Cisplatin: What was your experience on this drug?

Hi,
that was a terrible thing for her to say to someone just starting her first cancer treatment. I had exactly the same treatment you are starting and it is true that the side effects from it can be unpleasant and lasting. But I had stage 3 cervical cancer by the time I started treatment and the cancer had spread to several pelvic lymph nodes and my ovary which were then removed. At the end of the radiation, I had brachytherapy and then all measurable cancer was gone. I had four years free from disease after that. The cisplatin dose you are having is quite light. I had it once every week before radiation. I wish you luck with your treatment and try to stay positive.

They use it because it's effective for killing the cancer! So you're right about that. Risk benefit balance.
One side effect that can happen is hearing loss, which is not reversible. I was getting carbo platin which is supposed to be less toxic to the ears, But 6 big infusion doses every three weeks, with taxol, for ovarian cancer. I had no idea that the reason my ears felt stuffy and I couldn't hear well was from that, so I didn't mention it to the oncologist. Only found out afterwards when I went to the ear doctor. Apparently you're a little more likely to have it happen if If you already have some hearing loss, which I did. Mine went from mild to moderate.
I'm telling you because if you have ear symptoms after the first, you will know enough to tell your doctor and maybe they would do something about the second dose. Or not, depending again on the risk benefit analysis.
I've been in remission for 2 years after finishing chemo so I'm contented with the result. Good luck!

Thank you so much for responding! I feel better after hearing from someone who has experienced it! You said you were 4 years cancer free did you have a reoccurrence?

Thank you for this tip! I had read about the potential hearing issues with Cisplatin but didn't know about carboplatin. After my 5 weeks of radiation/2 infusions of Cisplatin/one month off, I will receive 4 rounds of chemo (carbo/taxal). I will definitely let them know if I feel anything different with my hearing....THANK YOU!

Yes, I had a recurrence. At first it went to the lymph nodes in my neck. I had several months on Carboplatin and Taxol which took care of the lymph node enlargement and then it spread to the wall of my bladder and now I am in a new regimen of Tivdak every three weeks. It is a new chemotherapy only approved in February of 2020.

People are working on how to lessen this hearing effect but so far not much progress. It's especially likely and hard on children with cancer who get a lot of cis platin, I understand. The focus on children may be why it doesn't show up in lists of side effects for adults. And carbo is supposed to be much better than cis. I'm in an ovarian cancer group and almost everybody gets carbo and taxol; only one other person said they had hearing issues.
So there's a good chance you'll be just fine.

I wish I had your name! Still adding you to my prayer list! Praying that this new treatment works for you and for an abundance of blessings for you and your family daily! I would love to hear about how you are doing along the way! Consider yourself hugged!

I had 6 treatments of cysplatin for my stage 3 bartholin gland carcinoma. 6 weeks of radiation. I'm still here after 8 years. It was ok. My hair got thin and I was tired and nauseated. I didn't want to take the pain and antinausea meds. So I used Marijuana. It was all ok.

I am feeling much better after reading your comment! Thanks for sharing. So happy for you! Cancer treatment has come so far! Continued blessings in the years ahead!

New to this group. I'm 74 and recently diagnosed with primary vaginal cancer thought to be the result of HPV 16 and many years on prednisone to treat fibrotic pulmonary sarcoidosis. I am scheduled to start treatment next week, and I am struggling to make a final decision about what treatment method to embark choose. I am scheduled for 35 IMRT treatments 5 days a week for 7 weeks. The overwhelming issue for me is whether to have weekly low dose cisplatin concurrently. The side effects terrify me. My quality of life is already seriously compromised because of O2 dependence and 27 years living with the slowly increasing limits the pulmonary sarcoidosis imposes. I absolutely do not want to come out of treatment far more compromised (neuropathy, additional hearing loss, etc.) then I am now. I would appreciate any input since this is such a rare cancer (NOT the lottery I hoped to win) that all treatments must be extrapolated from cervical cancer treatments. There are never enough patients to conduct any randomized treatment trials on vaginal cancer. Thank you for your patience.