SE's on Cabazitaxel/Carboplatin Combo

[CrocodileShoes]

Fellow chemo warriors:

I'm hoping your experiences can shed some light on my latest treatment variation. Long story short: I had 3 docetaxel infusions with zero side effects. Unfortunately, the response was only partial, so last week I started on Cab/Carboplatin combo. This has been a very different experience so far - Day One was fine, but Day 2 I felt like I'd been hit by a truck, with diarrhoea and low red blood count. It's now Day 5 and symptoms have improved - temp is back to normal, tummy issues have settled. The strangest part, however, is a set of random pains, popping up pretty much anywhere. Most of the time they're not much more than pin-pricks, but sufficient to stop me sleeping (and I really need to sleep!) I also have nerve pains in my legs from time to time.

Has anyone experienced something similar and do you have any theories as to what might be going on? I can live with it, of course, but I'd like to think it might be indicating a response.

[Pinkyboy]

Except for the diarrhea, I had the same side effects with docetaxal. I suppose that just shows how different we all are. I am glad you are feeling better… I hope the improvements continue (and quickly, too)

[tango65]

What you describe may be related to a peripheral neuropathy. Discuss starting gabapentin or similar to control the pain.

[DrFeeelgood]

I have had two different chemo's. Taxatere and Platinum based. Taxatere was a breeze, worked 60 hours a week. Platinum based kicked me down hard. First day ok, 2nd day started feeling weak, 3rd day couldn't move, 4th day couldn't move, 5th day on got a little better everyday until they dumped it back in. I lost the nerve from my lower back down my right leg to my foot. Tried everything for the pain, nothing worked. Was on 3200 mg of Gabipenten and it still wouldn't touch the pain. Recently I thought I had broken my right wrist so went to an orthopedic wrist specialist. Said I had arthritis. Prescribed Celebrex for arthritis. And I got my Christmas present early. My leg doesn't hurt as bad. Still hurts, just not as bad. This was my experience, can't say it will work on you, but always worth a try. Keep fighting and keep feeling good!

[tarhoosier]

M wife had taxol for one cancer and carboplatin for a different cancer several years later. She said she though taxol was troublesome until she met carbo. MUCH worse for her to handle.

She is good now with limited long term side effects. Surviving the treatment is what makes modern chemotherapy different from that of our parents' time.

[AmitGattani]

I have been on Carbo+Cabazi regimen a good part of this year, but at lower dosage due to limited toxicity that my body can handle. So based on blood work results, some times I got dual agent and sometime single agent, dose adjusted to my condition. Carbo at AUC-2 level (full dose is AUC-3 level) and Cabazi between 10 or 15mg/m^2 (full dose is 20mg/m^2). So my situation might be different. In addition I had to take Nivestym injections (WBC stimulus) for 5days from day 3-7 of the chemo. I don't know if you are also taking those.

Nivestym injections actually caused me this random muscle/bone pain of the kind you are describing, and I was warned about it. And I was told to take some Cetirizine for that and that did help. So in case you are on some WBC stimulus like I was, pain could be from that and you can discuss Cetirizine option w your med team. Other than that, mild nausea is what I dealt with (Zofran helped). My understanding is that carbo does not cause neuropathy, but cabazi does. My neuropathy in feet get somewhat worse over this period even though I use cold-socks and gloves during cabazi infusion.

Hope this helps!