2nd cycle of chemo...or not?

Hi Jane and welcome. 

Talk to his consultant or CNS. If he is getting tinnitus the Cisplatin can be swapped to Carboplatin which is less toxic, but bear in mind that hearing loss can be permanent. 

However chemo just adds belt and braces.It makes the cancer more radiosensitive but It's the radiotherapy that does the job so stopping the chemotherapy is definitely an option. There are plenty of people here who didn't have the full course.

I didn't have chemotherapy but the RT made me nauseous all the way through. There are alternatives to cyclazine so do ask. There is likely something there that will suit better.

Best of luck and let us know how you get on

Hi- Chemo goes hand in hand generally with treatment and the chemoas sais by Dani is a sure way to pick up any stray cancer cells, I am having both at present for Oesopahgeal cancer and find the Chemo easier than the RT, but he should go ahead and discuss fully with the Chemo Nurses as they are bang on for taking good care and finding the right treatments also always record everything so at your clinic meetings you don't forget to ask anything, you should have been given a record book which lists many affects etc.

I have had 2 types of treatments for sickness feelings but have reverted back to my original one Lansoprozole for acid this works well for me, the ones they were giving me in Chemo just upset my stomach, but there are many they can try

Hope it goes well for him and yourself, I always worry more for the Carer/Partners as you seem to go through it worse than most of us

Take Care

Tony

Hi Jane. I didn’t have the sickness with Cisplatin but did experience the tinnitus. As soon as I mentioned it at my second session they changed me to Carboplatin there and then and I had no more problems. Although I didn’t need to, sometimes you have to push for these things. 

Hi. I agree with Beesuit. I was actually asked if I suffered from tinnitus before the team decided on my treatment. I had had mild vertigo some years back which gave me slight tinnitus and the team decided on Carboplatin. I still get tinnitus but I don't think it is any worse than years ago. Had the 2 chemo and 30 radiotherapy. No sickness nausea or anything but, did religiously keep up with all meds given. 2 1/2 years post treatment. All the best.

I used Lansoprazole too and it worked wonders for acid reflux, although it’s not good to use it long-term. 

I've been on 2 years from my first cancer and they insist I take it each morning so I would still speak to theOncologist etc

Tony

Hi Jane FIrstly welcome from me sorry you’ve found yourself in here. I am nowm3.5 years post radiotherapy for tonsil cancer with several affected lymph nodes.Inhad 35 radiotherapy sessions and was planned for 3 cisplatin sessions of 10:hours I had 2 with no sickness but I did get a tiny bit of ringing in my ears. I was told at the start of this possibility so in conjunction with my oncologist I decided not to have the 3 rd sessions. It’s nit unusual  in our types  of cancer not to take all the chemo sessions  my oncologist said at least 66% of his patients do nit have all the sessions ,The radiotherapy is the main even with chemo being a top up. The figures that I’ve had are chemo adds 4% ro overall success rate of orapharangeal cancers. This figure differs for other cancers in many chemotherapy is the main course of treatment. 
I too was the fittest I had ever been prior to treatment and apartbfrom having our daughter in hospital I had never been in an operating theatre until my biopsy so was a steep learning curve.

As others have said there are many many anti sickness pills they can be changed. I do know quite a few who didn’t complete all  courses of chemo due to varying reasons.

I did get complete metabolic response after my pet Ct scan despite of me not having  the last chemo session.,Am sorry you didn’t get told of the possible side effects I know I did get them explained..

I hope you can get with your husbands  team and come to an agreement. As Mark says carbo platin chemo may be offered.

Hazel 

That’s really interesting Tony because Lansoprazole has been the only thing that really controlled my acid reflux. I found just half a tab each day worked really well. I’ll get back to my doc on that one