CISPDOCE
CISplatin-DOCEtaxel Treatment
This document provides general information about your cancer treatment. It does not replace the advice of your health care professional. Always discuss your therapy with your health care team.
- This treatment consists of CISplatin and DOCEtaxel.
- Refer to the medication information sheet for each drug for more information.
- CISplatin-DOCEtaxel is a drug combination for treating non-small cell lung cancer.
- Your doctor will prescribe dexamethasone tablets for you to take at home before and after each Docetaxel injection, to help prevent allergic reaction and water retention. It is very important that you take these tablets exactly as directed by your doctor so that you do not experience these side effects.
- This chemotherapy regimen should not be used if you are pregnant or breast-feeding; if you or your partner may become pregnant (i.e. fertile/have not gone through menopause). Effective contraception with at least 2 methods is essential during treatment and for at least 6 months after stopping the treatment.
- Your oncologist will determine how many treatment cycles you need depending on how you tolerate and respond to the chemotherapy.
- Each cycle lasts 3 weeks (21 days). You will receive docetaxel and cisplatin through a vein in your arm (IV) on the first day (Day 1) of each cycle. Days 2 to 21 are rest days.
- You will have a blood test before each treatment to check if your blood counts are high enough for you to receive the next cycle of chemotherapy.
- Cisplatin can affect the function of your kidneys and can deplete some of the essential salts in your blood (such as magnesium). In order to prevent this, extra intravenous fluid will be given to you before and after the cisplatin infusion. Sometimes, magnesium is added in the extra fluid or your doctor might prescribe an oral magnesium supplement for you to take at home for a few days after the treatment. It is important that you drink plenty of fluids (at least 8 glasses per day) during the day and empty your bladder (pass urine) frequently.
- All patients will experience some or total hair loss. This generally starts 2 to 3 weeks after the first injection. Your scalp may feel tender. It’s a good idea to consider a wig or other head covering before starting treatment. Hair loss on your face (e.g. eyebrows, eyelashes) and body can also occur. Your hair will usually start to grow back once your treatment is over, but hair loss may be permanent in some cases. The colour and texture of your new hair may be different.
- Using other medications can affect the levels of chemotherapy drug in your blood (lowering level of drug making chemotherapy less effective, or increasing the level of drug causing more side effects.) Make sure your doctor and pharmacist have a complete list of all medicine and supplements (including-over-the counter ones and herbal products) that you are taking. Do not start or stop taking any medicine/supplements without first checking with your doctor and pharmacist.
- Rarely, treatment with this chemotherapy regimen may increase your chance of bleeding. Because of this, you should avoid using blood thinners, or drugs that also affect bleeding such as aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) or naproxen (Aleve®). For headache, fever, or occasional aches and pains, use acetaminophen (Tylenol®) instead. If you are taking aspirin regularly for other medical problems, it is important that you do not stop taking it before you have discussed this with your doctor.
The table below lists other common or important side effects associated with this treatment. You may not have all of the side effects. Other side effects may occur. If you have any unusual or bothersome symptoms, discuss with your doctor.
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Diarrhea
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Swelling (water retention) in arms and legs; puffiness
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Tiredness, weakness
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Nail changes
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Ringing in the ears, Hearing loss, Loss of balance
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Contact your health care team as soon as possible (office hours) | ||||||
Numbness, tingling and burning sensation in hands and feet
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Sores in the mouth / lips / tongue
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Contact your health care team as soon as possible (office hours) | ||||||
Muscle or joint pain
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Pale skin, weakness, breathlessness, anemic
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Nausea and vomiting
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Poor appetite
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Kidney problems , trouble urinating
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Signs of infection, for example, fever, chills, cough, sore throat
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Thin, reddened painful skin on hands or feet
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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Salt imbalances
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Lung problems |
Get emergency medical help right away |
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/symptom-management.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information(for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.