started with new onc and chemo

Thanks to all who gave me advice to switch oncs. My last onc felt that I had run out of options and should just stay with Erbitux and CPT11. She felt that despite a spike in my CEA from 11 to 49, it would not help to take any more tests because there was nothing else she could do for me.

Since then, I had insisted on PET and CAT scans and had sought out other opinions. My scans had shown that my liver lesions were growing in size and now number seven.

I decided to switch to another oncologist, who did not feel that I was out of options. He felt that I had originally responded to FULFOX. My former oncologist did not want to continue with oxaliplatin because I have been fighting a mild case of MS for the past twenty years. At times, walking is difficult for me and she felt that more oxali would put me over the edge. I had severe migraines on 5FU bollus and she felt that it wasn't worth the risk and Xeloda may cause me foot problems that would increase my walking difficulties.

My new oncologist realizes the risk of oxali, but also realizes that CPT 11 did not work well enough for me. He feels that having migraines with a bollus of 5fu should not keep me from xeloda.

Two weeks ago, I had my first treatment of oxaliplatin followed by two weeks of xeloda.
The oxali administration was fine until I realized that I was having trouble breathing as I was leaving the office. The nurses and the doctor immediately stopped what they were doing to administer oxygen, an inhaler of proventil and benadryl IM. My symptoms soon passed, but it was scary. They feel that I should have Benadryl and more steroids in the future before the oxali to ward off another allergic reaction.

The week after the oxaliplatin, I was very weak and nauseous. As the week drew to an end, I did start to feel better. I am still nauseous and I am taking Zofran continuously. However, I am able to hold down the Xeloda pills. I am almost done with my 14 days of Xeloda and I feel that I have more energy than I have had for a while. I am hopeful that this therapy is working.

Thanks everybody for giving me the push to seek out other opinions and not giving up. Without your help, I probably would have just stayed with my first oncologist and continued on a therapy that wasn't working.

Happy New Year!