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Gemzar and Cisplatin

SkyeJo
  • By SkyeJo
  • Posted July 1, 2009 at 9:38 am · 12 replies
  • Shared with the public
0 Recommendations

Started chemo on monday 29, had gemzar and cisplatin over 6 hour period with lots of fluids. Next monday i will just get the gemzar then 1 week rest and start cycle over. Looking for feed back from any one who has received this regimen. I had genetic screening of tumors and i am a match for PI3K mutation for which there is a targeted pill therapy. It is a phase 1 clinical trial but they won't let me particicpate until I have received chemo. Frustrating to me. They have something that could help me with less side effects and I have to wait.
Joanne

Explore topics in this journal entry and replies:

Cancer Taxol Surgery Carboplatin Lung cancer Breast cancer

12 replies

Kammy7

Hi Joanne Had the same regimen......Think the dosage is the key as far as side effects. Am not sure about the genetic testing aspect. Cisplatnum seems to be the gold standard for LC as well as carbo. Should the cis get a little rough u can always switch over. Wish I could give u better advise. Sending u caring thoughts.......K

jean123

My husband has stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer too and started carbo and gemzar on the same schedule as you. He had his first tx with carbo/gemzar last week and had two day of fatigue but is now fine. Tomorrow he gets the gemzar and then he's off it next week. the plan is 3 cycles and then rescan. How did you tolerate it?

cuddles53

Hi Joanne,
I know how frustrating it is to have to wait to be in a clinical trial, or to even get into one they are so picky about every little thing. It doesn't matter that people die everyday, and they refuse treatments, they know could help us, that is how I feel about it.. It infuriates me, like we are just all a bunch of outcasts or something, nothing we did in life mattered, we have cancer and it seems some days, we are just doomed with it, when they have things out there to prolong our lives.
I wanted to tell you be thankful, be happy, the treatment you are going on, I have the carbo with the Taxol something like the cisplatin. I am a survivor for a while now, I ended all treatments in Oct 2006,. I was diagnosed in Feb 2006, I have been in a remission ever since, so you know that drug combo will work, I didn't stay on the Carbo too long, I had an allergic reaction, I was first on Carbo/taxol, had my reaction so went off of it, and went on gemzar alone, it healed me this far, and I am a stage lV non small cell survivor! So good luck, you will do alright I am sure of it.
God bless Sandy

SkyeJo

Thanks for the replies. I still feel a bit woosy , and my upper legs felt a heaviness to them that is subsiding. And of course I feel fatigued, nothing I can't handle. My wrist where i had the iv is very tender, I'm trying to avoid getting a port since we can only use my right side because of previous battle with breast cancer, nodes taken from left side.
Joanne

kitkat4ever

My Onc thinks Cisplatin is too harsh so she gives carboplatin.

I did 6 cycles of gem/Carbo. I hated the 2 weeks on and 1 week off schedule. I got mouth sores, low white and red cell counts, needed transfusions. Also, to help, I got neupogen and procrit.

I felt tired all the time because of the low hemoglobin.

It stopped working after 6 cycles.

I am now on Alimta/Carbo and after one cycle I have NO side effects and my white and red cells went up. I hope it stays this way as this is the infusion I'd like to stay on for life or until the cure and vaccines are available. :-)

But, Gemzar is good stuff. Drink lots of water!!!!!!

Kitkat

HuwEvs

My wife was diagnosed StageIV in Nov 08 and I didnt think she would make Christmas. She had 4 cycles of cisplatin/gemzar and is now all clear and on two monthly check ups and getting on with life.
I agree with KitKat, Gemzar is great and definitely drink lots of water. Try a clove of garlic a day too, but take out the green shoot in the centre!!!
Huw

kq182

HI, my husband is doing the 21 day cycle of Gemzar and Carboplatin, just a bit more tired a day or two after, but by the third week his platelets get low, thankfully they have come back on their own before his next treatment, we have not had any scans yet, hopefully it is working. Good luck with your chemo, Karen

SkyeJo

Hi Huw,
I was wondering how many cycles before hair loss? I will be getting a new scan after 2 complete cycles, I hope these toxic cocktails work for me.

HuwEvs

Hi Jo
Sue did have a slight thinning of the hair but nothing really significant. She also had a scan after two cycles which showed a great improvement. I really do believe that staying positive and believing in the cocktail does the trick! Fight it kid, you can do it.
Huw

pilot27k

My dad is on Gemzar/Carbo. He has tolerated it very well. He has had four treatments and has had no side effects. He is having a PET scan Thursday to see if it is shrinking the tumors (one in lung and one in liver).

To boost his immune system he takes 2 grams AHCC (mushroom extract) daily. It has helped keep his WBC and platelet counts normal. I highly recommended it. He is also eating ginger as there is research that shows it helps with nausea. He is eating the pickled ginger that comes with japanese food, as it tastes good.

LMFoster

Hey SkyeJo:
Came across this by search Cisplaten/Gemzar. I had been scheduled for surgery today with no chemo, had appt with Dr. Sam Chang of Vanderbilt yesterday, he convinced me I needed chemo before removing my bladder
1st week Cis+Gem, 2nd wk Gem 3rd wk Gem
4th wk recuperate.
then repeating 1 maybe 2 times.
My first treatment is Monday.Any pointers you can give me on the treatment.
By the way I did cancel todays surgery, fired my original urologist, and am convinced Dr. Chang will do me great.
Best of luck, and Prayers
Larry

SkyeJo

Hi Larry,
I have finished my 1st complete cycle of cisplatin/gemzar. Started 2nd cycle this past Monday 20th. Make sure to keep up with anti nausea meds. and drink plenty of liquids. My stomach is still queazy from monday. After the 6 hour combo cocktail I notice my upper legs get achy last about a day. When I have just the gemzar the following week side effects aren't so bad. The gemzar can sting a bit going in. I have since had a port put in makes my life a bit easier, and no more sting. My hair well it's almost time to shave what's left. I go for a scan on Aug. 3 to see if tumors are shrinking.
Best of luck and stay strong,
Joanne

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