Dacarbazine

Notes from my last medical oncology appointment:

Histology showed this wasmelanoma. Role of chemotherapy in melanoma is a veryunusual one.

A number of drugs have beentried, none specactular.

There are two families of drugs: Dacarbazine is the most potent, then of the Taxines, Paclitaxel is the most effective.

They have chosen Dacarbazine for my treatment because the Paclitaxel doesn't go into the brain very well because the brain protects itself from chemotherapy drugs. Might be a bit leaky.

We give it on its own and we give it once every three weeks. Then I have three weeks' recovery.

We give it for nine weeks - 2 doses for it to work, ideally 3.

It takes half an hour to an hour to administer through an IV drip in the hand. That's the correct dose. How it works is it gets into the DNA and stops the cells dividing. If it's working and it is tolerable, we will plan to continue it as long as it's working. Can continue for two years, it's not a drug the body gets tired of.

First side effect is nausea on the day that it's given, 6-8 hours after it's taken. They said 6pm that night I might suddenly vomit and need district nurse to come and give me an injection (but this didn't happen, yay!)

Infection: it's the good cells that this drug is going to clamour. Watch out for a cold, sore throat, temperature - these are signs that I need to call the hospital.

I'm at more risk from bugs in my own system than from anyone else's bugs, but don't let anyone else with bugs visit.

I will need to do a blood test each Monday before each Tuesday chemotherapy session.