This information is about a chemotherapy treatment using paclitaxel and carboplatin that is used to treat ovarian or lung cancer. Paclitaxel is also known as Taxol, so this chemotherapy treatment is sometimes called the TaxolCarbo regimen.
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The drugs that are used How treatment is given How often treatment is given Possible side effects Less common side effects Additional information References
paclitaxel (a colourless fluid) is given as a drip (infusion) over about three hours carboplatin (a colourless fluid) is also given as an infusion, over about one hour.
The whole treatment takes 45 hours. If you are having your treatment as a day patient you can then go home, and the cannula will be removed before you go. If you have a central or PICC line it will usually stay in place, ready for the next cycle of your chemotherapy. You will be shown how to look after the line. You will be given a supply of anti-sickness drugs to take home with you. You should take these regularly as directed, even if you aren't feeling sick. This is because some anti-sickness drugs are much more effective at preventing sickness than stopping it once it starts.
On the first day of treatment you will be given paclitaxel and carboplatin, as described, for one day only. After this, you will have a rest period with no chemotherapy for the next three weeks. This completes what is called a cycle of your treatment. After the rest period the same treatment is repeated, which begins the next cycle of your chemotherapy. Usually 68 cycles are given over a period of 56 months. This makes up a course of treatment.
your temperature goes above 38C (100.4F) you suddenly feel unwell, even with a normal temperature.
You will have a blood test before having more chemotherapy to make sure that your number of white blood cells has recovered. Occasionally it may be necessary to delay treatment if your number of blood cells (blood count) is still low. Bruising or bleeding Paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy can reduce the production of platelets, which help the blood to clot. Tell your doctor if you have any unexplained bruising or bleeding, such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood spots or rashes on the skin. Anaemia (low number of red blood cells) You may become anaemic while having this treatment. This may make you feel tired and breathless. Tell your doctor or nurse if you have these symptoms. Feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting) Your doctor can prescribe very effective anti-sickness (antiemetic) drugs to prevent, or greatly reduce, nausea and vomiting. If the sickness isn't controlled, or if it continues, tell your doctor; they can prescribe other anti-sickness drugs that may be more effective. Some anti-sickness drugs may cause constipation. Let your doctor or nurse know if this is a problem. Tiredness You may feel extremely tired (fatigued), particularly towards the end of treatment. This is a very common side effect and it is important to allow yourself plenty of time to rest. Hair loss This usually starts 34 weeks after the first course of treatment and is due to paclitaxel. Hair usually falls out completely. You may also have thinning and loss ofeyelashes, eyebrows and other body hair. This is temporary and your hair will start to grow back once the treatment has finished. Your nurse can give you advice about coping with hair loss. Sore mouth and ulcers Your mouth may become sore or dry, or you may notice small ulcers during this treatment. Drinking plenty of fluids, and cleaning your teeth regularly and gently with a soft toothbrush, can help to reduce the risk of this happening. Tell your nurse or doctor if you have any of these problems, as they can prescribe mouthwashes and medicine to prevent or clear mouth infections. Diarrhoea This may occur several days after the treatment. This can usually be easily controlled with medicine but tell your doctor if it is severe or continues. It is important to drink plenty of liquids (23 litres a day) if you have diarrhoea. Numbness or tingling in hands or feet This is due to the effect of paclitaxel or carboplatin on the nerves and is known as peripheral neuropathy. Tell your doctor if you notice these symptoms or have difficulty with fiddly tasks. This problem usually improves slowly a few months after treatment is over. Aching joints and muscles You may have these symptoms a few days after treatment, due to the paclitaxel. This does not usually last long and your doctor can prescribe mild painkillers to help.
Allergic reaction Signs of an allergic reaction include skin rashes and itching, a high temperature, shivering, dizziness, a headache and breathlessness. You will be given medicine (a steroid) before treatment to reduce the chance of this happening. It is important to take the steroids as directed. Let your nurse or doctor know if you have any of these signs.
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This section is based on our paclitaxel and carboplatin fact sheet, which has been compiled using information from a number of reliable sources including:
Sweetman, et al. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference. 36th edition. 2009. Pharmaceutical Press. British National Formulary. 58th edition. 2009. British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Perry MC. The Chemotherapy Source Book. 4th edition. 2007. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.
Carboplatin termasuk dalam kelompok obat yang dikenal dengan alkylating agents, yaitu obat yang digunakan untuk mengobati kanker indung telur. Namun carboplatin juga dapat digunakan untuk mengobati jenis kanker lainnya sesuai petunjuk dokter tentunya. Carboplatin mengganggu pertumbuhan dan kemudian menghancurkan sel kanker. Carboplatin hanya boleh diberikan di bawah pengawasan langsung dari dokter. Carboplatin digunakan pada pasien tertentu dengan kondisi medis berikut: 1. Kanker kandung kemih 2. Kanker payudara 3. Kanker kerongkongan 4. Kanker tuba fallopi atau selaput perut (menyebar dari ovarium) 5. Kanker kepala dan leher 6. Kanker pada testis 7. Kanker sistem getah bening 8. Kanker paru-paru 9. Kanker endometrium (lapisan rahim) 10. Melanoma maligna (jenis kanker kulit) 11. Retinoblastoma (jenis kanker mata) 12. Tumor pada otak 13. Kanker yang tidak diketahui asalnya Kemasan Produk ini tersedia dalam bentuk sediaan bubuk untuk larutan, larutan Dosis Obat ini kadang-kadang diberikan bersama dengan obat-obatan tertentu lainnya. Dosis obat ini akan berbeda untuk pasien yang berbeda, tergantung pada instruksi dokter. Efek Samping 1. Mual dan muntah 2. Kelelahan atau lemahan 3. Sembelit atau diare 4. Kehilangan nafsu makan
4. Mitotic Spindle Golongan obat ini berikatan dengan protein mikrotubuler sehingga menyebabkan disolusi struktur mitotic spindle pada fase mitosis. Antara lain: - Plakitaxel (Taxol) - Vinorelbin - Docetaxel - Vindesine - Vinblastine - Vincristine