Good morning, I have been a combination of Taxol and Carboplatin for ovarian cancer. I have had 5 sessions of the combined chemo but due to neuropathy the 6th dose is going to be carboplatin only. I am wondering firstly if this is usual? And secondly does it effect the final result of my treatment? They are concerned as am I that the neuropathy would go beyond the point of no return. Any information or experience of this would be most welcome.
Hi Junketjuno,
I’m Gail, and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.
I’m really glad you reached out to chat this through. Taxol or Carboplatin on its own can be an effective treatment. However, having both Taxol and Carboplatin together can be tough on the body, so it’s important to recognise how well you’ve managed to get through five sessions.
It’s quite common for oncologists to review and adapt treatment plans as things progress. They’ll always want to make sure the treatment is still effective while keeping you as safe and well as possible. The combination of these drugs can sometimes cause nerve changes (peripheral neuropathy), which can cause tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands and feet. It’s important this is monitored closely as although the nerves can sometimes recover, too much exposure can occasionally cause longer-term changes.
Your oncologist’s aim is always to find the right balance between effective cancer treatment and protecting your quality of life afterwards. Switching to Carboplatin alone is a very common step when side effects become difficult. This doesn’t mean your care is being reduced, but rather that your team is acting with your wellbeing in mind and considering how your quality of life after cancer treatment could be impacted if there is long term damage.
It’s completely understandable to feel worried about whether this change could affect your outcome. You deserve that clarity and reassurance, so it may help to ask your oncologist or clinical nurse specialist to talk you through how they reached this decision and what it means for you moving forward. They can also help you find ways to ease the neuropathy symptoms and support your recovery.
You’ve already come a long way through treatment, and you’re certainly not alone in feeling uncertain at this stage. It’s often the hardest part, when your body is tired, and the plan begins to change.
We often find we can help more by exploring some concerns over the phone. If this is something you think may help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can touch via our Support Line on 0808 808 0000. We’re open 7 days a week, 8am-8pm.
Within our online community, we also have several forums. You may find it helpful to look or join our Ovarian Cancer Forum.
I hope you find this information helpful but if you have any further concerns or follow up questions, please don’t hesitate to get back in touch.
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