Concurrent Cisplatin with External Beam Radiation

Hi  

I had Cisplatin with radiotherapy and it was a weekly dose. I had no issues at all with it-was never sick or even nauseous. I didn’t lose my hair or have any hair thinning either. Mine was for cervical cancer and the infusion did take a long time as I was given flushes through of anti sickness and magnesium in addition to the bag of chemotherapy drugs. I was there once a week for 5-6 hours for mine, with my daily radiation happening after my chemo, although that might be the same for everyone. I personally found it a very relaxing day, sat in my recliner being brought coffee and lunch! 

Hope all goes well with your treatment. 

Sarah xx

Hi and thanks for your quick response. Im going to expect the Cisplatin once a week then. My Consultant has sent me a letter but not explained how many times I would have it so thank you. I will ask him when I see him on 2nd August.  Mine is a 'Mop Up' treatment after my Hysterectomy for womb cancer which had spread outside of my Cervix. All lymph nodes came back clear and the cancer was removed so my treatment is precautionary. Thanks again. x

My original plan was exactly the same for my first line treatment-5 weeks of radiotherapy with once weekly Cisplatin. So Monday-to Friday daily radiotherapy, and 5 weekly doses of Cisplatin. For me, the Cisplatin was designed to increase the effectiveness of the radiotherapy, since radio is the main treatment for cervical cancer when a hysterectomy isn’t possible (anything other than stage 1 usually). 

Sarah xx

You have been so helpful, thank you. I originally was having 18 chemo but had an allergic reaction to both Paclitaxel and Docetaxel. Im now having 4 Carboplatin before moving onto the Cisplatin & Radiotherapy. Then 4 Brachytherpy. Still a long way to go but I think of my chemo as medicine to get me better.  Got to keep positive. Thanks again x

You’ve definitely got the right attitude! It must have been scary having a bad reaction to your other chemo drugs, but I’m sure you are being carefully monitored for every infusion now so hopefully that won’t happen again.

It’s a bit of a slog going through treatment, especially daily radiotherapy, but I visualised those invisible rays from the radiotherapy machine zapping away my cells and getting me well again. I ticked off every session as I did it to see the number reducing and suddenly it was all done. I just focused on the end result not the process to get there, because I did find radiotherapy tough. Not everybody does however, I think I was just unlucky in that! 

Sarah xx

Many people have said oh you will sail through radiotherapy but my Hubby had it for throat cancer a few years ago and it floored him. What people dont realise is that it is both very painful on the inside where you cant see and also on the outside. Im expecting it to be no easy ride because cancer treatment isnt. Glad you are over that stage. Thanks for your messages x

 Mrsceedee was this what you had? 

Thanks for highlighting Mrsceedee, I have just read her profile and there are lots of similarities. I broke my treatment down into 4 hurdles, Hysterectomy, Chemo, Radio & Chemo and then Brachytherapy. Just because they were/are being done at 4 different hospitals. Hurdle 1 is complete, Hurdle 2 Im half way there, 2nd August appt with consultant to discuss hurdle 3..... treatment is not pleasant but my 9 year old granddaughters said to me Nanna I know your medicine isnt very nice for you but it will get you better - so I call my treatment my medicine and it helps me through. Thanks for being there x

I didn’t have any painful skin with external radiotherapy, and no pain internally-just tiredness, cystitis and diarrhoea. I had 32 sessions, so I did find it tough as time went on, but my side effects did subside a couple of weeks after treatment ended and I wasn’t left with any long term effects.

It was only went I went to have hysterectomy surgery that they saw how damaged my internal organs were from the radiotherapy-they were stuck together and my colon in particular showed a lot of damage. So I was stapled up again and didn’t have the surgery. If I hadn’t been opened up abdominally I would have had no idea about the damage-no pain or discomfort ever.

Sarah xx

Yes it was