As part of my resolve to reinvigorate this blog, I've been probing the access logs to find out who has been reading the material while it (the blog) has remained static. It doesn't actually tell me the 'who' part, but does give me an indication of the geographic origin of the connection, and the search term used to find the blog. For instance, I can tell you that someone in Singapore was studying the forearm flap photos on Jan. 10, 2010, and that someone in Belgium was having a look at my comments on the effects of Cisplatin on tinnitus. The number one search term that is pointing people to these pages is "Akabutu's Mouthwash". That wondrous concoction has developed an international reputation. I ran my own search against the term in Google and was fascinated to see how many listings there are, and in what context. The common thread, however, seems to be chemotherapy.
I really wish that I could post the recipe here, but I truly don't know it... if you follow the other Akakutu links in the blog you'll find hints as to what may be in it.
In the meantime, have your oncologist/doctor/dentist contact the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, AB, Canada to get the recipe... I'm pretty sure that they'll share.
Showing posts with label carboplatin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carboplatin. Show all posts
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Third day in...
Hey, this carboplatin is a breeze! Whoo hoo! I am eating, only using half of the nausea drugs, and keeping everything down... yes, everything. I have yet to vomit since the introduction of the carboplatin into my system on Tuesday.
There have been 'hiccups'. But with the judicious application of that anti-psychotic novo-chlorpromazine, we seemed to have nipped that particularly ugly side effect in the bud.
One of the questions that immediately jumps to mind is 'why didn't they use this drug before?' Well, apparently it takes between 3 and 6 doses of carboplatin to have the same butt-kicking effect on the cancer cells that the cisplatin does. What they will do is give you three to six days of carboplatin in a row, which, by the end, you're not in much better shape than with the cisplatin, anyway. And you just know the cisplatin is that much stronger, potent and deadly 'cause they store and serve it in glass containers, while everything else we've noticed on the IV stands has been in plastic...
I am a little fatigued, maybe a bit dehydrated, and just a tiny bit deluded into thinking that I've got the outward manifestations of these damned therapies under control. Gail, good caregiver that she is, still makes me wear masks out in the great wide world, ensures that I am using the various creams, lotions and swishes, and is only just a bit bossy in doing any of it. Just a bit bossy, and somewhat pushy when it comes to the calorie count... I am starting my mornings with the "Plus" version of Ensure, followed almost immediately by two fried eggs and a glass of milk. Lunch (if I actually got out of bed to make 'lunch' a different time period) is a soup of some sort... Uncle Pete's chicken soup has been getting the most play so far this week. Evenings have been one or another chili, or the three potato casserole that Gail makes, or some of her fish pie. Between meals there is usually a yogurt or pudding cup on offer, and, of course, the ever present glass of milk. I still can't quite taste the sugars, but most of the savoury flavours are coming through. The chemo doctor, after a heavy sigh, did tell me that it could be 'many, many weeks' before the tastes are back to normal. Open cans of almost-room-temperature-and-slightly-stale soda water to cleanse the stickier saliva are strategically placed throughout the house.
Which reminds me... I haven't really pointed out that the thick saliva has pretty much subsided. Mornings (teeth brushing time) are the worst. But it really isn't getting in the way too much during the day. Add another 'whoo hoo' to the stack!
There have been 'hiccups'. But with the judicious application of that anti-psychotic novo-chlorpromazine, we seemed to have nipped that particularly ugly side effect in the bud.
One of the questions that immediately jumps to mind is 'why didn't they use this drug before?' Well, apparently it takes between 3 and 6 doses of carboplatin to have the same butt-kicking effect on the cancer cells that the cisplatin does. What they will do is give you three to six days of carboplatin in a row, which, by the end, you're not in much better shape than with the cisplatin, anyway. And you just know the cisplatin is that much stronger, potent and deadly 'cause they store and serve it in glass containers, while everything else we've noticed on the IV stands has been in plastic...
I am a little fatigued, maybe a bit dehydrated, and just a tiny bit deluded into thinking that I've got the outward manifestations of these damned therapies under control. Gail, good caregiver that she is, still makes me wear masks out in the great wide world, ensures that I am using the various creams, lotions and swishes, and is only just a bit bossy in doing any of it. Just a bit bossy, and somewhat pushy when it comes to the calorie count... I am starting my mornings with the "Plus" version of Ensure, followed almost immediately by two fried eggs and a glass of milk. Lunch (if I actually got out of bed to make 'lunch' a different time period) is a soup of some sort... Uncle Pete's chicken soup has been getting the most play so far this week. Evenings have been one or another chili, or the three potato casserole that Gail makes, or some of her fish pie. Between meals there is usually a yogurt or pudding cup on offer, and, of course, the ever present glass of milk. I still can't quite taste the sugars, but most of the savoury flavours are coming through. The chemo doctor, after a heavy sigh, did tell me that it could be 'many, many weeks' before the tastes are back to normal. Open cans of almost-room-temperature-and-slightly-stale soda water to cleanse the stickier saliva are strategically placed throughout the house.
Which reminds me... I haven't really pointed out that the thick saliva has pretty much subsided. Mornings (teeth brushing time) are the worst. But it really isn't getting in the way too much during the day. Add another 'whoo hoo' to the stack!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Good news and so-so news...
The good news is that the blood tests conducted this morning show that the key indicator looked for has jumped from 0.9 to 2.9 in the last week!
The so-so news is that, based on careful consideration and discussion with the appropriate doctor, we have decided to go ahead with the last chemo therapy session. We gotta do everything we can that may make a positive difference. We will not be using the cisplatin, but a derivative that will not have nearly the negative effects on my digestive tract or hearing. Its called 'Carboplatin'. The documentation on the drug shows that it potentially has the same side effects as the cisplatin, but, as mentioned, the doctor assures us that the effects are minimal for most people.
So, tomorrow we go forward with the last chemo.
And, yes, I did order a new motorcycle.
The so-so news is that, based on careful consideration and discussion with the appropriate doctor, we have decided to go ahead with the last chemo therapy session. We gotta do everything we can that may make a positive difference. We will not be using the cisplatin, but a derivative that will not have nearly the negative effects on my digestive tract or hearing. Its called 'Carboplatin'. The documentation on the drug shows that it potentially has the same side effects as the cisplatin, but, as mentioned, the doctor assures us that the effects are minimal for most people.
So, tomorrow we go forward with the last chemo.
And, yes, I did order a new motorcycle.
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