What is your experience with carboplatin?

I'm not real sure why his Onc. Wants to wait. But, maybe to see what next test scans show. My husband will usually have new scans after every 2nd dose of chemo to see how tumours are responding along with labs of course prior to each dosage. He had 6 rounds of Taxotere/Carboplatin last year along w/ Nuelesta to keep blood #'s up. Few side effects. Usual fatigue, hair loss. But he was able to continue working full time. Relieved his pain, etc. right away. Knocked PSA down to .5 at the lowest. Within about 3 mo. pSA began to rise again . Kept symptoms at bay for about a year. Began Jevtana/Carboplatin in June. 2 rounds and not quite working as planned. I have read that once you have used some chemo drugs. They are not as effective the second time around. Cancer cells become resistant to it. Maybe why he wants to save it. Drs. Have now started him on another combo(Out side the box), not usually used for "Prostate Cancer" as they feel his Nueroendocrine type of cancer that has metastised throughout his lymph system from neck down. And now lungs. Pretty low PSA from diagnoses highest in the 40's, does your Onc. Test for NSE? Overall, symptoms from chemo have not been too bad. Xtandi was the WORST for side effects and did not work at all. I would try to push for Carboplatin added. Does not hurt to try. I will try to send a link to an article I read yesterday on the combo. I hope they find something that helps. I know how hard it is and helpless you feel. Barb

Good morning Beth!

I'm glad to see that the bleeding was only due to a fissure. I hope it heals up quickly.

I sent you an email with some links to articles on combo chemo treatments.

I know it is so hard to keep searching and trying to find "the one", that will work for our husbands.

I hope you both have a wonderful day!
Barb

Beth,

I have little to add to Barb's very expert advice. I know that sometimes the neuroendocrine forms become dominant later in the game, and I think it's good advice she says to test for that and adjust the chemo to the cancer type. Sometimes I see cisplatin, sometimes carboplatin, but I don't know how they choose one or the other. Sometimes I see a platin combined with irinotecan. These combination cocktails are supposed to reduce the SEs and be more effective compared to higher doses of single agents. As Barb said, Neulasta seems like a prudent precaution when combining chemos that are myelosuppressive. I don't know if it's a good idea to use a platinum-based chemo in the absence of neuroendocrine cancer. They used to use these cocktails back in the day before they had Taxotere and Jevtana.

- Allen

Gary had another round of taxotere, but his medonc is also testing for neuroendocrine cells and is considering adding tamoxifen based upon positive clinical trial results and carboplatin or something similar for small cell depending on test results. His psa rose another 50 points from a little over 1000, so not big jumps. Strange, though, his blood tests shows everything looks pretty normal. Where is all that psa coming from? I suspect once the test for neuroendocrine comes back, scans will be forthcoming. Oh, and Gary said today he can't believe how great he feels, even though he has a cold or allergies and is sniffly.