My Mother-in-law has recently had a malignant tumour removed (along
with part of her bowel), the primary site of which was difficult to
determine – initial description was a ‘primary peritoneal tumour’ –
but this seems less definite now. Certainly her ovaries had not been
affected and were left intact although the surgeon has suggested that
some other organs had been affected.
She is now undergoing chemotherapy and is receiving Carboplatin. Just before
her third treatment, she has had to be given two units of whole blood due to
slight anaemia.
Now, is this anaemia likely to be a result of the chemotherapy or is it more
likely to be due to the cancer?
We have been told that the level of CA 125 in her blood is dropping, again,
does this mean that the chemotherapy is having an affect on any metastatic
spread or could it be simply due to the debulking of the original tumour?
Is there anywhere that I can find out more about the use and effects of
Carboplatin – Lycos has not been very helpful in this matter.
I gather that in the US, Carboplatin is normally used in conjunction with
Paclitaxel. Is the same true in the UK? I have not seen any reference to the
use of this in my Mother-in-Law’s notes – should we be asking why not?
Thanks for any help with these questions, my wife and I are trying to not be
unnecessarily discouraged or have our hopes raised without good cause – so
any information which helps us to have a clearer picture would be gratefully
received.
–
Clive
I’m not a physician, and there are others who can better answer your
medical questions. However, I was one of the original patients (#4 of 5
nationwide) on whom Carboplatin was originally tested. In my case, it was
used for AML. If you have any questions about the affects of the
treatment, I would be happy to answer your questions. I was treated at
the Becker Research Center at City of Hope in Duarte, California, so I’m
not far from you.
J. Bratton
jrb4…@aol.com