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Has anyone had experience using cisplatin or gemzar with radiation? My tumors have been unresponsive to Carbo/taxol and while they were shrinking after two treatments; are growing again after six treatments.
There are three tumors in my chest area (one new after chemo) and one tumor in my pelvic area just above the previous field of radiation.
Cancer Chemotherapy Compazine Pain Phenergan Lorazepam Cervical cancer
cathy, i am so sorry that you're not responding as well as expected to your treatments thus far. my heart goes out to you as you continue to fight this awful disease.
you may wish to visit the hystersisters.com message board, the cancer concerns forum, as there are other women there who have been treated with gemzar. i don't know all the details, but i bet they'd share their experiences with you. i wouldn't normally recommend this website, but in this case, i think you may be able to connect with others with shared experiences.
best wishes to you, and keep us up to date on how you're doing. may the new year bring you a healthier and brighter year ahead!
During my treatments in 2001 I used cisplatin along with external and internal radiation. I feel I had a great deal of success with this treatment. My pet scan at the end of 01 was clear. I had follow up cat scans for 2 years and continue to see my gyn/oncologist every 6 months to this day. I did loose all my hair (twice) with the cisplatin treatments. However, had relatively minor other side effects.
Hope all goes well with your treatments! Keep up the fight!
Thanks! One day I'm going to see if I can stump you on advice; it's nice knowing that whenever I post you always have something insightful, caring and knowledgeable to provide. It makes this journey a bit easier.
Right now we're going to go full force cisplatin (weekly) and radiation (daily) for the next month; I'm hoping that will do it.
Hystersisters may also be good for finding out how to deal with the radiation effects to the chest area. This could possibly be the first holiday season I lose weight!
Thanks again,
Cathy
Hello Cathy,
Cisplatin doesn't not do anything directly for cervical cancer and it has no benefit. BUT the reason they use it that it "possibly may" make the radiation treatment more sensitive to the cancer cells. Trials " show the some benefits being very slight less than 12%. It is very cytotoxic chemotherapy and damaging. Cisplatin is only used with radiation for cervical cancer or in some cases pallitative treament as no benefit at all for mainstay cervical cancer treatment.
I had a month and 1/2 of treatment weekly with some side effects.
Obviously it didn't help in my case at all and provided no benefit. Some may have benefit. If you feel the extra 12% chance of benefit is worth the cytotoxic therapy then adding it to the radiation is worthwhile.
Dee
Cathy, just want to encourage you with whichever treatments you and your doctors choose to be best for your individual situation. You're strong and a fighter!
I was on a combination of Cisplatin and Itoposide. My oncologist referred to it as a double barrell shot gun that we would go after the cancer with. That sounded good to me, especially since the first doctor I went to said I had only a 2% chance of survival for one year. I had combo chemo therapy for 8 rounds followed by internal and external radiation for 6 weeks. Though the cisplatin did leave me with really bad neuropathy it has almost completly resolved now two years out. I don't know about Gemzar. I just know this combination was appropriate for my types of cancer which were adenocarcinoma and small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. Also a tip that I got from a fellow survivor that has helped me was to stay positive because your attitude will determine the outcome much of the time. Find and outlet where you can go and cry when you need to, scream when you need to.....but then come out smiling and positive that through God, All things are possible. I hope this helps. Blessings to you, Terri Austin
Hi cathy!
I too had a very bleak outlook before starting treatment. I had radiation daily with cisplatin, then 4 cycles of cisplatin and gemzar combined. I have been in remission now for 6 years. I was projected to live 3 to 6 months. It worked for me. I pray it will work for you too. Stay positive, take walks, ( more like strolls) forgive everything and everyone that has ever wronged you, watch funny movies, laugh alot, breathe deeply and love completely. I know it takes effort, and sometimes feels like it isn't worth the effort, but You can do it and we will keep cheering for you. keep us updated. michelle
Cathy
Stay strong. They are going to hit it with both barrels as long as you can take it. I also haven't had experience with gemzar but I did have the chemo and raditation. It was tough and it was long. The hydration is so important, though, even though it takes longer. I lost a kidney in my process and the Hydration helped to keep the one that I have. Chemo is so horrible in that it takes such a toll on your insides. Come to think of it, it al takes its toll. No matter how horrible you feel, the cancer feels much, much worse.
I also have Crazy Sexy Cancer and loved it. Good for you that you are trying to stay incontrol by yoga and things like that.
God Bless
You're in my prayers and so much more
Sandi
Nothing is working for the nausea (zofran or lorazepam) or ginger. My doctor said he'd give me something during my next chemo to help it not be so bad; but this is worse that any morning sickness or hangover I've ever had. I wish I could just throw-up and be done with it! The Carbo/Taxol combo wasn't nearly as bad. Any and all suggestions welcome!
Meanwhile I'll be hanging out in the bathroom with a good book..
I wonder if it's because you have just come out of chemo already and that stuff is cumulative.
Kytril worked wonders for me. Also, I stayed on it all of the time, not just on days of treatment, so I didn't get a chance to come off of it and get sick. Gosh , that's the worste. I was in a perpetual green state and that was the only thing that helped me. I had even been given a small amount of the green stuff (wink, wink if you know what I mean)- which I don't recommend. Made things much worse. Ugh
Lorazepam just made me hyper. I know someone who is getting hit pretty hard right now and I'll see if she is getting something else that hasn't been mentioned.
I hope you find relief
We are all pulling for you
Cathy,
the Zofran worked for me - the most expensive one, of course. But they also tried me with Maxeran and I didn't get as much relief. But even with the anti-nauseants, I was sick and had to tolerate it. Cisplatin is not an easy chemo treatment as far as I am concerned. My nausea and sickness lasted past the last chemo as well and took me weeks to bounce back from.
I know, not much comfort......but I promise it will get better later. Get lots of rest and fluids.
Thinking about you....Susan
Cathy - sorry to hear about the nausea. I had chemo/radiation with cisplatin and had zofran before the cisplatin and that did work for me. The following day I did not take the zofran because it bound me up so I would take compazine which worked well for me. I had the zofran, lorazpam (atavin) and the compazine and I had the best success with the compazine.
Best of luck to you and I hope they sort it out for you soon!
Take care
Kate
hi cathy, i didn't have too much problem with cisplatin. but if i did have as bad a time as you i think i would try accupuncture. my oncolgy group in providence ri. has complementary services available to cancer patients. things like an acupunturist, reiki, hypnosis , yoga , interperative art.
i've also heard marijuana is good for chemo nausa . the gals that gave me my chemo had heard great reports of it . in california you can get a dr. script for it and they have labs where they grow the stuff to hellp with different symptoms. one type is for nausa, another to stimulate your appitite, another for pain. its pretty wild . when i had morning sickness, someone told me to suck on a lemon. sounded horrible but it worked. the acid must of nutralized stomach juices. theres a patch for sea sickness that works for me. it has scapalomine in it. these, though seem kinda lightweight compared to zofran.
i'm so sorry you're having a rough time of it.
mary
Cathy,
Ask about Emend -- it's a 3 day treatment. One dose one hour before treatment and one lesser dose for the 2 days following. I found it very, very helpful. I was on Cisplatin w/radiation too. It is expensive, but most insurance co. will pay for it. Other hints, try eating a little DURING chemo -- soup, applesauce , crackers, canned fruit. Also, yoga and accupuncture are very, very helpful.
Good luck.
cathy, i'm so sorry to hear how nauseated you're feeling. hopefully one of the suggestions posted will help you out. i hope you get relief soon - nausea is awful....worse than pain in my humble opinion. just wanted to send you a note to say i'm thinking of you (and hope you've left the bathroom).
Cathy,
Really sorry to hear abot your nausea! I don't remember having too much of a problem with cisplatin....But then again, looking at your bio you have had a lot of treatments and that could reak havic with your system! Everyones body handles drugs in a different way!
I hope you find something that will help you out!
You can try Compazine or Phenergan for the nausea...it might help. Good luck!
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