller doses are less likely to make you sick, and equally as effective, I could see that being advantageous. Though as David said, it means lots more time in the chemo room!
Nelie
SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
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#40572 12-26-2006 01:43 PM | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 624 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 624 | My husband's medical onc at Hopkins recommended the 7x (rather than the 3x) -- said it would be less difficult to handle. This proved true... he found it a "non-event" -- at least compared to the radiation and the dreaded amifostine. However, one important difference is that he received carboplatin, not cisplatin; carbo- is a less-toxic, newer drug.
Incidentally, I have asked three top MOs why more patients aren't given carbo (which seems to work just as well, at least in the folks I know who've gotten it), and the only reason that they gave me was that cisplatin has a longer history in clinical use.
Gail
CG to husband Barry, dx. 7/21/05, age 66, SCC rgt. tonsil, BOT, 2 nodes (stg. IV), HPV+, tonsillectomy, 7x carboplatin, 35x tomoTherapy IMRT w/ Ethyol @ Johns Hopkins, thru treatment 9/28/05, HPV vaccine trial 12/06-present. Looking good!
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#40573 12-27-2006 09:56 AM | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 583 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 583 | Hi Dan, Gee, I wish I would have had a choice and more information about carboplantin. When I went in I just took and did what they recommended. Maybe due to the fact that my situation had metastasized is why I received the Cisplatin. My question is by taking more doses, will that reduce the side effects? If so go for the 7x !  Take care, Diane
2004 SCC R.tip 1/4 tongue Oct. 2005 R. Neck SCC cancer/Chemo Cisplatin 2x/8wks. Rad. Removed Jugular vein, Lymph gland & some neck muscle. TX finished 1/20/06... B.Cancer 3/29/07 Finished 6/07 Bi-op 7/15/09 SCC in-situ, laser surgery removed from 1st. sight. Right jaw replacement 11/3/14. 9 yrs cancer free as of Jan. 2015
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#40574 01-11-2007 01:35 PM | Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 76 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 76 | 5 years ago my husband was not offered the choice either, he was in the hospital for two days on the days he received Cisplatin. They said it was only to help with radiation, makes the tissue more receptive to it.
He had already had a neck dissection and ...geeesh forget the word, they broke into his jaw to take the tonsil tumor in one piece and put a metal plate back in place along his jaw.
He was so sick during Chemo.....Hope x7 helps with patients being so sick.
Sherrie wife to Dan, Tonsil cancer survivor, Stage IV diagnosed July/2001
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