Treatment with Cisplatin

Like many antineoplastic drugs, cisplatin is administered intravenously. The nurse or technician will hook up a bag to your arm; the cisplatin is dissolved in a saline solution. For some cancers, cisplatin is put into a bodily cavity rather than a blood vessel. he type and extent of a cancer determines the exact dose and schedule of administering this drug.

Before taking cisplatin, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any platinum-containing compounds such as carboplatin (Paraplatin, CBDCA), or to any other drugs. Also tell your health care team about prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking.

Cisplatin does some weird things with your bodily fluids. While being treated, drink plenty of fluids because this drug can irritate your kidneys. Tell your doctor if you have ever had kidney disease before. The platinum drug also passes into breast milk, so don't breast feed.

Cisplatin may interfere with the normal menstrual cycle in women and may stop sperm production in men.

Secondary cancers from Cisplatin

A unfortunate effect of some chemotherapy drugs is that they can actually cause cancer. Cisplatin interferes with DNA, which leads to cell death. Sometimes it doesn't lead to cell death, though, but instead mutates the cell and makes it malignant. Alkylating agent in particular are associated with these "secondary cancers". It is a risk that you should discuss with your doctor.