Anyone had more than one cycle of Carboplatin and Gemcitabine?

Hi Nadine. Sorry to hear your husband is still going through this. Good to know the chemo has had some sort of effect. We have had people here in the past who have gone on to further chemo or immunotherapy treatment. It may be an idea to post your question in the Ask a Nurse section where you will get advice from an expert. Hopefully someone may be along here with experience of this. Best wishes.

Hello Nadine

I had four cycles of cisplatin, carboplatin's slightly more toxic cousin, and gemcitabine. My onco said it would put my G3 S2 tumour to sleep till I had my bladder removed, likely reduce its size as well as seek out & destroy any rogue cells that had escaped into my bloodstream.

I'm still here 3 years later. I have a friend who was diagnosed as G3 S4 and terminal 4 years ago - she's still here being a fabulous nuisance. 

One fact I've learned is that we're all different and each diagnosis is unique.

My best wishes to you both.

CB

Forgot to mention that it might be worth asking about Atezolizumab immunotherapy treatment. It may not be suitable but has had some good results.

CB

Thanks CB,

He’s already on pembrolizumab for his Stage 4 lung cancer which has been fantastic. The immunotherapy has been very successful for the lung cancer but his bladder cancer has arrived and now become stage 4whilst he’s been on the immunotherapy. I’m beginning to think that maybe his luck has run out as the immunotherapy doesn’t seem to be working on the bladder cancer. Good to know that he can have more chemo if needed though. Thank you for your reply xxx

I have bladder cancer which spread to the lymph nodes, liver and lungs. Had a total of 9 cycles of gemcitabide and cisplatin. All tumours shrunk. Went on to the Atlantis trial drug rucaperib. Idea was to keep things stable but it failed to work. Only the liver tumour has grown. Now about to have third infusion of immunotherapy. Same drug as your husband. Will have a CT scan after this dose. Awaiting date. Everyone is different. Hope treatment works for your husband. Suggest he contacts his dedicated nurse with any questions. Mine is extremely helpful.

Goodness 9 cycles - I had no idea they could give it that many tmes! Thank you for that information Richard, and good luck with your scan results. The good thing about immunotherapy is that the side effects are generally far more tolerable than chemotherapy.

Hello seafarerswife, my mum has stage 4 bladder cancer spread to one of her ribs. She is currently undergoing gem/carbo (3 cycles) currently on the second. However very tired and nausea and keeps getting infections. The oncologist said next would be radiotherapy. She has asked for immunotherapy but he basically said there is no point. However from good reports immunotherapy is what we wanted. It's very unbelievable and doesn't seem real!