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#74539 05-17-2008 03:11 PM
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they want to give me 8-9 weks of taxol /carboplatinum/Erbitux

then 8 weeks of radiation
then 4 weeks rest then surgery.
I am stage 4 with a 3 cm tonsil that has started to go into base of tongue with a huge 7cm lymphnode
Thank you Victor Brown


Tonsil into base of tongue 3to4cm tumor. Giant lemon sized 9cm lymphnode. Squamos cell carcinoma
April 5 diagnosed. June 5 started treatment. Cetuximab Carboplatin Paclitaxel once a week for 6 weeks.Then 7 weeks of radiation plus chemo cisplatin then 4 weeks rest then neck disection was Nov 7 2008
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Glad to see someone is starting with Carbo. I had the "gold standard" as they called it, Cisplatin and I have been left with permanent hearing damage which has now taken over the # 1 spot for Recovery Issues.


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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Hey David,

They are starting me with Cisplatin, should I talk to them about the hearing loss?



SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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The issue should be discussed with your MO.
It also depends how you get cisplatin. If you get this just 2-3 times at a high concentration then it is more likely that even a single dose does damage. If on the other hand you get weekly infusions with a lower dosage then the possibility that you incur damage from a single dose should be reduced and should give you a better window to assess what is going on and also a single does should then be less likely to cause permanent problems.
In my opinion, if you CAN tolerate cisplatin then go with it, it has been around longer (hence more data) and appears to be more effective than carboplatin. Also, carboplatin too has its issues (WBC).

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.
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Hey Victor

Yep, I had induction, tho not for as long as they have you scheduled. I just had three rounds @ 3 weeks apart. Typically the induction is done to try and shrink the tumor so that the surgery doesn't have to take as much.

Kevin


18 YEAR SURVIVOR
SCC Tongue (T3N0M0) diag 06/2006.
No evidence of disease 2010
Another PET 12-2014 pre-HBO, still N.E.D.


�Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. It matters that you don't just give up.�
Stephen Hawking
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Minniea

Definitely talk to you doc about Carbo. I am like David and have hearing loss as well as a constant ringing in my ears. Cisplatin can be extremely toxic to the inner ear. One of the Doctors here at Shea Ear Clinic says I may be able to be treated for the ringing. I am waiting to see my H&N doc to get clearance.

Kevin


18 YEAR SURVIVOR
SCC Tongue (T3N0M0) diag 06/2006.
No evidence of disease 2010
Another PET 12-2014 pre-HBO, still N.E.D.


�Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. It matters that you don't just give up.�
Stephen Hawking
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Kevin,

there are several clinical trials going on to to mitigate the ototoxicity of cisplatin DURING treatment. If I recall there was someone here who said they were about to be treated for tinnitus AFTER the chemo regimen. I think that was a steroid injection? Did we ever hear anything back about the outcome?

M



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.
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Kevin,

I don't have the ringing any more but I do have the remaining damage.

Minniea,

I had the 3 big bags almost 2 years ago and since then I have seen many get the weekly smaller doses and haven't heard, no pun intended, if they fared better. I would definitely talk to your MO and see what he says the current thinking is.


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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