CISPGEMC Treatment
This handout gives general information about this cancer treatment.
You will learn:
-
who to contact for help
-
what the treatment is
-
how it is given
-
what to expect while on treatment
This handout was created by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) together with patients and their caregivers who have also gone through cancer treatment. It is meant to help support you through your cancer treatment and answer some of your questions.
This information does not replace the advice of your health care team. Always talk to your health care team about your treatment.
My cancer health care provider is: _____________________________________________
During the day I should contact: _______________________________________________
Evenings, weekends and holidays: _____________________________________________
This page gives general information about this cancer treatment.
You will learn:
-
who to contact for help
-
what the treatment is
-
how it is given
-
what to expect while on treatment
This information was created by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) together with patients and their caregivers who have also gone through cancer treatment. It is meant to help support you through your cancer treatment and answer some of your questions.
This information does not replace the advice of your health care team. Always talk to your health care team about your treatment.
CISPGEMC is the code name of your cancer treatment regimen. CISPGEMC is used to treat different types of cancers, including lung, bladder, ovarian, head and neck or other cancers.
A regimen is a combination of medications to treat cancer.
This regimen name is made up of letters from the names of the 2 medications in your treatment.
Here are the names of the medications in this regimen:
CISP = CISPlatin
GEMC = GEMCitabine
CISPGEMC may be given on a schedule that is different from what is shown on the calendar below. Speak with your health care team to see if the below schedule applies to you.
The treatment is divided into cycles. Each cycle is 3 weeks long. Your health care team will tell you how many cycles you need.
Here is a picture of the schedule for CISPGEMC treatment:
Cycle 1 CISPGEMC (3 weeks)
Cycle 2 CISPGEMC (3 weeks)
Your health care team will tell you how many cycles you will have.
During each 3-week cycle, you will have CISPGEMC treatment on day 1 at the hospital, followed by GEMC treatment on day 8 at the hospital. You will then have a week with no treatment at the hospital (2 weeks of treatment, then 1 week with no treatment).
Each cycle looks like this:
Day 1
Treatment Day:
Go to the hospital for
CISPGEMC
Treatment.
2
NO Treatment
3
4
5
6
7
8
Treatment Day:
Go to the hospital for
GEMC
Treatment.
9
NO Treatment
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Remember To:
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Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
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Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.
The medications in your treatment are given through an IV (injected into a vein) at the hospital.
You will have a blood test before each treatment cycle to make sure it is safe for you to get treatment.
To Prevent Nausea and Vomiting
You will be given medications to help prevent nausea (feeling like throwing up) and vomiting (throwing up) before they start.
- These are called anti-nausea medications and include medications such as ondansetron (Zofran®), granisetron (Kytril®), aprepitant (Emend®), dexamethasone or others.
If you get radiation treatment at the same time as CISPGEMC, you may get worse side effects from radiation. Tell your health care team if you have had or will be getting radiation therapy.
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DO tell your health care team about any other medical conditions that you have such as hearing, heart, lung, liver or kidney problems, serious infections, low salt levels in blood, issues with your bone marrow or any allergies.
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DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures or if you have had previous radiation therapy.
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DO talk to your health care team about your risk of getting other cancers or heart problems after this treatment.
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DO drink plenty of fluids to prevent kidney problems. Drink at least 6 to 8 cups (2 Litres) of water or other liquids per day on your treatment day and for 1 -2 days afterwards, unless your healthcare team has told you to drink more or less.
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DO tell your health care team if you have any changes to your hearing such as not being able to hear as well as before or hearing new noise or ringing sounds in your ears.
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DO tell your health care team if you have new pain, numbness or tingling of your hands or feet. This is especially important if you are having trouble doing tasks (like doing up buttons, writing, walking) or if you have severe pain or numbness.
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DO consider asking someone to drive you to and from the hospital on your treatment days. You may feel drowsy or dizzy after your treatment.
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DO NOT take any other medications, such as vitamins, over-the-counter (non-prescription) drugs, or natural health products without checking with your health care team.
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DO NOT start any complementary or alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or homeopathic medications, without checking with your health care team.
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DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
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DO tell your health care team about any other medical conditions that you have such as hearing, heart, lung, liver or kidney problems, serious infections, low salt levels in blood, issues with your bone marrow or any allergies.
-
DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures or if you have had previous radiation therapy.
-
DO talk to your health care team about your risk of getting other cancers or heart problems after this treatment.
-
DO drink plenty of fluids to prevent kidney problems. Drink at least 6 to 8 cups (2 Litres) of water or other liquids per day on your treatment day and for 1 -2 days afterwards, unless your healthcare team has told you to drink more or less.
-
DO tell your health care team if you have any changes to your hearing such as not being able to hear as well as before or hearing new noise or ringing sounds in your ears.
-
DO tell your health care team if you have new pain, numbness or tingling of your hands or feet. This is especially important if you are having trouble doing tasks (like doing up buttons, writing, walking) or if you have severe pain or numbness.
-
DO consider asking someone to drive you to and from the hospital on your treatment days. You may feel drowsy or dizzy after your treatment.
-
DO NOT take any other medications, such as vitamins, over-the-counter (non-prescription) drugs, or natural health products without checking with your health care team.
-
DO NOT start any complementary or alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or homeopathic medications, without checking with your health care team.
-
DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
Yes, the medications in this regimen can interact with other medications, vitamins, foods and natural health products. Interactions can make the treatment not work as well or cause severe side effects.
Tell your health care team about all of your:
- prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications
- natural health products such as vitamins, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, and other supplements
Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
If you are taking a blood thinner (such as warfarin), your health care team may need extra blood tests and may change your dose.
If you take seizure medications (such as phenytoin), your health care team will monitor your blood levels closely and may change your dose.
- Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or Aspirin®.
- Over-the-counter products such as dimenhydrinate (Gravol®)
- Natural health products such as St. John’s Wort
- Supplements such as vitamin C
- Grapefruit juice
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tobacco
- All other drugs, such as marijuana or cannabis (medical or recreational)
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Always check your temperature to see if you have a fever before taking any medications for fever or pain (such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®)).
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Fever can be a sign of infection that may need treatment right away.
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If you take these medications before you check for fever, they may lower your temperature and you may not know you have an infection.
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How to check for fever:
Keep a digital (electronic) thermometer at home and take your temperature if you feel hot or unwell (for example, chills, headache, mild pain).
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You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
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38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
-
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OR
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38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher for at least one hour.
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If you do have a fever:
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Try to contact your health care team. If you are not able to talk to them for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away.
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Ask your health care team for the Fever pamphlet for more information.
If you do not have a fever but have mild symptoms such as headache or mild pain:
- Ask your health care team about the right medication for you. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is a safe choice for most people.
Talk to your health care team before you start taking ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or ASA (Aspirin®), as they may increase your chance of bleeding or interact with your cancer treatment.
Talk to your health care team if you already take low dose aspirin for a medical condition (such as a heart problem). It may still be safe to take.
Talk to your health care team about:
- How this treatment may affect your sexual health.
- How this treatment may affect your ability to have a baby, if this applies to you.
This treatment may harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care team if you or your partner are pregnant, become pregnant during treatment, or are breastfeeding.
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If there is any chance of pregnancy happening, you and your partner together must use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time while you are on treatment. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you, and how long you should use them after your last treatment dose.
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Do not donate sperm while on CISPGEMC treatment. Talk to your health care team about how long to wait before you can donate sperm after your last treatment dose.
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Do not use hormonal birth control (such as birth control pills), unless your health care team told you that they are safe. Talk to your healthcare team about the safest birth control for you.
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Do not breastfeed while on this treatment. Talk to your health care team about how long to wait before you start breastfeeding after your last treatment dose, if this applies to you.
The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting CISPGEMC treatment. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.
Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Refer to this table if you experience any side effects while on CISPGEMC treatment.
Very Common Side Effects (50 or more out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Low neutrophils (white blood cells) in the blood (neutropenia) (May be severe) When neutrophils are low, you are at risk of getting an infection more easily. Ask your health care team for the Neutropenia (Low white blood cell count) pamphlet for more information. What to look for?
You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have low neutrophils:
If you have a fever: If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you must get emergency medical help right away. |
If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away. |
Low platelets in the blood (May be severe) When your platelets are low, you are at risk for bleeding and bruising. Ask your health care team for the Low Platelet Count pamphlet for more information. What to look for?
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have low platelets:
If you have signs of bleeding:
If you have bleeding that does not stop or is severe (very heavy), you must get emergency medical help right away. |
Talk to your health care team if you have any signs of bleeding. If you have bleeding that doesn’t stop or is severe (very heavy), you MUST get emergency help right away. |
Nausea and vomiting (May be severe; More likely with cisplatin) What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent nausea:
|
Talk to your healthcare team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or if it is severe |
Liver problems (May be severe) Your health care team may check your liver function with a blood test. Liver changes do not usually cause any symptoms.
If you have any symptoms of liver problems, get emergency medical help right away. |
Get emergency medical help right away |
Common Side Effects (25 to 49 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Neuropathy (Tingling, numb toes or fingers) (More likely with cisplatin) What to look for?
What to do?
In rare cases, it may continue long after treatment ends. If you continue to have bothersome symptoms, talk to your health care team for advice.
|
Talk to your health care team, especially if you have trouble doing tasks like doing up buttons, writing, moving, or if you have severe pain or numbness |
Flu-like symptoms (With gemcitabine) You may feel like you have the flu for around 2 days after your IV treatment. These flu-like symptoms may not be signs of an infection. What to look for?
What to do?
|
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Kidney problems (May be severe) Your health care team may check for proteins in your urine (pee) and your kidney function regularly with a blood test.You may have blood in your urine. What to look for?
What to do?
To prevent kidney infections:
|
Get emergency medical help right away |
Change in your hearing (May be severe; With cisplatin) What to look for?
What to do?
|
Talk to your health care team as soon as possible |
Too much or too little salt in your body (With cisplatin)
What to do? |
Get emergency medical help right away for severe symptoms |
Rash; dry, itchy skin (With gemcitabine) What to look for?
What to do? To prevent and treat dry skin:
Rash may be severe in some rare cases and cause your skin to blister or peel. If this happens, get emergency medical help right away. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Less Common Side Effects (10 to 24 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Mild swelling What to look for?
What to do?
If you have swelling:
|
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Mild joint, muscle pain or cramps What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Pain pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Hair thinning or loss (Generally mild) What to look for?
What to do?
|
Talk to your health care team if this bothers you |
Diarrhea What to look for?
What to do? If you have diarrhea:
|
Talk to your health care team if no improvement after 24 hours of taking diarrhea medication or if severe (more than 7 times in one day) |
Below are more side effects that are possible with your treatment. It is not known how common they are.
Side effect and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Mouth sores What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent mouth sores:
If you have mouth sores:
Ask your health care team for the Oral Care (Mouth Care) pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team as soon as you notice mouth or lip sores or if it hurts to eat, drink or swallow |
Hiccups What to look for?
What to do?
|
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Fatigue What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Fatigue pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Taste changes What to look for?
What to do?
|
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible with this treatment.
If you have any of the following, talk to your cancer health care team or get emergency medical help right away:
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Sudden changes to your vision, speech, or the use of your arms or legs
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New pain in your chest, belly, arms, or legs
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Pain, swelling or hardening of a vein
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Irregular heartbeat, fainting (passing out), new swelling in your legs, ankles or belly
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Sudden start of coughing, breathing problems, or coughing blood
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Dizziness or passing out, sudden, unexpected weight gain
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Severe headache, loss of consciousness, seizures, confusion
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General weakness that worsens steadily, trouble with balancing yourself
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Changes in personality, memory problems, not able to speak properly
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Changes in your eyes (feeling painful, sensitive to light, blurry vision, seeing flashing lights or not able to see colours correctly)
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Severe rash, itchiness, swollen face, lip or tongue, chest or throat tightness during or shortly after the drug(s) are given
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Red or purple patches on the skin, rash/patches that do not turn white when pressed
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Red, itchy, bruised, and/or swollen skin, any burning, stinging or pain where the injection was given
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Red-brown coloured pee, severe tiredness or weakness, bruising easily
For more information on how to manage your symptoms ask your health care provider, or visit: https://www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
November 2023 Updated "How will this treatment affect sex, pregnancy and breast feeding" section
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information(for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.