Barb Gemzar and Cisplatin has become kind of the standard means of chemo here in the states to treat bladder cancer. I had it but day 15 it turned out I had an allergic reaction to the Gemzar very strange because up to that I was never had an allergic reaction to anything excepting hitting the lottery I got rashes on my shins and forearms so they put me on the high intensity MVAC chemo
www.chemocare.com/bio/list_by_acronym.asp?acronym=MVAC I got the 3 month treatment so that was every other week 2x each week I got and then on that Friday I got a shot of neulasta to keep the WBC count up.
www.drugs.com/neulasta.html
Remember Barb some people get the chemo before the surgery so they have no idea of the lymphnodes invovled it's just the chemo they use more today Gemzar and Cisplatin.
So I had no choice and made out fine with the MVAC got tired out more then nauseous but they gave me zofran in the IV for the long day and a zofran tablet for the short day. I had zofran at home my insurance would pay for 6 tablets a month $35 a pill so I used compazine more if I felt nauseous and they worked and were alot cheaper and saved the zofran for those emrgencies.
I was treated at the Univ of Penn so each new week I get my blood work done to make sure my platelets were high enough and then see my Oncologist's nurse who was like one step short of a Dr. and then I see my Oncologist Dr. Vaughn and then the if all was good I get treated for that week and repeat the same the next time I came in. See at Penn I had all my Dr's under one roof my Oncologist/Urologogist, my Surgeon, and also my Oncologist which made things nice.. Good Luck, Joe