Chemo Treatment Question

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lolpz
lolpz Member Posts: 12
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Has anyone had the following treatment give for Colon Cancer Stage IV : Decadron+Comptsar+Leucovorin+5FU+Avastin? my mother is currently under this treatment...she is currently going through her 2nd cycle...after the 3 week her CEA dropped from 218 to 148..which to me its an indication that its working...she receives it 4 weeks on with 2 weeks off....avastin every 14 days.......Another oncologist was questioning this combo and I was wondering anyone has such treatment given...any input will be truly appriciated...thank you to everyone and may GOD bless you and your family

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  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #2
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    So, what exactly is the other oncologist questioning or recommending?

    Decadron is a pretty standard pre-med. Not sure about "Comptsar" - google can't find it so maybe it is misspelled - perhaps an anti-nausea drug? The 5-FU /leucovorin is very standard (though it can be replaced with oral Xeloda). Avastin is an important monoclonal antibody that prevents blood supply from growing toward developing cancel cell clusters.

    Often Eloxatin (oxaliplatin) is combined with the regimen you suggest. Maybe that is what the second oncologist was thinking about?

    Hope this helps - I'm certainly not an MD - have just done much research and had many conversations with my oncologist, a wonderful woman whom I really trust.

    Betsy
  • big_al
    big_al Member Posts: 15
    #3
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    Betsydoglover said:

    So, what exactly is the other oncologist questioning or recommending?

    Decadron is a pretty standard pre-med. Not sure about "Comptsar" - google can't find it so maybe it is misspelled - perhaps an anti-nausea drug? The 5-FU /leucovorin is very standard (though it can be replaced with oral Xeloda). Avastin is an important monoclonal antibody that prevents blood supply from growing toward developing cancel cell clusters.

    Often Eloxatin (oxaliplatin) is combined with the regimen you suggest. Maybe that is what the second oncologist was thinking about?

    Hope this helps - I'm certainly not an MD - have just done much research and had many conversations with my oncologist, a wonderful woman whom I really trust.

    Betsy

    Comptsar is camptosar (CPT-11). It's an anti-metabolite, I think. It certainly causes hair loss. I just completed my second round, in conjunction with 5-FU and Leucovarin.

    big al
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #4
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    big_al said:

    Comptsar is camptosar (CPT-11). It's an anti-metabolite, I think. It certainly causes hair loss. I just completed my second round, in conjunction with 5-FU and Leucovarin.

    big al

    Camptostar is also known as Irinotecan (CPT-11).

    Irinotecan + 5FU + leucovorin = FOLFIRI
    Xeliri or CAP IRI =- Xeloda plus irinotecan

    (at least this is what I can figure out!). I understand this is under clinical trials now.
    Tara

    Tara
  • goldfinch
    goldfinch Member Posts: 735
    #5
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    I see Tara answered the question for you. I don't undersatnd what the other oncologist is questioning. It's one of the standards of treatment for stage 4 colorectal ca. Camptosar is irinotecan and the combimation your mom is on is called the FOLFORI regimen with Avastin. I have been on it since January of this year. Although I am currently taking a break because cat scans are "stable"- no increase or decrease in the size of the very small tumors. That is the same schedule I've been following.
    The camptosar can cause hair thinning. It was bad enough for me that I finally had my husband shave my head and got a wig, but I never lost it completely and it's already growing back, even though i've onlyy been off for a month.
    Good luck to your mom.
    Mary
  • lolpz
    lolpz Member Posts: 12
    #6
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    goldfinch said:

    I see Tara answered the question for you. I don't undersatnd what the other oncologist is questioning. It's one of the standards of treatment for stage 4 colorectal ca. Camptosar is irinotecan and the combimation your mom is on is called the FOLFORI regimen with Avastin. I have been on it since January of this year. Although I am currently taking a break because cat scans are "stable"- no increase or decrease in the size of the very small tumors. That is the same schedule I've been following.
    The camptosar can cause hair thinning. It was bad enough for me that I finally had my husband shave my head and got a wig, but I never lost it completely and it's already growing back, even though i've onlyy been off for a month.
    Good luck to your mom.
    Mary

    Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to respond...I feel better informed...frankly I dont know what the other oncologist is questioning,especially since this is the first treatment that I have noticed a significant drop on her CEA.....and she feels and looks a lot better than she did with the other treatments....she has even regain some weight back.... again thank you to all of you....sincerely, Luis

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