Should I be concerned?

Hi Pam

I would try not to worry too much and put your trust in your consultant. 

It can sometimes happen that chemo needs to be changed and you have already had 4 lots of the cisplatin along with the radiotherapy. That should stand you in good stead for the next phase of your treatment. 

Having a break for 3 weeks should help your body recover enough to start your last phase of chemo. 

When I had problems with my bloods during my chemo, they did tend to come up again without too much issue. They will likely take bloods again in the week before your chemo starts again and hopefully all will be fine. 

Rest up and take some time to relax after all those radiotherapy appointments. I know I was glad when I got mine over and done. 

Jane

I was due to have 2 doses of Cistplatin with radiotherapy but refused it due to the fact that it can affect hearing and I can only hear in one ear with a hearing aid being appropriate. I was told the radiotherapy was the important part.

Jane

I had the 2 lots of Cisplatin as part of my radio, and was told this was a low dose (I know you were having yours differently) and to make the cells more receptive to the radio, and it’s the further chemo carboplatin/paclitaxel that is to mop up any potential cells. I finished the radio 3 weeks ago, and start the other chemo tomorrow, can’t believe where last 3 weeks went.

Had a discussion with the doctor today and they confirmed I don’t need them as the radiotherapy finished this morning.

I thought today was gonna be a quick day but they made me stay to have a Doppler test on my left leg which has swollen. I thought it was from the chemo hydration but I haven’t had that for a couple of weeks.

They want to check that it’s not a DVT though I think it’s possibly lymphoedema due to the radiotherapy targeting the pelvic and iliac nodes and if it is I’m hoping it’s temporary whilst the normal cells recover.

Pam

Oh fingers crossed for you. 

I had a long day also today with my new potions, I reacted fairly quickly to the paclitaxel, and they had to stop it, give me other drugs, give me a rest, and then after complex calcs restarted me, first half hour as though infusing over 6 hours, then next half hour as though infusing me over 5 hours, then 4 hours, then the remainder at normal rate over 3 hours. I was OK just a little anxious it would happen again. Got home at 8.30, had a chicken stir fry, and have felt OK this evening.

It sounds as though they are fairly on the ball doing their calcs and adjusting everything to ensure you got your dosage. Scary though.

I was right about my leg. No clot and I’m hoping the lymphoedema is temporary.

I have to wait 3 weeks before they start me on the Carboplatin and Paclitaxel. I’ll keep an eye out for your posts since you are ahead of me. I hope everything goes ok for you.

Pam

Good news re not being clot and hope it resolves quickly.

Re the calcs it was interesting, I think they knew I was a little hesitant in restarting, and they gave me time as to when I was ready to restart, and think that’s why they came up with the complex calcs. They said a couple of times, the protocol, would be to do half hour on reduced rate , and if OK to resume at normal rate, which gave me reassurance that they/I were/was doing this at a slower rate.

yep will keep you posted as to how I do given you are just behind me.