Lab results

Hi Looby

soory to hear about your diagnosis, I was stage 3A, grade 2, and did 25 radio with two lots of Cisplatin, followed by 4 lots of Paclitaxel/carboplatin.

Re peripheral neuropathy, I didn’t use anything/gloves, but when I started to experience numbness in tips of fingers and thumbs, they reduced my Paclitaxel to 80% for last two lots. Re the cannulas, for two of my sessions they put the cannula in my arm rather than back of hand, so maybe worth asking about this? I’m 3 months post end of treatment and the neuropathy is getting slowly better.

I had very few side effects from the Cisplatin which was a low dose. I did get some ringing in ears, and also had this with the Carboplatin but this for me tended to resolve before next infusion.

Re the radiotherapy have they given you any advice re diet during this? Effectively I ended up eating very little fibre, whilst undergoing this, but you also need to keep calorie intake up, so had plenty of cakes, biscuits, ice-cream in house. And was then told to eat more cake.

re the Paclitaxel/carboplatin, I found lemon sweets really useful for getting rid of yucky taste in month ( thanks Jane for this advice), and was always good when I realised I hadn’t eaten any on a particular day, which was around day 10 post infusion. Also, I was using the anti sickness tablets longer than the first few days during first cycle, and after speaking to hospital realised these could have been giving me stomach issues. So rounds 2-4 I only used them first 3 days and felt a lot better.  I don’t sleep well at the best of times, so I also got prescribed sleeping tablets to take for first few nights, to try to combat the steroids they give you.

Finally, it can all feel so overwhelming, so try to break things down, and just focus on what needs to be done now. I didn’t want to talk about the Paclitaxel/carboplatin until I had got the radio out of the way.

wishing you all the best, and remember we are here.

Hi Looby

I won't have radiotherapy until I've finished chemotherapy, paclitaxel and carbonation. I was/am particularly worried about peripheral neuropathy. Unfortunately my oncologist confirmed there is no prevention for it. She said once you noticed any numbness you need to mention to nurses/doctors. It's nearly the end of my first chemo as for peripheral neuropathy concern I had leg throbbing and discomfort on legs come and go.

During the treatment I drank a lot of water, went to the toilet few times, moved my toes from time to time. When I am at home I drink plenty of liquid, do stretching exercise and go walking. 

I hope this helps.