Recurrent Squamous Cell Cancer- treatment options?

17 years 1 month ago #3553 by Jeannette
Hi BD
just wanted to give you some input on some of the drugs my husband has tried (he has stage 4 bladder cancer,,metastised to the bones, organs clear) first time was cisplatin and gemzar( i think that is the standard choice for bladder cancer) the cisplatin made him extremely sick. the treatments were done once a week for 3 weeks 4th week off. 1st week cisplatin and gemzar 2nd and 3rd week just gemzar.after 3 months of that cocktail test showed that , that cocktail wasn't working for him. next they tried  taxol ( side effects,, allergic reaction occured while it was going in so they stopped it five minutes after it started) same exact thing  happened with next drug taxotere.. this past wednesday he was admitted to the hospital for 5 days for  ifosfamide reason for being admitted is because  it can cause  kindey problems and he has to be closely monitored,, he gets  a drug called mesna before, after and four hours later(3times a day) to counteract the effect on the kidneys,,, the treatment is everyday for the 5 days.. today is his last day in the hospital and he is doing really good..he didnt get nearly as sick as he did with the cisplatin.. but as you've been told everyone reacts differently to the chemotherapies.. good luck to your family and your father inlaw ,, i wish all of you the best

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17 years 1 month ago #3513 by wendy
With the cisplatin being the toughest of all, both protocols are tough...perhaps the Dana Farber combo would be slightly less toxic, hard to say because everyone responds differently.

Let us know what happens.
Wendy

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17 years 1 month ago #3501 by BD
Slaon Kettering is planning on using ifosfamide, taxol and cisplaton.
Dana Farber is offering a an alternate of docetaxl, cisplaton and 5FU.

Are any of these less toxic than others?

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17 years 1 month ago #3486 by wendy
I'm sorry to hear of your situation. Maybe the most important question is, is his cancer treatable? Would this aggressive protocol be intended as curative? If not, perhaps you should discuss best supportive care with an eye to quality of life.

Chemo is almost always given for metastasized bladder cancer no matter what the cell type. Radiation is given to treat localized symptoms such as blockage or pressure on a nerve from tumor, or bone involvement, and it usually works. How long things stay under control is something nobody can really predict.

We have a list of considerations for when someone has stage IV cancer on webcafe, I copy,
blcwebcafe.org/metatcc.asp
Benefits from treatments include control of symptoms and possible prolongation of life. The most important concerns are:

Will further treatments improve my quality of life?
Will benefits outweigh risk and discomfort?
Will further treatments add to survival?
What feels most comfortable to me?
Do I feel I can manage the side effects of each treatment option? What kind of support will I have from family or friends? Outside agencies?

Many studies cite the addition of 2-3 months to a person's life as justification enough for aggressive chemotherapy. Ask your doctor how many patients he's treated with the same therapy and how the patients did. Palliation of symptoms alone is still a valid goal in metastatic cancer.

Because the needs of metastatic patients are highly individual and many of the treatments are still experimental, there are no standard guidelines available to either the patient or the doctor. In some cases the decision is determined by whose opinion you seek — a surgeon will recommend surgery, an oncologist chemotherapy or a radiation oncologist radiation therapy. Often, the patient and family must decide on the course of treatment. .


Find out all you can about what drugs they are thinking of using and let us know.

Ultimately it's your father in law who must make this decision.
Wendy

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17 years 1 month ago #3481 by BD
My father in law, 55, was diagnosed with bladder cancer last year and underwent 6 sessions of chemo before having neobladder surgery last spring.  He has been recovering very well, we even went skiing over the holidays.
During a routine check-up a few weeks ago, they discovered 2 more tumors that a PET scan confirmed as squamous cell cancer on the muscles of his lower abdomen.

Now the really hard part.  Sloan-Kettering has offered a treatment program of heavy chemo (I am not sure of the drugs cut can find out).  3 days straight, 2 weeks off per cycle, for 6 cycles.  They say squamous cell is pretty rare in the bladder and they have only treated 8 people, 2 successfully.
The chemo is so intenese, they will need to install a port in his chest as the veins in the arm cannot take it.
The doctors have said he will never have the same energy level after the chemo and will be somewhat lethargic.
If the chemo does not work, they do not have any backup plan.

Has anyone had recurring squamous cell cancer?  What did you or your loved one do for treatment?

We are very concerned that the chemo is not the way to go because of the damage it will do and the success rate is not very impressive.

If you know of any alternate methods that we should investigate, please let use know.

Thanks,
Brandon

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