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Quick! Avastin/Xelox vs Avastin/Folfax or Folfiri

musiclover
musiclover CSN Member Posts: 242
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I wish I had asked this earlier since I am sitting in the doctors office right now with my friend as we await the results of the last CT. Seeing that we are in the chemo ward, I imagine the doctor wants to start him ASAP. He's alread signed papers for the trial of Xeloda/Avastin/Oxy. but at the last minute he threw another trial at Mark to consider - the Avastin/Folfox Folfiri (sp?). He's putting the pressure on for him to make a decision. Seems he's having second thoughts about the first trial but perhaps he just wants Mark to know all his options. Please send your thoughts. Much Thanks!
Kathryn
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Comments

  • brianm
    brianm CSN Member Posts: 16
    #2
    Hi Kathryn,
    My husband did the Folfox 6 with Avastin for 11 sessions,lots of folk on this board have done Folfiri,(CPT11 or Ironotecan ?spelling)but I havn't heard of anyone doing them alltogether? My husband had a fairly good response to the Folfox regime and its brought him to a stage where his tumours have become operable.Hope this is of some help.
    Jackie.
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  • lfondots63
    lfondots63 CSN Member Posts: 818 Member
    #3
    Kathryn,

    Your best option is ask him the difference in statistics and also the difference in side effects. I can't believe he is not giving him any time to decide. I would ask him for a little time to look into them yourself. Good luck.

    Lisa
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  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova CSN Member Posts: 906 Member
    #4
    I seriously doubt you are still there at the doctors office, but please post what happened. It does not seem like a decision you want to rush into. I was on Folfiri (I think, I never use those acronyms). It was Irinotecan and Xeloda. This was prior to Avastin coming out. I think that the long term side effects of Irinotecan are less than those of Oxy, however, Irinotecan can cause extreme diarrhea in some people and since he has the colostomy?? I don't know. It caused me nausea at first, but after one or two treatments we got that pegged down and under control. I lost my hair too, but that is really the least of Marks problems. At least if they start w/ Irinotecan they can always switch to Oxy later if need be. That is what my surgeon told me anyway...I would say that one day is not gonna make a difference if he wants to think about it a little. Hopefully he is given that option.
    Take care - Susan.
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  • nanuk
    nanuk CSN Member Posts: 1,358 Member
    #5
    Folfox is usually Oxaliplatin-(SP) and Folfiri is CPT-ll, (I think..) based on response and side effects-(personal experience) I would opt for the Xeloda/Folfox / Avastin protocol. I would also want to know if trail is double blind, and if you might be getting a placebo..demand the trial details, in writing. don't let anyone pressure you into a decision without all the information. Bud
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  • AlanR
    AlanR CSN Member Posts: 3
    #6
    Kathryn, I am rectal cancer survivor. I am 70 years old and my surgerey was 2 years ago. I am a pro with a colostomy. They don't tell you much when they release you. I read,and experimented. Keep the Faith and tell your friend to fight on. Life is worth the battle
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  • gilou2976
    gilou2976 CSN Member Posts: 6
    #7
    AlanR said:

    Kathryn, I am rectal cancer survivor. I am 70 years old and my surgerey was 2 years ago. I am a pro with a colostomy. They don't tell you much when they release you. I read,and experimented. Keep the Faith and tell your friend to fight on. Life is worth the battle

    I am 76 having surgery april 17 ,will have permanent colostomy.Is that bag hard to get use to.6 weeks after surgery of liver.what do you had 4 treatments of chemo think my chances had 4 treatments of chemo
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  • well
    well CSN Member Posts: 26
    #8
    gilou2976 said:

    I am 76 having surgery april 17 ,will have permanent colostomy.Is that bag hard to get use to.6 weeks after surgery of liver.what do you had 4 treatments of chemo think my chances had 4 treatments of chemo

    > Is the bag hard to get used to?

    That's going to depend on the person of course. I've had my ileostomy over a year now and it's just part of life. Or rather it would be if I didn't have a "no surgery" sign hung over my head by the chief surgeon. (Normally they would have repaired this hernia a long time ago, and the ostomy would be as routine for me as it was initially.)

    Don't let it scare you, you are capable of much more than you give yourself credit for.
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