Carbo Chemo Side Effects?

My husband has gotten the news that the Gemzar he has been taking has slowed down his CUP, however it has not put it into remission or pushed or decreased any tumors. The doctors wants to try a combo of Gemzar and Carbo, I am looking for information about any side effects. I have read some things but I would like to hear from people taking the stuff.

I have had good results with carbo, with no side effects, even my counts have been good. I am using it in combination with taxol. Every 3 weeks. Remember that everyone tolorates chemo differently.

Donna

My husband has sclc and was treated with carboplatin and etoposide, the only side effects that he encountered were fatigue and hair loss. he received 4 treatments.

My mother had at least 3 rounds of carboplatin and gemzar. She had few side effects except some fatigue, hair thinning and mild nausea. Initially it significantly reduced the tumors as well. Now she has moved on to another chemotherapy.

Hello...I have ovarian cancer and my experience with Carboplactin was I took it with Taxol for my first six treatments of chemotherapy. I experienced fatigue, lost all of my hair, and after the 3rd treatment I also began to develop neuropathy.

The first time my cancer came back, we started the Carboplactin/Taxol again since it had worked the first time (I'd had a year of remission). However, during the second treatment I developed an 'allergic reaction' (or so my oncologist told me), so he switched me over to Cisplatin/Taxol for the remainder of my chemotherapy treatments. I lost my hair again, experienced even more fatigue and a bit of an upset stomach.

When my cancer came back the second time, we changed over to Topotecan, because my neuropathy (in my feet) had gotten worse (I still have it and most likely it is not going to go away), plus that, my oncologist was concerned about bone damage.

I have continued to take Topotecan for a year now...the results are very good...even though over the past 2-3 treatments I have begun to experience a LOT of fatigue. However, since the results have been so good, I do not want to stop taking the Topotecan, so we are now going to try giving me three weeks between treatments instead of just two to see if I can get more of my energy/strength back during that period in order to deal with the Topotecan.

Hope this information helps you!

God bless you, Oby T.

What kind of allergic reaction did you have? Johnny had a bad reaction when he started the second series on the very first treatment. We were told that most people eventually start to have problems with the Carboplatin because the platnum builds up in the body. His reaction was at first a chill with his skin feeling like ice. Then in a matter of minutes he was burning up with a fever that we could not get down without a trip to the ER. Once there his blood pressure dropped very low almost to the danger level. They gave him something in his IV along with Motrin for the fever and he immediately got better and went home the next morning. He never received any more of the Carboplatin and nothing was added to the Taxol. I question that decision. I believe that sense he had had only one treatment in that series that he should have been given Cisplatin to continue. I have read that in a lot of cases they only add the platnum-based medication every third treatment and it is better tolerated. We were also told that the Cistplatin is not as likely to cause a reaction. Sense I have started researching and storing information to try to pass on I would really like to know how your allergic reaction started and ended and what was done for you at that time. Thank you in advance for the information. Lillian

What kind of reaction did you have? Johnny took the first 6 treatments with no problems other than a little fatigue and his hair thinned but he never lost it all like some do. He was taking the Carboplatin with Taxol. When he began the second series the very first treatment sent him to the emergency room. He developed a chill and his skin felt like ice but within 15 minutes he was burning up. Once in the hospital his blood pressure dropped very low. They gave him something and everything straightened out. He continued the series with just the Taxol. I thought that he sould have been started on the Cistplatin then but he was not. I have no idea why. We were told that eventually everyone will react to the platinum. Johnny just reacted sooner than most. Was your reaction similar? It would be interesting for me to know. We were never told of that posibility before hand. It would give me more information for my research and the web site that I hope to get set up someday soon. Lillian

Hi, Oby
I was wondering how you did on Taxol and cisplatin. I have been on Taxol and carboplatin. I did my first cycle with no problems, had a ct scan had remarkable shrinkage in the tumors. Started on my 2nd cycle, first went well 2nd had a little reaction, itching, hot. They stopped it for 15min and I was able to finish it. Well last week, I wasn't even hooked up 4 min and it all stared again, with hives, racing heart, etc. I was so bummed. Finally found something that was working. I see my oncologist on Wednesday so I am wondering if he will recommend cisplatin. I have been dealing with chemo for the past 6 years and this is the first time I had a reaction to one...Hope to her from you.

Donna

Hi, Donna...This is a reply to your questions of how I did on Taxol/Cisplactin.

My first round of 6 treatments of Taxol/Carboplactin worked very well for me, and after that I had a year of being 'cancer free.' Then, my cancer (ovarian) came back again, and since the Taxol/Carboplactin had worked so well the first time, the oncologist decided to use it again.

I was fine during the first treatment...only thing that was difficult was that instead of only having to take it for 3 hours the first time, the second time around the doc extended it to 7 hours. WHEW! What made even it worse was that I couldn't get any sleep because I couldn't keep my legs still...horrible! I'd started to develop neuropathy during my first round of chemo. Noticing it by the 3rd treatment.

(I should mention here that I'd moved and so I had a different oncologist by the time my cancer came back.)

Anyway, about 4-5 hours into the second treatment of Taxol/Carboplactin I started itching (like hives) on my face, scalp, neck and upper chest. I also got very hot. I called the nurse over and said, "Something is wrong!" Thank God, my oncologist was still in the office...he rushed over, immediately told the nurse to check my blood pressure, etc. and also ordered another injection of something or other (I was too scared to pay much attention by that time as to what they did). All during this time they didn't stop the Taxol/Carboplactin...and continued injecting it for another three hours.

Next day, I was still itching and there were red blotches on my face, neck and upper chest...same thing the following day. By day three the red blotches and itching had almost gone away.

When I went back for my next treatment the oncologist told me that I'd had an allergic reaction to the Carboplactin so he was switching me over to Cisplatin since it was in the "same family."

The main difference I noticed during this second round of chemo was how tired I got after each treatment. I live alone...and for 5-6 after treatment it was all I could do to just get to the bathroom...and I live in a studio apartment. I'd get out of bed...walk into the kitchen to get a glass of water...and have to hang on to the edge of the counter to stand up...and sometimes, I'd turn around and get back into bed without the water. I had absolutely no strength.

By the end of my second round of treatments my CA-125 had only gone down to 22-24, whereas the first time it had gone down to 5-7. My oncologist told me not to expect that the second time...that I should be happy that it was down to 22-24.

Another thing I should mention here is...when I had completed my second round of treatments, my oncologist told me, "I want to come in for blood tests, a CA 125, and see me every month."

I replied, "I'm glad you said 'every month' because if you hadn't you'd have had a fight on your hands!"

Well, I did see him the following month, and then he told me that seeing him every two months would be all right. I told him, "No, that wouldn't be all right with me. I've found out how fast this cancer can come back...and I want to get my blood tests and see you EVERY month!"

He replied, "All right, Oby." And that was that.

Four months after my second round of treatments my cancer came back again. This time I wasn't as shocked as I'd been the first time it came back. I just asked my oncologist, "All right, what do we do now?" He gave me a choice of three options. I contacted a couple of people that I know who are in "the know" about all of this stuff, and they helped me make the decision to go with the Topotecan. (One of the options had been Doxil, but when I heard that it can cause severe itching, etc. to the hands and feet I decided against it. After all, my feet were already numb due to my neuropathy.)

So that's the information I have on Taxol with either Carboplactin or Cisplatin. I hope that I've been able to help you!

Love you, my sister...and God bless you! Oby

Thanks Oby,
I see my oncologist today to see what my next option is. I will let you know.
Donna