My Carboplatin adventure starting soon

Hello Mr U 

Well, welcome to the group - the more of us who share our journey in public the more it helps others in their own journey knowing just what to expect. 

I wish you well with your Chemotherapy, we have plenty of Community Members who have "been there - done that" and will be happy to answer any questions you may have (I have missed out on Chemo - so far!!).

We do have a chemotherapy group and if you wish to join this the link is here:

 Chemotherapy forum 

I wish you well from Tuesday onwards, do please keep us in the loop and let us know how it goes.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hello Mr U . I am particularly interested in how you get on as my husband's oncologist has suggested platinum based chemotherapy if his cancer doesn't respond to a second round of Docetaxel. Can I ask whether you have already had Docetaxel or Cabazitaxel? My husband has been through 6 cycles of Docetaxel in 2023 and if you haven't had chemotherapy before then we can offer you some tips on dealing with it if you would like.

All the best with your treatment.

That’s interesting that your husband had Docetaxel first, as that was the other choice for me. I have a BRCA2 gene mutation and I believe Carboplatin is geared towards that type of cancer.

I would indeed like you share any tips on dealing with chemo. Thank you.

I will also update how I get on.

U

Good morning. Docetaxel is the standard first line of chemotherapy for prostate cancer and can be followed by repeated Docetaxel provided it is not needed again within 9 months. Cabazitaxel would then follow. Genetic and genomic testing is opening up new treatments to better target the different types of prostate cancer and having the BRCA gene mutation has led to additional areas of research with the platinum based chemotherapy. Carboplatin has been used when other forms of chemotherapy are no longer effective but trials are being done to see whether it is more effective as a first line chemotherapy or in a neo adjuvant setting for high risk patients prior to surgery. There is some evidence that a combination of Docetaxel or Cabazitaxel with Carboplatin can improve the time until biochemical recurrence. Another trial has shown that a PARP inhibitor such as Olaparib after Carboplatin might also be of benefit.

I have attached a link to a thread on chemotherapy which gives tips on what we learnt when my husband had his first 6 cycles of Docetaxel. Carboplatin is dissolved in an aqueous buffer solution so the comments about alcohol are not relevant. Docetaxel is normally given in 3 week cycles and I believe this is the same for Carboplatin but it doesn't take as long to infuse the Carboplatin. Side effects seem similar.  The drug is mainly eliminated in the urine in about 4 days.

 Hubby about to start chemo 

We found the staff in the chemotherapy department very helpful and reassuring but it is important to let them know of any side effects as they can usually help out with supportive drugs. Their aim is to balance quality of life with treatment so don't suffer in silence.

Please let us know if we can help or if you have more questions and, of course, let us know how you get on.

I’ve started biding my time with a blog. Not tried before. Not too sure what I’m doing but it’s keeping me smiling.

details below

Blog:

To hop-on or hop-off is the question?

community.macmillan.org.uk/.../to-hop-on-or-hop-off-is-the-question

Hi Mr U , if you don’t laugh I think you cry.  Love your sense of humour, you will sail through this.  David

I am glad you have a sense of humour - it has certainly helped us get through this rollercoaster. Keep up the blog and I will bookmark it to see how you get on. All the best for next week.

 Mr U    Good luck and I hope it all goes well for you today 

.L

I echo that Mr U - chemotherapy?  You’ve already shown us just how strong and determined you are.  I have no doubt that you will deal with it like everything else in the story so far.  Good luck.     AW

Good morning Mr U . All the best for your first chemotherapy session today and I look forward to the next installment of your blog.