Carboplatin: High Dose for SCT

Other Names: Paraplatin®, CBDCA

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About this drug

Carboplatin is used to treat cancer. It may be given as part of the pre-transplant chemotherapy. This drug is given intravenously (IV).

Possible Side Effects (More Common)

Nausea and throwing up (vomiting). These symptoms may happen within one to six after your treatment and may last up to 24 hours. Medicines are available to stop or lessen these side effects.
Bone marrow depression. This is a decrease in the number of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Bone marrow depression usually happens 5 to 7 days after the drug is given and may raise your risk of infection, make you tired and weak (fatigue), and raise your risk of bleeding.
Hair loss is often complete scalp hair loss and can involve loss of eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic hair. You may notice hair loss 5 to 7 days after treatment has started. Often hair loss is temporary; your hair should grow back when treatment is done.
Soreness of the mouth and throat. You may have red areas, white patches, or sores that hurt.
This drug may affect how your kidneys work. Your kidney function will be checked as needed.
Changes in electrolytes. Your blood will be checked for electrolyte changes as needed.

Possible Side Effects (Less Common)

Effects on the nerves are called peripheral neuropathy. You may feel numbness, tingling, or pain in your hands and feet. It may be hard for you to button your clothes, open jars, or walk as usual. The effect on the nerves may get worse with more doses of the drug. These effects get better in some people after the drug is stopped but it does not get better in all people.
Changes in liver function. Your liver function will be checked as needed.
Loose bowel movements (diarrhea) that may last for several days
Decreased hearing or ringing in the ears
Changes in the way food and drinks taste

Allergic Reactions

Serious allergic reactions including anaphylaxis are rare. While you are getting this drug in your vein (IV), tell your nurse right away if you have any of these symptoms of an allergic reaction:

Trouble catching your breath
Feeling like your tongue or throat are swelling
Feeling your heart beat quickly or in a not normal way (palpitations)
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
Flushing, itching, rash, and/or hives

Treating Side Effects

Drink 6-8 cups of fluids each day unless your doctor has told you to limit your fluid intake due to some other health problem. A cup is 8 ounces of fluid. If you throw up or have loose bowel movements, you should drink more fluids so that you do not become dehydrated (lack water in the body from losing too much fluid).
Ask your doctor or nurse about medication to help stop or lessen nausea, throwing up, and loose bowel movements (diarrhea).
Mouth care is very important. Your mouth care should consist of routine, gentle cleaning of your teeth or dentures and rinsing your mouth with a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water or ½ teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of water. This should be done at least after each meal and at bedtime.
If you have mouth sores, avoid mouthwash that has alcohol. Avoid alcohol and smoking because they can bother your mouth and throat.
If you have numbness and tingling in your hands and feet, be careful when cooking, walking, and handling sharp objects and hot liquids.
Talk with your nurse about getting a wig before you lose your hair. Also, call the American Cancer Society at 800-ACS-2345 to find out information about the “Look Good, Feel Better” program close to where you live. It is a free program where women getting chemotherapy can learn about wigs, turbans and scarves as well as makeup techniques and skin and nail care.

Food and Drug Interactions

There are no known interactions of carboplatin with food. This drug may interact with other medicines. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the medicines and dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals, herbs and others) that you are taking at this time. The safety and use of dietary supplements and alternative diets are often not known. Using these might affect your cancer or interfere with your treatment. Until more is known, you should not use dietary supplements or alternative diets without your cancer doctor's help.

When to Call the Doctor

Call your doctor or nurse right away if you have any of these symptoms:

Fever of 100.5 F (38 C) or above; chills
Bleeding or bruising that is not normal
Nausea that stops you from eating or drinking
Throwing up more than twice in one day
Rash or itching
Loose bowel movements (diarrhea) more than four times in one day, or diarrhea with weakness or feeling lightheaded

Call your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you have any of these symptoms:

Numbness, tingling, decreased feeling or weakness in fingers, toes, arms, or legs
Change in hearing, ringing in the ears
Blurred vision or other changes in eyesight
Yellowing of skin or eyes
Swelling of legs, ankles, or feet
Decreased urine

Sexual Problems and Reproductive Concerns

Sexual problems and reproduction concerns may happen. In both men and women, this drug may affect your ability to have children. This cannot be determined before your therapy. Talk with your doctor or nurse if you plan to have children. Ask for information on sperm or egg banking.
In men, this drug may interfere with your ability to make sperm, but it should not change your ability to have sexual relations.
In women, menstrual bleeding may become irregular or stop while you are getting this drug. Do not assume that you cannot become pregnant if you do not have a menstrual period. Women may go through signs of menopause (change of life) like vaginal dryness or itching. Vaginal lubricants can be used to lessen vaginal dryness, itching, and pain during sexual relations.
Genetic counseling is available for you to talk about the effects of this drug therapy on future pregnancies. Also, a genetic counselor can look at the possible risk of problems in the unborn baby due to this medicine if an exposure happens during pregnancy.
Pregnancy warning: This drug may have harmful effects on the unborn child, so effective methods of birth control should be used during your cancer treatment.
Breast feeding warning: It is not known if this drug passes into breast milk. For this reason, women should talk to their doctor about the risks and benefits of breast feeding during treatment with this drug because this drug may enter the breast milk and badly harm a breast feeding baby.