irinotecan +oxaliplatin

me and
Hi Dora,

I'm on FOLFOXFIRI which is 5FU, oxaliplatin and irinotecan (CPT11). I know at least one other member of this board is on the same regime (sorry just forgot the name!).

It is considered a fairly brutul regime but I have done OK on it. Not much different from other "cocktails" I have been on (and I've been on lots!). Side effects for me have been: mild nausea, mild fatigue, mild temporary peripheral neuropathy (from oxi) and occasional bouts of diarrhea (from CPT-11). I know some others have sufffered quite serious diarrhea from the CPT11. Mine usually just lasts a couple of days and is controllable with a couple of Immodium. I've finished number 7 and about to do #8.

Good luck to your mum!!

luvmum said:

Dear Tara
Thank you very much for your detail descriptions. I just have one more question: do you have mouth sore and change of taste from this regimen? When my mum was on FOLFOX, she had serious mouth sore and change of taste and I wasn't sure if that was from oxaliplatin or 5-Fu.

Best wishes to you and your treatments.
Dora

Dearest Dora
I had very few mouth sores on oxy. On 5fu I had a very bad time with mouth sores, cracked lips, eyes etc.

but eeryone is so different Dora....can only tell you that is was the 5FU for me.

Tara i cannot believe how well you are doing on that cocktail....gooooo girl!!

maggie

Kathryn_in_MN said:

side effects
While side effects are very different for everyone, she can certainly expect change of taste - that happens on almost every chemo. I have had mouth sores on every combination I have been on. They were the worst on FOLFOX. I have not had Oxaliplatin and Irinotecan together. Normally when they put the two together, 5-FU or Xeloda is part of it. Oxaliplatin works best WITH 5-FU, but Irinotecan can be used on its own. I would question using Oxy + Irinotecan w/o 5-FU or Xeloda - ask for statistics on effectiveness.

Oxaliplatin and Irenotecan
Hi: I too am on folfoxfiri (Oxaliplatin + Irenotecan + 5FU pump + leucovin). My first chemo regime was cisplatin/gemcitibine. I have just today finished my 9th folfoxfiri treatment. My oncologist is using it to stabilize/shrink/remove nodules on my peritoneum which seeded from my gallbladder tumour (removed with part of my liver April 2010). It is a new treatment here in Canada as both gallbladder cancer and peritoneum cancer are very rare. I think I have 3 more treatments. My latest MRI showed shrinkage, stability, and removal of the peritoneum nodules (I had 6 little ones at the start) so my oncologist is thrilled and is recommending me for the peritoneum stripping/HIPEC surgery which is only done in one city here in Canada (Calgary).

As far as side effects...well, this is a tougher regime than the cisplatin/gemcitibine treatment (I have no side effects with that one) but the side effects are largely controllable. Oxaliplatin is well known for its neuropathy. I had it bad at the first treatment but started taking supplements (L-Glutamine fermented, Alpha lipoic acid, Vit B6, calcium/magnesium) and have had few problems since.The oncologist also reduced the amount and infusion rate. The others are known for severe diarrhea and I certainly get that starting 2 days after the 5FU pump is removed. I take lomotil for that starting right after the pump is removed. The fatigue - well, it too starts 2 days after the pump is removed and the only thing I do is walk my dog and take sips of an energy drink like RockStar. I also get the sweats apparently from the steroids given during chemo. I did not have a change in taste fortunately. I can't do Xeloda here in Canada - would cost far far too much (I already have to pay for the oxaliplatin and xeloda is more costly).

Good luck!

Cheryl

westie66 said:

Oxaliplatin and Irenotecan
Hi: I too am on folfoxfiri (Oxaliplatin + Irenotecan + 5FU pump + leucovin). My first chemo regime was cisplatin/gemcitibine. I have just today finished my 9th folfoxfiri treatment. My oncologist is using it to stabilize/shrink/remove nodules on my peritoneum which seeded from my gallbladder tumour (removed with part of my liver April 2010). It is a new treatment here in Canada as both gallbladder cancer and peritoneum cancer are very rare. I think I have 3 more treatments. My latest MRI showed shrinkage, stability, and removal of the peritoneum nodules (I had 6 little ones at the start) so my oncologist is thrilled and is recommending me for the peritoneum stripping/HIPEC surgery which is only done in one city here in Canada (Calgary).

As far as side effects...well, this is a tougher regime than the cisplatin/gemcitibine treatment (I have no side effects with that one) but the side effects are largely controllable. Oxaliplatin is well known for its neuropathy. I had it bad at the first treatment but started taking supplements (L-Glutamine fermented, Alpha lipoic acid, Vit B6, calcium/magnesium) and have had few problems since.The oncologist also reduced the amount and infusion rate. The others are known for severe diarrhea and I certainly get that starting 2 days after the 5FU pump is removed. I take lomotil for that starting right after the pump is removed. The fatigue - well, it too starts 2 days after the pump is removed and the only thing I do is walk my dog and take sips of an energy drink like RockStar. I also get the sweats apparently from the steroids given during chemo. I did not have a change in taste fortunately. I can't do Xeloda here in Canada - would cost far far too much (I already have to pay for the oxaliplatin and xeloda is more costly).

Good luck!

Cheryl

sister!
Hi Cheryl -- Sorry I couldn't remember your name! Chemo brain! Yes -- you champion. You are 2 ahead of me - -I've completed #7 and about to do #8.

Good luck!

Tara