You need to be advised of all potential side effects, but it doesn't mean you would actually have all or any of them. I had the same stage and did this treatment with the exception of brachytherapy-but that wasn't my choice.

I had no side effects from Cisplatin-it's a low dose so you don't lose your hair and I was never sick. I had side effects from radiation which were cystitis and diarrhoea. These are pretty typical and went quickly when treatment finished.

I would strongly recommend you have the brachytherapy-I know many ladies who have done it and had no lasting effects. I was desperate to be able to do it, but for other medical reasons wasn't allowed to. It's the final "big hit" to the cancer, and with a grade 3 tumour it would definitely give you the best possible treatment result. My cancer recurred within 9 months and that might not have happened if I'd had brachytherapy. The risks and trauma of recurrent cervical cancer are much worse than any potential risks from brachytherapy. 

Could you confirm what amount of cisplatin is considered a low dose? 

I'm contemplating not having cisplatin due to side effects but I'm told due to it being hpv driven cancer it is a lower dose than non hpv cancer.

As I'm only having 2 cycles of cisplatin I'm wondering if that means I will be given two higher doses than weekly doses. 

I've decided to have the cisplatin even though I'm extremely worried about the side effects. I am going to try to ensure I'm given as low a dose as possible though.

Hi Samster

Sorry, I'm not a medic so wouldn't be able to comment on the amount that constitutes a low dose. I just know for our particular cancer (also hpv driven) it is a low dose designed to make radiotherapy more effective because the treatments run in tandem together.

I wouldn't be getting hung up on side effects that may not even happen-I have to say  I wanted to do anything to try and be rid of my cancer, so side effects I knew could be dealt with were not at the forefront of my mind. When you're having chemotherapy, the nurses check very carefully for any adverse reactions and can stop it immediately if anything happens-I had chemo in a room with about 7 other people, all on Cisplatin and never saw anyone have any bad reaction to it. 
 

What particular side effects are you so worried about? Each dose is tailored and made up for you as an individual, and only having 2 lots is not going to be a huge amount to deal with I wouldn't have thought.  

Thanks your reply is reassuring although I know everyone is different. 

I realise I'm extremely lucky that my cancer is potentially curable , I owe it to my family to take the best chance possible of beating this horrible ilness and therefore I will take all the available treatment.

Have you had no changes to your hearing at all whilst on the cisplatin? 

I had none at all. I know it's a possibility to develop tinnitus but my hearing hasn't been in any way affected and I had that particular treatment 4 years ago now. 

Hi

I had 5 sessions of Cisplatin over five weeks. The only side effects I had were a dry mouth, oral thrush and occasional tinnitus once it had finished. I also never slept at night after having chemo. I had more side effects from the pelvic radiotherapy to be honest. My appetite was booming during treatment! I put this down to the steroids I was having to combat nausea during chemo.

Xx