Chemo reduction is this normal?

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rogina2336
rogina2336 Member Posts: 188
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Has anyone had their 5fu and oxy reduced at anytime during there treatments? My husband just completed his 9th tx, but this time it was reduced by 20% the dr said it was because it was starting to effect his blood too much wbc and platelets everything was in the low category. This kind of scared me because he also asked to go 3 weeks instead of 2 so he can work (we farm) longer in between and weather is not cooperating. He is stage IV numerous mets to liver and one lg tumor in liver otherwise his liver is peppered with spots and the treatments he was having was shrinking and stalling all of the cancer. Scared again and worried any info would be appreciated. :) Kim

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  • luvmum
    luvmum Member Posts: 457 Member
    #2
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    my mum has this experience
    Hi Kim,

    My mum has numerous liver mets and was not operable when she first diagnosed.

    My mum had severe side effects after XELOX (1 treatment) and FOLFOX (2nd treatment), her oncologist reduced 50% of the dosage for her 3rd and 4th treatments. Besides, she never follow the schedule (always delay, 4 treatments in 5 months) because of the side effects.

    After 4 treatments, she had liver resection last month.

    Best wishes to your husband!
    Dora
  • rogina2336
    rogina2336 Member Posts: 188
    #3
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    luvmum said:

    my mum has this experience
    Hi Kim,

    My mum has numerous liver mets and was not operable when she first diagnosed.

    My mum had severe side effects after XELOX (1 treatment) and FOLFOX (2nd treatment), her oncologist reduced 50% of the dosage for her 3rd and 4th treatments. Besides, she never follow the schedule (always delay, 4 treatments in 5 months) because of the side effects.

    After 4 treatments, she had liver resection last month.

    Best wishes to your husband!
    Dora

    Thanks Your Info Helps me to stay positive
    Thanks for the info this can all get so overwhelming at times. :) Kim
  • luvmum
    luvmum Member Posts: 457 Member
    #4
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    rogina2336 said:

    Thanks Your Info Helps me to stay positive
    Thanks for the info this can all get so overwhelming at times. :) Kim

    I know how you feel..
    I was freaking out at the time too... I kept asking my mum's oncologist if it was ok to delay treatment and if it was ok to reduce dosage because I worried so much that her tumors wouldn't shrink! I was really worried and scared at that time!

    In different stage, we have different things to worry about! I'm worrying about her recovery, about the chance of the tumors coming out...

    Best wishes to both of you!
    Dora
  • daBeachBum
    daBeachBum Member Posts: 164
    #5
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    Happened to me too
    For the treatment I had before this one, the doctor had them skip the oxyplatin. My platelets had been hovering in the 90's and 80's and she wanted to give my bone marrow a chance to rest. My platelets jumped back to 141 as of yesterday. I enjoyed the break from the side effects oxy presents.

    For this treatment she swithed me over to Avastin (since I mentioned how easy the last chemo was). I dont have the (rather mild)neuropathy symptoms I typically do and have a lot more energy. I do feel vaguely guilty that its so expensive for the insurance company (and ultimately everybody) to save me a few days of feeling beat.

    I wish nothing but the best to you and your husband and am sending positive vibes your way!

    Ray
  • rogina2336
    rogina2336 Member Posts: 188
    #6
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    daBeachBum said:

    Happened to me too
    For the treatment I had before this one, the doctor had them skip the oxyplatin. My platelets had been hovering in the 90's and 80's and she wanted to give my bone marrow a chance to rest. My platelets jumped back to 141 as of yesterday. I enjoyed the break from the side effects oxy presents.

    For this treatment she swithed me over to Avastin (since I mentioned how easy the last chemo was). I dont have the (rather mild)neuropathy symptoms I typically do and have a lot more energy. I do feel vaguely guilty that its so expensive for the insurance company (and ultimately everybody) to save me a few days of feeling beat.

    I wish nothing but the best to you and your husband and am sending positive vibes your way!

    Ray

    thanks ray
    They would not let him take his tx last week because platelets were 54 but they did go up to 86 in a weeks time. When this all started they were 263. He does get Leucovorin and Avistan also. :-) Send some of that beach sunshine to Minnesota :-) Kim
  • Barb56
    Barb56 Member Posts: 20
    #7
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    Yes, I think this is normal.
    Yes, I think this is normal. I was on 5FU (pill form) and started out on 3, two times a day. When the side effects started getting tougher, the doc knocked them down to two, two times a day. I asked him what that would mean, and he said it's better to continue at a lower dose than to have to stop completely if the side effects got to be too much. So - here I am, almost five years later, and so far all is good. I pray all goes well for your husband!
  • rogina2336
    rogina2336 Member Posts: 188
    #8
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    Barb56 said:

    Yes, I think this is normal.
    Yes, I think this is normal. I was on 5FU (pill form) and started out on 3, two times a day. When the side effects started getting tougher, the doc knocked them down to two, two times a day. I asked him what that would mean, and he said it's better to continue at a lower dose than to have to stop completely if the side effects got to be too much. So - here I am, almost five years later, and so far all is good. I pray all goes well for your husband!

    Thanks
    Thanks for your feedback!!! All of this can get very confusing and scary. Kim
  • dmdwins
    dmdwins Member Posts: 454 Member
    #9
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    rogina2336 said:

    Thanks
    Thanks for your feedback!!! All of this can get very confusing and scary. Kim

    Dose reduction
    I had to have a dose reduction during my treatments as well. I was clearly upset when my onc told me because I wanted to blast that cancer with the highest dose. But we are all individuals and as he said its a balance of treating and having the side effects be manageable and notlife threatening. I also had to delay treatments twice because of blood counts.

    The good news......despite delays and dose reductions I am 3 1/2 years from my Stage 4 diagnosis and NED!!

    With hope and encouragement,

    Dawn
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    #10
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    dmdwins said:

    Dose reduction
    I had to have a dose reduction during my treatments as well. I was clearly upset when my onc told me because I wanted to blast that cancer with the highest dose. But we are all individuals and as he said its a balance of treating and having the side effects be manageable and notlife threatening. I also had to delay treatments twice because of blood counts.

    The good news......despite delays and dose reductions I am 3 1/2 years from my Stage 4 diagnosis and NED!!

    With hope and encouragement,

    Dawn

    Kim
    Kim it is very very common to have doses reduced, switched, paused and stopped.

    I am a stage 4 survivor of colon....with two liver resections and 3 separate protocols of chemo. Kim I think I had every one of those three journeys changed and reduced along the way.

    I am 5 years out from my stage 4 diagnosis and right now I seem to be ned....

    also sending hope and love and encouragement

    maggie
  • thxmiker
    thxmiker Member Posts: 1,278 Member
    #11
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    normal
    This is normal. The oncologists up and downs the meds due to one's blood counts. Also the amounts change due to how the patient feels. If I told the onc I was sick the last two weeks the amounts would lower. When I told the onc i was feeling strong the amounts would rise back up. The last couple of treatments the amounts were lowered.

    My thoughts and praers are with you and your husband for a quick recovery!
    Best Always, mike

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