carboplatin/taxol - any feedback ?

• By Ramona
• Posted December 1, 2008 at 7:38 am
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look out for numbnes in fingers or feet. keep hydrated at all times. Massage them & tell onc. eat as healthy as possible.
Aloe avera applied to scalp 2 x D helped me. eat some protein at each meal.
carboplatin is easier to handle.
My favorite book is Natural Stratagies For Cancer Patients by Russell L. Blaylock, M. D.

Found this here; found it very helpful, 77 minutes long.
http://www.gildasclubtx.org/resources/mp3/BeckyWright_Lung.mp3
LDA

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• By hopefuldaughter
• Posted December 1, 2008 at 10:00 am
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My mom had three rounds of carbo / taxol (once every three weeks like your mom). She did not get neuropathy. The side effects were cumulative for her. She got progressively more weak and fatigued, lost her hair and lost weight. She is almost done with a 5 week break and will be moving on to Gemzar. She has rebounded very well. All in all, the results were mixed. The lung tumor shrunk, but the one near her pelvis did not. Keep your mom hydrated and keep her on her anti-nausea meds. I'm sure she'll do fine!

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• By Mon
• Posted December 1, 2008 at 10:20 am
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thanks hopeful daughter.. i've been following your story, being a 'hopeful daughter' myself!
yeah .. Mum has been on it for almost 2 weeks, and is fatigued and has lost weight, but no nausea thankfully. I get myself worried with internet research and how some drugs work better than others..there are many articles on the carboplatin/cistplatin debate.. at some point i will have to trust the doctors and the plan they have set for her. I'm glad it shrunk your Mum's lung tumour - i'm sorry to hear it didnt work for the one near her pelvis. Hopefully Gezmar will do the trick for her!

Thanks Ramona, i will try and get a copy of that book and get it to Mum, and will watch the video tonight!

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• By mickyinko
• Posted December 2, 2008 at 4:32 am
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Hi,
I had the same treatment for first line chemo with nearly 90% reduction in tumor size in lung and 50% in Kidney, caused severe loss of hair as you can see and terrible neuropathyy but maintained good appetite and was able to drink a few beers without nausea. I worked right through it with not too many problems however Gemzar as the second line is giving me absolute hell completely the opposite of what I expected.

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• By Mach1
• Posted December 2, 2008 at 8:22 pm
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I had carbo/taxol as second line treatment, once every three weeks. The third day after the treatment I felt a bit off color like mild flu (bone and muscle ache) but a couple of Advil seemed to help and it went off after a couple of days. No nausea like the cisp/etop doublet for me. Also got the charlie horses real bad every now and again but some pillows under the legs helped a bit. All in all it wasn't tooooooo bad and I didn't get the tingles. I hope mom gets through it with minimal discomfort. Best, M.

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• By Toddy
• Posted December 3, 2008 at 9:25 am
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I had carbo/taxol in 2006, given in the same manner your mom's is being given. The difference being mine was given following surgical removal of the tumor. I'll just speak to the effects it had on me.

It was definitely cumulative. I lost my hair between the first and second treatment, some diarrhea, after the first infusion, none after that and little to no nausea. Tingling of the hands and feet but I don't think I ever had full blown neuropathy. My red blood count plummeted causing my doctor to suggest that I was at increased risk for infection and anemia. I didn't loose my appetite but couldn't eat as much and my ability to taste changed so some things I thought I would like I didn't and things I never liked seemed great. Maintaining a healthy diet is essential. I didn't loss any weight, bless their hearts unknown to me my family was adding a high calorie, high protein, tasteless power to everything they could hid it in.

The worst part was the pain and cramps in my legs on the third or fourth day following the infusion and I was frequently dizzy.

My doctors recommended a natural over the counter product to help with muscle cramps and joint aching. It's Glutamine and appears beneficial in some reducing/not eliminating the aches, pains, muscle leg cramps. It can be found in most any health food stores. My oncologist recommended 10 grams of it mixed in a small amount of any liquid three times a day beginning the day after the infusion and continuing for 3-4 days. I think it might have helped, who knows may have just been in my head.

Although less common another thing that can happen are nasty mouth sores. More frequent brushing and rinsing should take care of that. I was told to use a soft brush and to rinse at least three times a day with 1/2 to 1 tsp. baking soda mixed with the same amount of salt.

I was told to wear sun glasses outside and avoid sun exposure. Last but not least I was told to drink water, drink water, drink water and when done with that drink water.

Wishing your mom all the very best as she goes through treatment.

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• By LindaFL
• Posted December 3, 2008 at 9:26 am
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My mom just finished 4 rounds of carbo/taxol. She also got neulasta shots the day after each infusion. She had more side effects from the neulasta than the chemo. All in all, it wasn't too bad. No nausea at all. Some bone aches and pains, fatigue and some shortness of breath. She also had pretty persistent insomnia but we think some of that might have been another med she was on. She had a little bit of neuropathy with first round...mostly tingling in fingers. The second round she had tingling and a little numbness that did not completely go away by the time she was to get her 3rd infusion, so the doctor cut her dose a little for the last two infusions and she just had some slight tingling. He said the dose is based off of a boilerplate on height and weight and they make adjustments for each person once treatment begins. Just make sure she tells the doc all side effects. Best of luck to you.

Linda

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• By Mon
• Posted December 3, 2008 at 9:39 am
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thanks so mcuh everyone... has your Mum had a scan yet Linda? I hope it is working for her!!

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• By suzyqk
• Posted December 3, 2008 at 6:35 pm
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I've got some good news for you--hopefully! I had what seems to be a similar situation to your mum's. Squamous, soft-ball sized tumor in upper left lobe. It was wrapped around the aorta as well. I was on carbo/taxol same protocol--full day for 3 weeks. It did shrink the tumor. No mets. Surgery was done and two more rounds of chemo after. I recall having some aches and pains, tiredness, but no nausea. Gave myself shots of neupogen to up the red blood counts.
Bottom line--I'm still here!!! That was 10 years ago!
Funniest part of the story was I was told I would definitely lose the hair, so to get a wig. That was in November, and I did get one. I didn't lose my hair until after the 4th treatment which was post-surgery and happened to be in May. Atlanta in May is pretty hot and humid and I never wore the wig! :)

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• By Mon
• Posted December 4, 2008 at 9:50 am
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thanks suzyq... i've told my Mum about your post - i think she needs to hear it!! I've seen your posts aroudn the place and your story is so wonderful, and thanks so much for sharing it with me - whenever i need hope i shall think of your story (and many others here) ... 10 years.. that is AMAZING! And it gives me even more hope that is so similar to my Mum.
Thanks so much!

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