What Might The Reaction Be?

When I spoke to my oncologist on Monday we agreed on the taxol/carbo chemo for my second time round. I had it 2 1/2 years ago also.

Now, the first time, I did have that nasty reaction to the taxol, the first treatment and then never again. My doc says that it probably will not happen this time either but I will be watched very closely.

However, she did say that some people do have a reaction to the carbo the second time. She told me that carbo, being a metal, does leave traces in your body forever. The first treatment, she says will be ok but the second treatment is when they have to watch for the reaction. It sounded to me almost like a rejection to the drug and she stated that if it happens, I would just be getting the taxol and not the carbo for the rest of the treatments.

She would not commit to what the reaction might be so I am checking with all of you. Has anyone ever had this reaction or know of what to maybe expect.

Thanks,
Rosalie

Hi Rosalie,
I did have an anapylactic reaction, but they told me that it would not happen again, and it didn't. What they did do afterward for me was that they put extra saline into my drip at the same time and slowed it down. It took longer to finish each treatment, but I did not have the side effect again. I hope that things go better on your next treatment.

Hugs,
Twisted Sister, Ovarian Cancer, stage 3C

It amazes me there is no consistency on this.
I had the first 6 taxol/carbo with no problem as to reactions. I then had 8 more carbo only for my first recurrence, which started 9 months later but it was 11 months when treatment began. I had no problems with the carbo. Then I had close to a six month remission and recurrence. I had carbo at the end of August and once in September with no problem. Then came October and I had a reaction 1/3 through infusion. I began to itch and went right to burning all over. I yelled for the nurse and they stopped the chemo, ran for the doctor, and I got Benadryl shoved in me and a fast acting steroid. (Prior to that I was just taking anti nausea meds first.) Things calmed down and I was ready to proceed but the Dr. said no. I came back one week later, after taking oral dexamethasone the night before and morning of chemo and again got Benadryl and the fast-acting steroid. I did get a tad itchy but that stopped and it went on in the 30 minute time without a problem. From then on until carbo failed, I had it full dose, with dexamethasone before and the other two 20 minutes prior to chemo and I had no more problems. So who knows. I would go back onto carboplatin in a second without any concern if I felt it'd help.

Ellen is right.
There is no consistency in handling a carboplatin reaction.
I told Rosalie about a friend of mine who did develope the allergic reaction to carbo as she treated for a recurrence.
But the carbo was doing a good job on her cancer.
They admitted her to the hospital (Univ of Pa) and desensitized her to carbo. She continued to use carbo alone until it no longer worked for her.
Go figure.
It truly seems so much depends on where you are treated and your own doctors thoughts on how to manage your case.
That's why we are our own best advocate.

oxox karenann

Sheesh, Rosalie! I was under the impression that once you got past the initial reaction that you were home free. Now this worry?! Well, there's nothing right about that!

Of course, I'll keep good thoughts and prayers for you to have absolutely NO reaction.

BTW, along the same lines as what Twisted Sister said about slowing the whole thing down, I'm totally on board there. In fact, in retrospect, I felt that my initial reaction to the Taxol had a lot to do with the Benadryl! Maybe I am blowing smoke, but I swear, I really did not like that Benadryl.

I also had a reaction to the "contrast" that I get with the CT scans. I had a conversation with one of the nurses on this last go-round of CT scans and he swore that it seemed that the rate of push had a lot to do with people's reactions.

Well, who knows? Hope you're doing well. This has been a crazy week but I'll be callling you soon to check in.

Miss you,

Hi Rosalie

I had kind of a wierd reaction to my 4th treatment of carbo. I got lights flashing towards my eyes (it was really kind of spooky), and then when I got up to go to the bathroom, I got really light headed and had to set down or pass out. It passed very quickly, and the nurses never did stop my carbo.

I never had an itching reaction. My onco nurses also said the same thing. The more treatments of carbo, the more likely a reaction is to happen.

I will be thinking of you and keep you in my prayers as you prepare for your treatments.