Chemo treatment

[Cindi54]

hello,

 I was hoping someone could help me.

Soon I'll be having Chemo: Gemcitabine and Carboplatin, has anyone else here had this mix of chemo?

I would appreciate any info on side affects etc.

I'm a bit scared, and think talking to someone else whose had this will help me.

Thanks,

Cindi

[Maddi_CCNSW]

Hi Cindi

It can be scary starting chemotherapy.  The best people to speak to about specific treatment combinations is your oncologist.  This can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming, but they are used to answer questions.  You could write questions down before you go to see them or take someone with you.  If your in Australia, you could call the Cancer Council's support line - 13 11 20.  This is some information re the side effects of chemo, it's not specific for your combination.  

If you're struggling with the side effects of your treatment, it's important to speak to your oncologist or cancer nurse, quite often they can help you. 

Chemotherapy | Cancer Council

[Cindi54]

Thank you so much for your response. Appreciate it x

[dannyd]

Hello Cindi, I completely understand how you're feeling right now. Facing chemotherapy can be really daunting, and it's natural to feel scared and anxious about it. I haven't personally experienced Gemcitabine and Carboplatin, but I know that connecting with others who have been through it can be incredibly helpful. Remember, many people have faced similar treatments and come out stronger on the other side. It’s important to stay hopeful and keep believing in a positive outcome. You’re not alone in this, and there are communities and resources available to support you. If you can, try to connect with others who have had the same treatment—hearing their experiences and advice might make a big difference. And please don’t hesitate to reach out for support from friends, family, or support groups. Wishing you strength and courage as you begin this journey.

It is also extremely important to choose only reliable pharmacies to obtain the necessary medicines of the best quality, the result of your treatment depends on it. My personal recommendation is a reliable pharmacy, which I have been using for a long time, I have never had any problems with it

You’ve got this!

[Cindi54]

Thank you Dannyd, your advise is good, I'll try to be positive, yes I'm sure Ill get through it all ok, just hard waiting.

Thank you 🙂

[Jennifer66]

Hi Cindi54

I had Gemcitainine and Docetaxel  used together intravesical for bladder cancel 

3 treatments and had no side affects what so ever, 

as this is only in bladder it does not affect any other part of your body. Don’t know if this helpful at all 

[Cindi54]

Hi Jennifer66,

It's kind of you to reply to my post, thank you.

Is intravestical the same as the chemo going through a Port?

My chemo is a little different for me as I have the Gemcitabine and Carboplatin ( which is the nasty one)

I had a port put in under the skin below my right shoulder blade, and they inject the chemo through there.

I'm now onto my second cycle and I am suffering quite a few sides but I try to get on top of them quickly and it helps along with sleeping pills if I'm too speedy ( from the horrible steroids in the chemo) and which I also have following the chemo to help stop vomiting. It was causing me to have halucinations, scary stuff, but the sleeping pill helps

You're lucky to have avoided the side affects, really happy for you.

Can I ask, did your hair fall out? although I think it's the Carboplatin one that does that?

Thanks ,

Cindi x

[Jennifer66]

Hi Cindi54

intravesical is directly into bladder via a catheter and drained out again after two hours, as not in your body a reason for no side affects, hot chemo same way and then heated up, but I’m not so sure I will go ahead with this. 
I'm so sorry you are having such terrible side affects, certainly doesn’t make treatments easy to go through 

I do give you my kind thoughts and wish you well

Jennifer 

[Cindi54]

Hi Jennifer,

Thanks for explaining that, it actually sounds not too bad that type of chemo, why don't you want to go ahead with that? it sounds much better than the one through the port. No sides would be lovely.

Anyway, I hope you work out a treatment suitable for you , thanks so much for talking to me, it does help .

Wishing you the best,

Cindi

[Jennifer66]

Hi Cindi54

I did do 3 rounds of intravesical gemcitanine with docetaxel chemo last November with no side affects, the hot chemo is not common and only a few places do it in Australia, although not a problem for me as Royal Melbourne is one of them, there is not much information on hot chemo and I need to know more, I had 12 treatments of BCG immunotherapy with lots of information on this. I have bladder cancer along with rare ureter cancer and as I’m only on two options now I need to know more