VP-16 & Carboplatin?

[nancyf267]

Hi there ~ I was told that more than likely my Chemo would be VP-16 & Carboplatin. Anyone out there know anything about these drugs? What were/are your side effects? And, anyone have any preference as far as an anti-nausea drug...there are so many on the list!

Thank you,

Nancy

[Calintay]

My mom was on both of those but for NSCLC and I am not sure but side effects may or may not be different. Nausea, fatigue were her most common effects. Can't remember the name of the anti-nausea drug though. Prayers for you.

[SDianneB]

I had those drugs to begin with, and suffered no real side effects. I had minor fatigue at first, and it got a little worse when they started chest radiation after 2 cycles. I got a pre-med infusion of Decadron and an anti-nausea drug, and never had any nausea. I managed to keep my hair too, until I had the preventive brain radiation (PCI)!

Everyone is so different, it's difficult to compare all this, but it helps to know what others have gone through, doesn't it. Here's hoping you do very well with this drug combo. It's a good one, I think.

Di

[LynneH]

Hi Nancy,

My husband had 8 treatments of the VP16/Carbo combo and did remarkably well with them. He had some fatigue but managed to continue to exercise, didn't lose any weight, and the tumors responded very well. I don't know which anti-nausea Rx he had although he never had nausea. But he also had an iron skillet stomach that could handle just about anything!

Good luck with your treatment!

Lynne

[tnmynatt]

Nancy,

My husband is tolerating VP-16, Carbo and Avastin right now. He just completed his 5th treatment cycle and is stable. He is fatigued and has had some mild nausea. Not sure what he takes when he takes something. He has only needed something maybe 1 or 2 times. We've got Kytril and something else. Good luck to you.

Also, Charlie still has his hair (thinned a lot) after these treatments and 7 previous protocols. He has amazing hair follicles! Maybe the doctor's should study him for helping men with their baldness.

Sorry to get so far off track. Take care. Let me know if there is anything else you need to know about the chemos, etc.

[Donna G]

Get an over view at

http://www.chemocare.com/

Donna G

[Nancy B]

Hi Nancy,

I had those chemos also. Lost my hair after one week and I had a problem with dehydration. Zofran worked for me (Kytril didn't) Just be sure to drink plenty of water. I would go for chemo 3 days in a row and then go in on day 4 to get IV fluids. That really helped me. I would also get a shot of Arenesp every two weeks so I never had any low blood count issues. Best of luck to you. Please feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

Take care,

Nancy B

[mhutch1366]

Zofran worked for me as well, iv with the chemo and atavan, and atavan twice a day orally, zofran 3x day orally and prilosec every day kept my stomach together....

Remember to keep drinking fluids, and little nibbles if you can, don't be empty.

XOXOXOX

MaryAnn

[nancyf267]

Thank you all so much for the info! I am freaking out thinking that I will be throwing up non stop. I saw my doctor today and he gave me an RX for Compazine & Ativan for home use and explained that before each treatment (which will be 3 days in a row) I will get good stuff in my IV. I found out today that all scans were CLEAR and it is LIMITED STAGE ~ YEAH!!!!!! I just knew he was hearing my cries

Thanks again,

Nancy

[Nancy B]

Nancy, so glad to hear limited. There is no need to throw up - I never did. If one anti-nausea medication doesn't work, try another one. Once I started chemo, I really felt like I was fighting my disease.

Take care,

Nancy B

[Nushka]

I had the same chemo. I was a little sick to my stomach but Zofran helped that a bunch. My hair fell out exactly 3 weeks after my first set of 3 treaments. I would have three treatments...then go 3 weeks and back for another treatment. I went in for 3 rounds. My cancer was NSCLC but I am almost 3 years out without any relapse. Being bald and a little sick to my stomach for a few months was well worth it.

Nina

[Cindy RN]

Compazine is good as long as the nausea is minor.

Zofran is probably the best and strongest. It is very expensive tho. If you have good ins. I would ask for it. I took it 3 times a day for the first few days after chemo. Always worked for me

Cindy

[nancyf267]

Thanks for all the good info! I'm going to call my ins company this morning and ask about Zofran. I have now heard from several people that it's great.

Thanks,

Nancy

[Andrewsmom]

I think this is pretty much the standard first line treatment for SCLC. I was on it and it, along with the radiation reduced my tumor by 100%. That was nearly 4 years ago and I've never had a reoccurence (knock wood). My doctor did mention, however, that Comptazar (spelling?) has replaced Carboplatin as the first line of defense. I had that as a follow-up. My doctor believed that you don't wait for it to come back, you just keep hitting it with everything in the arsenol even when all indications are that it is gone. I lost my hair and was queasy for a few days after the treatment but ativan (my drug of choice)knocked me out enough so that I could sleep through it until I felt better.

[Patkid]

Zofran did not help Bri.

He used Kytril at home and got Aloxi IV before infusion.

There is another script that helped him with the nausea from the platin drugs. EMEND

You take one before each of the 3 days treatments and that was a miracle drug for him.

They are all very very expensive.

Compazine works okay for breakthrough nausea after a few day on the stronger / newer stuff.

[nancyf267]

Thanks for all the input! Well I managed to get my insurance company to pay for Zofran, Compazine, and Ativan. Seems like so much medicine...I'm not used to taking so much stuff ~ but at least I'm armed with some good stuff to fight the nausea and vomiting! I go for my very 1st chemo in about 2 hours....yikes ~ I'm terrified!!!

[dchurchi]

Nancy,

Praying all goes well today. Ativan worked best for my Husband (he will still take 1/2 pill if he has any nausea best part is it makes him sleep).

lots of hugs and prayers that your chemo not only goes well today, but kicks the crap out of your cancer.

[Frank Lamb]

Nancy,wishing you well today.Also wishing you very good results.

[LynneH]

Nancy,

Your first one is just about over! Now, you get to rest and be a Princess for the rest of the day. (Don't know if that was published in your copy of the chemo day do's and don'ts.)

Lynne

[Donna]

Hi nancy,

My brother was on the same drugs, with little or no side effects..He did very well..He took a pill called Emend for nausea, they had to be approved by his insurance.Here is the link for the pills..best of luck to you..You are in my prayers..

http://www.emend.com/aprepitant/emend/c ... /index.jsp

Donna

[nancyf267]

Thanks to all of you for making me feel better! I made it through my very 1st chemo today I did, however, leave to use the restroom and returned to the lady next to me vomiting ~ I felt so bad for her! The nurse (who was the sweetest person ever) took me to a different area and before I knew it, I was finished and headed home. Now...as Lynne says..it's Princess time