Chemo for Stage III

christine4life
christine4life Member Posts: 15
in Colorectal Cancer #1

What is the typical process for chemo for stage III (a,b and c) colon cancer?  I have read every other week for 6 months in most cases.  Is that correct or can it be more frequent?  I am trying to get some information about how the treatment typically works and if it takes a while to get better after each treatment?  Is it possible to go back to work the day after treatment or does it normally take a few days to recover?  Thanks!

Comments

  • Coppercent
    Coppercent Member Posts: 158
    #2
    My Experience

    i have stage III I was advised to do FOLFOX every other week for six months. I got my infusions Wednesday morning and hooked up to the pump.  I left the center and went straight to work. I would go on my lunch break on Friday to get disconnected.  Everyone has different circumstances. 

  • Easyflip
    Easyflip Member Posts: 588 Member
    #3
    I

    was initially 3B. I had 12 rounds of folfox, every 2 weeks for 6 months. I took a pump home and was disconnected a couple of days after each infusion day. I felt pretty bad for about 5 days right after infusion, extremely fatigued. Then I felt pretty normal til the next infusion. I probably could've worked but it would have been difficult especially right after infusion. All in all it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Good luck to your hubby.

    Easyflip/Richard

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #4
    Treatment schedule

    I was also diagnosed Stage IIIB, though that has been adjusted to the big Stage IV now. 

    My treatmner schedule went:

    Surgery.

    Nine FOLFOXinfusions and 5FU hook-up for 48 hours. 

    Six weeks of daily Radiation and six week 24 hour 5FU hook-up. 

    I didn't hold up too well with either Chemo or Radiation and would definitely not have been able to work. 

    As you probably already know, everyone handles treatment differently. I think its always good to be prepared for the worst while hoping for the best. 

    Best of luck to your husband. 

    Sue - Trubrit

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,427 Member
    #5
    I Am Every Other Week For 12 Treatments

    I am Stage IIIC and having the FOLFOX every other week for 12 sessions/6 months.  My Onc only does Oxaliplatin in 9 out of 12 since he feels the neuropathy risk increases substantially with a higher amount and that the incremental benefit at the point for knocking out the cancer is low.  My experience has been okay with this and less of a nightmare that I thought it would be by a long shot.  The tired is the biggest part, but even then there are enough good days in the cycle that I am going to minor league baseball games often.  Good for my mind and also walking around Stadium is my exercise.  

    My days when connected are usually not too bad in terms of being tired (get hooked up on Monday, Disconnect Weds), and often even do things Weds night for a few hours.  The tired hits me Thursday.  In two of the sessions I got really knocked on my butt (slept a lot during Friday and Saturday those times, probably 36 out of 48 hours), but then not so much.  A nap though does seem to wind up on my schedule.  It varies from treatment to treatment for me in terms of the effects.  The only two progressing (but managable) is the tired part overall being longer and the numbness in my hand, particularly the left one.   I wear gloves often and sleep with them, that seems to help.  But it is far from a horror show (the chemo) and more of an annoyance.  Knock on wood :)

    Make sure you and your husband continue to laugh and do things you like to do.  Even going out to grab a coffee or something at a local diner for me for an hour or so really changes things for the better in feelng normal in my mind, which is a big part of the battle for me.  

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