Irinotecan & CEA

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Dyanclark
Dyanclark Member Posts: 296
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Second treatment of Irinotecan and husbands CEA down from 11 to 5 good news.  Could use some suggestions on  how to manage the diarrhea, imodium not helping much.  I have been preparing foods for him with starch like bake potato and puddings, this helps a little not much.

Dyan  

Comments

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness CSN Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #2

    For s, don't follow directions, per my onc and papers I'm told to take two every two hours til it clears up.

    there is a prescription that onc's also can give (the ones that had the prescription will chime in, I'm sure), that helps, don't hesitate to call your onc's office on Satruday for it, not worth a hospital stay instead.

    Also BRAT diet helps, bananna's, rice, applesauce and toast.

    hope he does better soon!

    Winter Marie

     

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness CSN Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #3
    Oh

    Forgot to say GREAT on the CEA!!!

  • Dyanclark
    Dyanclark Member Posts: 296
    #4
    herdizziness said:

    Oh

    Forgot to say GREAT on the CEA!!!

    CEA

    Thanks so much I have been watching your story.  Looks like Irinotecan is working for you also.  I read the Brat diet thanks for the information.   CEA coming down is a big deal.  I think yours was the same as my husbands.   Monday is 3rd drip YIKES.

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness CSN Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #5
    Dyanclark said:

    CEA

    Thanks so much I have been watching your story.  Looks like Irinotecan is working for you also.  I read the Brat diet thanks for the information.   CEA coming down is a big deal.  I think yours was the same as my husbands.   Monday is 3rd drip YIKES.

    Third

    Just had my third this past Friday, he and I started about same time then, is his every two weeks too? My onc offered every three, two or one, I picked every two.

    Winter Marie

  • Dyanclark
    Dyanclark Member Posts: 296
    #6
    herdizziness said:

    Third

    Just had my third this past Friday, he and I started about same time then, is his every two weeks too? My onc offered every three, two or one, I picked every two.

    Winter Marie

    Every 3

    Every three weeks.  He will be pretty nauseated first two days.   He was on chemo Feb-June 2012 Avastin & Oxy.    In August 2012 had to have colostomy due to radiation scaring & blockage from 2008 radiation.   Probably every two weeks would be to much for him right now.  So far he is still pretty active and not real tired. 

     

     

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness CSN Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #7
    herdizziness said:

    Third

    Just had my third this past Friday, he and I started about same time then, is his every two weeks too? My onc offered every three, two or one, I picked every two.

    Winter Marie

    Yikes

    I just looked at my blog and I started Irinotecan on December 21st and Friday was my fourth dose, talk about a poor memory, glad I've got my blog to go back to and remind myself of what is really what!

     

  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe CSN Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    #8
    herdizziness said:

    Yikes

    I just looked at my blog and I started Irinotecan on December 21st and Friday was my fourth dose, talk about a poor memory, glad I've got my blog to go back to and remind myself of what is really what!

     

    I didn't know every three

    I didn't know every three weeks was an option ......  great news on the CEA Laughing

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 CSN Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #9
    smokeyjoe said:

    I didn't know every three

    I didn't know every three weeks was an option ......  great news on the CEA Laughing

    Hmmm
    I don't remember hearing
    Hmmm

    I don't remember hearing anything about a three week option. Maybe it's a US thing.
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness CSN Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #10
    herdizziness said:

    Yikes

    I just looked at my blog and I started Irinotecan on December 21st and Friday was my fourth dose, talk about a poor memory, glad I've got my blog to go back to and remind myself of what is really what!

     

    Yep

    Onc gave me choice of every three weeks on Irinotitecan, but said I had to do Erbritux every week.

    Winter Marie

  • northa914
    northa914 CSN Member Posts: 100
    #11
    herdizziness said:

    For s, don't follow directions, per my onc and papers I'm told to take two every two hours til it clears up.

    there is a prescription that onc's also can give (the ones that had the prescription will chime in, I'm sure), that helps, don't hesitate to call your onc's office on Satruday for it, not worth a hospital stay instead.

    Also BRAT diet helps, bananna's, rice, applesauce and toast.

    hope he does better soon!

    Winter Marie

     

    The prescription med is

    The prescription med is Lomotil.  I got some just in case for FOLFIRINOX treatments which supposedly cause horrible diarrhea but never had to use it.

  • luvinlife2
    luvinlife2 Member Posts: 172 Member
    #12
    Chelsea71 said:

    Hmmm
    I don't remember hearing
    Hmmm

    I don't remember hearing anything about a three week option. Maybe it's a US thing.

    2 vs 3

    I have irinotecan/avastin every 3 weeks because I am taking Xeloda (referred to as capecitabine in Canada) instead of the 5fu IV bolus and bottle.  The pill form is 14 days on 1 week off..thus the 3 weeks.  The dosages of irinotecan and avastin are adjusted accordingly.  In BC the 5fu bolus iv and pump are automatically given because it is much cheaper than the pill form unless medical issues interfere with that type of delivery.  The onc must file a request with BC Cancer and give the reason why the patient required the xeloda and I'm told by the staff that most requests are denied (so stupid IMO).  So, don't know about Ontario but my guess is probably you aren't offered a choice for the same reasons.

    I personally, can't see how a disposable bottle, the tubing, chemo, saline, heparin, the iv bolus and everything else associated with the delivery of the 5fu to the patient can possibly be so much cheaper than the pills but that apparently is the excuse.  I think it's such a shame because the quality of my life increased big time once I was on xeloda.  Going for infusions every 3 weeks is so much better.

    Smile

    I should add that it seems that if a patient is on irinotecan only, some are on a 2 week sched and some a 3 week.  Guess it depends on the patient's medical situation.  I've met a few at chemo who do this.

  • luvinlife2
    luvinlife2 Member Posts: 172 Member
    #13
    herdizziness said:

    Yep

    Onc gave me choice of every three weeks on Irinotitecan, but said I had to do Erbritux every week.

    Winter Marie

    Xeloda

    Are you still on Xeloda as well Winter Marie?

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness CSN Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #14
    luvinlife2 said:

    Xeloda

    Are you still on Xeloda as well Winter Marie?

    No

    I had been on Oxyplatinin/Xeloda/Avastin as of December but they quit working for me, so went to Irinotecan every two weeks and just had Erbritux added every week this past Friday, so just on Irinotecan and Erbritux right now.

    Winter Marie

  • Hooley
    Hooley Member Posts: 156
    #15
    herdizziness said:

    No

    I had been on Oxyplatinin/Xeloda/Avastin as of December but they quit working for me, so went to Irinotecan every two weeks and just had Erbritux added every week this past Friday, so just on Irinotecan and Erbritux right now.

    Winter Marie

    Same

    Seems I'm on te exact path u are on.  Here's praying our erbitux works.   I need my lung mets to shrink!!   Take care

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