When are taxol-carboplatin side effects just that and not something serious?

[thegrinningcat]

I'm so worried! This is her the reaction to her first dosis this time and the nurse at the clinic didn't let her see the physician and made no blood tests whatsoever regarding her one impaired kidney when she went there yesterday, and send her back home with "that's normal". But I know on weekends they like to turn people away...

My mom was diagnosed with another boust of OC earlier this year. She already had it once, 6 years ago. Back then, side effects were down to one day of sort of nausea which she faught with ginger. This time, the return of the growth was only discovered because I knew the symptoms and forced her to seek yet another opinion--her physician declared it a "flu" and she almost died of kidney failure as her urinary tract was obnstructed...not exactly trust inspiring for starters. We were then told that her kidney function would be monitored during chemo because of course toxic substances are not good for an already strained kidney.(due to the earlier long obstruction which made it swell)

Add to that a series of appointments and applications to doctors and institutions that didn't go through, were obstructed, talked down  or were forgotten--the trust in diagnosis and nurses or doctors taking her serious problems as serious as they should be taken is pretty much gone. Due to her complicated surgery, she is skinny as a stick, and at almost 70, the danger of a stroke was raised while on intensive care and slightly speech-impaired thereafter for a while. Ya know how anastaesia doesn't exactly make you younger. So the clinic sending her home means nothing to us with what it could be other than chemo, now that we have new side effects, same drug: Carboplat. and taxol,:

worrysome side effects now are: since day 4 (today is day 6) spontaneous vomitting; a condition she is only able to describe as "not good", ; makes a face like that of people with liver disease. (e.g. swollen lower lip, slightly yellowish hue.) Her communication skills are suddenly down to yes and no answers, and silences to most other questions, except longer sporadic outbursts of dismay when appropriate. State of mind: sour and acidic. That made me think she had a stroke, another kidney problem (uremic), anemia...or it's the chemo only and will pass. I am so worried!

Can someone please tell me about their taxol or carboplatine side effects or share their insight regarding this with me?

Thank you all in advance, I  will try checking tomorrow.

[thegrinningcat]

Thank you, this was very helpful. She had to take antibiotics a week before chemo, so maybe this made it worse--it certainly effected her bowel functions earlier. I will look into L-glutamine. We have also been having a heat wave which surely didn't help keeping her hydrated--we are all just moping around. She was on IV fluids and antimietics finally and is much better ( with yet another mergency in the meantime, she had a fever, and yet antoher course of antibiotics) is now taking something that gets her bacteria back into the system--but don't think this is something they tell you at the Doctor's here.

[alanpvegas]

Do you know if the cancer has impared her GI tract at all?  As far as the side effects, you will hear that 'everyone is different' on how they react, so I can say that is normal compared to what my mom went through with just one agent chemo.  However, you bring up alarming issues that should be handled or at least explained by the physician (can you change to another oncologist?).  I'm assuming you go with her to the appointments by your post, so be forceful and demand an explanation of 'why' and 'why' again (almost like how kids go 'why?, why?'...they want to understand the big picture and so do you and your mom).  

It could be her intestines are just raw now from the chemo...depending on her health state prior to the chemo, they could have already been down too much.  Although it may not help much right now, look into L-Glutamine (you can get it from GNC, etc.) to help the intestines protect themselves (the cell lining) during infusion and after.   Roughly 5g to 10g is the recommended I've seen.  Beyond that I would suggest prebiotics and probiotics to help get the intestinal flora alive again, because they are wiped out with the chemo (some 'drinkable' yogurt has this or Kefir is also very good).  

Beyond that, throwing up is a horrible side effect, and her weight concerns me as well...if she cannot hold down food, they should have already talked to you both about TPN (intravenous feeding).  One thing (based on what you've described) to avoid would possible be a G-Tube or J-Tube where it goes right into the stomach or upper intestines and provides food that way (liquid)...the opening may not seal tight (like it didn't for my mom and caused so much problems for months and months until her death).  TPN is not without it's risks too, but she needs to get her nutrition up...it's an important part of fighting cancer as much as chemo.