Permetrexed

[Kathy240]

Anyone have this on its own after receiving cartoplatin and permetrexed. What are the side effects. Been really rough on the duo just wondering it it will be easier just on the one.

[Seaspray298]

It was much easier for me! I did 6 carbo/alimta and then a few months of Alimta maintenance. There is a thread here started by Mike years ago. Stay hydrated, eat well and try to exercise everyday. Click on our names to read our history!

[Mrscancer]

Hi I did 4 rounds of cisplatin and pemertrexed which I found each dose harder and harder to cope with. But I did, then went onto pemertrexed maintenance and have been on this for nearly 7 years. Hope it goes well for you.

[Vapcq]

Hi Kathy, yes I had a maintenance dose every 3 weeks for a year. Everyone is so different in how they react to these things, but I found it very doable. I had what I called slump days from about day 3-5 afterwards but to be honest I wasn't sure if that was because of the steroids. I didn't have a lot of energy and towards the end of the treatment I was feeling pretty weak but I did have an iron deficiency at a couple of points which improved with eating more iron rich foods. I did have a rash on my scalp for a few days after each dose, more or less but this soon went. I can't think of any other reactions. I actually looked forward to my doses as each one was killing the cancer. After a year my scans were clear and I'm still in remission a year later. Best of luck!

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear Kathy240

Everyone is different in their response and experience of their treatment. It can be tough, but does pass as the cycles come to an end.

There have been some encouraging replies from other members of the forum.

This link is from Cancer Research UK on Pemetrexed: cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

Hope you will manage the Pemetrexed (Alimta) well and if you would like to discuss anything you can email ask the nurse at [e-mail] or call our free phone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team