Chemo Treatment Progression

Hello,

My uncle is on palliative chemo with Cisplatin or Platinol and 5FU. His first three chemo sessions went fine with minimal side effects. After his fourth week, he has been experiencing severe heartburn and upset stomach. He's feeling much weaker.  Is this common? What's happening? Is the cancer getting worse or is the chemo drugs finally taking effect?

 Please let me know about your experience. We're all so worried.

Thank you and best wishes.

On 3/22/2007 Sad Niece wrote:

Hello,

My uncle is on palliative chemo with Cisplatin or Platinol and 5FU. His first three chemo sessions went fine with minimal side effects. After his fourth week, he has been experiencing severe heartburn and upset stomach. He's feeling much weaker.  Is this common? What's happening? Is the cancer getting worse or is the chemo drugs finally taking effect?

 Please let me know about your experience. We're all so worried.

Thank you and best wishes.

Hi Katrina,

Sorry to hear that you have to go through this too. My uncle is taking Ondansetron for the nausea and something else for the heartburn. I'm concerned that, all of a sudden, the side effects are pretty bad after the 4th chemo session versus the previous 3 chemo sessions. Given that this is palliative chemo, I'm surprised the side effects are as strong as they are. He's on a 1 week break after the 4th session and will continue again next week.

He did his 2 weeks of palliative radiation before he started the chemo sessions. We don't know when they will stop the chemo sessions.  But when they do, what are we supposed to do then?

Best wishes. 

On 3/25/2007 Katrina1 wrote:

 

On 3/22/2007 Sad Niece wrote:

Hello,

My uncle is on palliative chemo with Cisplatin or Platinol and 5FU. His first three chemo sessions went fine with minimal side effects. After his fourth week, he has been experiencing severe heartburn and upset stomach. He's feeling much weaker.  Is this common? What's happening? Is the cancer getting worse or is the chemo drugs finally taking effect?

 Please let me know about your experience. We're all so worried.

Thank you and best wishes.

 

I am only starting my 3rd round of chemo in a few  weeks.  Have they given him something for the heartburn or other symptoms. They started me on Ondansetron  that you take every 8 hours for nausea and you can also take another nausea medicine inbetween those 8 hours. Is he done with his treatments now?  Are they doing radiation?

hi katrina my father also had the same problem after his fourth chemo session what works best for him is a new and very effective heartburn medication caleed nexium 40 mgs he should take it in the morning and if his heartburn is still bad a t night he can take it before he goes to bed. and to answear ur question on when are they going to stop they wont unless the chemo stops working or his liver or his heart fails so until then keep very strong try to keep postive, trust me i know how hard it is........ but continue to enjoy every minute with him. and dont worry keep pushing the doctors and they wont give up on him when he needs a break from chemo they will give him one but they will continue to try different things.

ps keep pushing and talking to the doctors or they will just treat him as pallative.

steff