Mesothelioma Treatment - Chemotherapy - Cisplatin
Cisplatin is a chemotherapy medication that contains platinum, a common element used to treat a variety of forms of asbestos cancer, including mesothelioma. Today, Cisplatin is often combined with newer medications to increase the effectiveness of the medication and, hence, the chemotherapy treatment itself.
Cisplatin has been on the market for some time, though it was generally found to be ineffective in treating mesothelioma. However, combined with the new chemotherapy drug Alimta, which was just recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Cisplatin has proven to be an effective chemo drug. The Alimta and Cisplatin combination is now considered to be one of the most effective chemotherapy treatments for pleural mesothelioma for those patients who are not candidates for surgery.
Because the drug is about 30 years old and was the first in its class of alkylating agents, it often causes more side effects than newer chemotherapy drugs. Because of this, doctors will often try other chemo drugs before recommending treatment with Cisplatin.
Treatment with Cisplatin
If your doctor does recommend the use of Cisplatin, probably combined with Alimta, you'll want to make sure you take time to discuss with him any potential concerns associated with the drug.
Discussion should include statistics on the effectiveness of Cisplatin and Alimta, the administration of the drug combination, and the side effects that you may encounter with treatment. It's also imperative that you begin taking a B12 supplement by injection starting the week before your treatment begins, with weekly B12 shots continuing throughout treatment. You should also take folic acid by mouth daily, which will continue for 21 days after the last dosage cycle of Cisplatin and Alimta. Your doctor will also give you an oral steroid to help minimize side effects such as skin rash. If you are taking other medications, either prescription or non-prescription including supplements, be sure to tell your physician about them so as to avoid potential serious drug interactions.
Cisplatin with Alimta is given to mesothelioma patients every 21 days on an outpatient basis, usually at a hospital or cancer treatment center. The treatment consists of a dose of Alimta by IV, which usually lasts about 10-15 minutes, followed by the Cisplatin, which generally takes about 2 hours to administer. The number of cycles required will depend on your response to the medications as well as any side effects that you experience.
Side Effects of Cisplatin
The side effects of Cisplatin and Alimta are usually mild to moderate for most patients with pleural mesothelioma and include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
However, some patients may encounter extreme side effects, which should be reported to your medical professional immediately. Cisplatin has the potential of causing serious kidney problems and it is essential to drink lots of water during treatment with this chemotherapy agent.
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