40 year old with stage Iv

May 16,2017 I was diagnosed. I completed my second cycle today. The side effects have been minimal and tolerable even chasing 3 teenagers. Some cold sensitivity. I was wondering if there is any correlation to side effects and its effectiveness. 

Comments

  • Phoenix_66
    Phoenix_66 Member Posts: 118
    Side Effect

    Daliamom08, I don't think there is any correlation between a chemo's side effect and how effective it is.  

  • Daliamom08
    Daliamom08 Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2017 #3

    Side Effect

    Daliamom08, I don't think there is any correlation between a chemo's side effect and how effective it is.  

    Thank You. I had prepared

    Thank You. I had prepared myself for more effects and since I havent seen them I just wondered what others experiences were

  • Phoenix_66
    Phoenix_66 Member Posts: 118

    Thank You. I had prepared

    Thank You. I had prepared myself for more effects and since I havent seen them I just wondered what others experiences were

    Chemo

    What chemo are you taking?  I took FOLFOX (oxalyplatin, lucavorin, 5FU).  The oxalyplatin is what causes the cold intolerance.  That particular symptom stayed with me through the entire process but left shortly after finishing chemo.  Another symptom I experienced was slight neuropathy in my hands and feet where they would sometimes itch and tingle along with becoming red and irritated.  This issue mainly began after around treatment 4 and I was fortunate that no permanent damage was done and the symptom left shortly after finishing chemo.

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    edited June 2017 #5
    It can take time for side

    It can take time for side effects to show up. The Folfox side effects- the cold sensitivity- doesn't usually show up until several treatments have been done but that can be different for everyone. And it tends to get worse as time goes by. When I was on one chemo there was a correlation and my side effects were so bad I only did one treatment. The worse the side effects the better it was working, but the one I'm on now makes no difference.

    Good luck!

    Jan

  • mozart13
    mozart13 Member Posts: 118
    Folfox

    This side effects are normal, they usualy last 5,6 days after chemo, my experience was low blood work results after second and third round of chemo, low platellets, neutrophylls, leukocytes, had to postpone my4th round of chemo by one week and get Gastrofil  injections, than every thing bounced back. My oncologist told me that I had excellent response to Oxolaplatin, but my 4th dose of Oxilaplatin was tiny bit lowered, this time I felt much better, am still on injections of Gastrofil.

    I walk twice a day, regardless how I feel, after my 2nd and 3rd round of follfox, there were days when my energy was so low, had to eat so often, started to gain weight, those Grasofil injections fixed every thing, with blood work back to normal, my energy level is up, not  trying  to substitute energy with high volumes of food, overall feel much better.

    If you have any specific questin feel free to ask.

    Good luck!

  • ThomasH
    ThomasH Member Posts: 106 Member
    My FOLFOX was cumulative too

    Sorry to hear about your Dx Daliamom.

    Overall I would say my side effects sound like they were less intense than some people have experienced, but they did progress over time and for me I found they continued to increase for a couple months after I finished my last treatment. I found that it was a good idea to be extra cautious with the cold sensitivity things. If I didn't, and I irritated something with cold, then it was a lot more pronounced for my next treatment.

    The effects really are cumulative and I wasn't expecting that.

    In terms of responsiveness and severity of the side effects, I had a really good response to my FOLFOX even though my side effects were not as bad as some people. The last lingering effect I have is still some neuropathy in my hands, and of course the general tiredness and chemo brain that seems to go along for the ride.

    I hope that you respond amazingly well also, and that your side effects continue to be minimal.

    Thomas

  • Daliamom08
    Daliamom08 Member Posts: 4
    Thanks everyone for sharing

    Thanks everyone for sharing your xperience . Today has been crazy with the hand tingling.  I did notice on my medical portal that my platlet count was also way down. Didn't know what that meant exactly. Little nausea today but not much appetite either. Seems to be  repeat of my first treatment with the exception of the hand tingling and my eyes were  little whacky today off and on. I had noticed the cold sensitivity subside alot by the time i got to this last round. But it's BACK LOL 

  • Daliamom08
    Daliamom08 Member Posts: 4

    Chemo

    What chemo are you taking?  I took FOLFOX (oxalyplatin, lucavorin, 5FU).  The oxalyplatin is what causes the cold intolerance.  That particular symptom stayed with me through the entire process but left shortly after finishing chemo.  Another symptom I experienced was slight neuropathy in my hands and feet where they would sometimes itch and tingle along with becoming red and irritated.  This issue mainly began after around treatment 4 and I was fortunate that no permanent damage was done and the symptom left shortly after finishing chemo.

    I am on the folfox Fu5.

    I am on the folfox Fu5. Oxaylplatin,irunitican are the ones i remember. No extreme bathroom urgency this time.. that was a blessing.