Oxaliplatin / Erbitux / Xeloda Chemo combination

menright

I have progressed to the beginning of Treatment. My plan is in place and I will begin this Monday November 17th, one month from the initial diagnosis. The agonizing wait is over.

I am looking for any comments or feedback about this combination of drugs.

My regimen will be twice daily xeloda (oral) combined with weekly Erbitux (IV) and once every 3- weeks Oxaliplatin (IV). This should continue for 6 weeks and then a pause, scan and re-evaluate.

I have colorectal cancer that has metsticized to the liver. This in my initial treatment. Eventually we will address the rectal tumor with surgery and may include the spot on the liver during the same surgery.

Wish me luck and any comments or experience with these drugs is much appreciated.

Mike

Buzzard

Oxiliplatin and rectal cancer
I have informed you of what to look for in the rectal cancer dept as for the Oxiliplatin it hasn't given me to much trouble at all so far but have only done 4 treatments. Did 3 Neupagen shots this week and will continue Chemo treatment #5 on Monday also.
The Oxiliplatin will make you very cold intolerant in which cold drinks ice actually anything colder than 55* was a burning sensation to my skin . I haven't had any breathing cold air issues yet but they say they happen. Just beware of ice cubes and cold drinks, it won't take you long to figure that one out. Feels like the stinging of hands that are either going to slep or starting to freeze then burn....it will make you nausceous (compazine,zofran,emend>very expensive but good $100 per pill) are good meds for nausea. The compazine works off of the neuro-transmitters in your brain, the zofran is directly absorbed into your stomach and worked much better for me......I have actually never tried the emend...
Look for fatigue possibly a small amount of vomiting (for me a very small mostly gagging reflex) pretty much 4 or 5 days of just feeling crappy then it all gets better for a week then back to it. Can't tell ya anything about the liver ...Good Luck and God Bless ya

CherylHutch

Oxaliplatin
Hey Mike,

The only one I can comment on is the Oxaliplatin... I wasn't on the other two you mentioned (although, that's not to say I won't be down the road, should we need to go the chemo route again).

The Oxaliplatin was the one that I had the most problems with and it all boiled down to the "cold sensitivity". Apparently, I was particularly sensitive to the cold because of it. Things to watch out for:

- have a pair of wool gloves next to the fridge should you have to take anything out of the fridge or freezer. If you try to even take an apple out of the fridge, you will drop it. It's like touching a red hot burner, without the burn marks

- do not drink ANYTHING that is any colder than room temperature. Trust me on this one... if you drink anything cool, let alone cold, at first it will feel like you are drinking quicksand, then your throat freezes up

- I'm sorry, I can't remember where you live, but with the chillier days here, and for some of us, they will be getting colder as winter approaches, you have to be particularly careful when you go outside. Not only do you need to bundle up with warm clothes, coat, warm socks, etc., you will want to make sure you have your gloves, hat that covers your head and ears and a scarf wrapped around your neck, mouth and nose. That sounds a bit drastic, but even a couple of degrees difference in the air from inside to outside could affect your breathing. By that, I mean... I took the dog outside one spring morning. I didn't think it was chilly at all, but it obviously was a bit cooler than it was inside. I got about a block from home and my throat closed up and I could barely breathe. Luckily my neighbour came by at this time, took the dog and helped me home. As soon as we got inside and hit the inside air, it disappeared... but that was a real awakening!

- If possible, have someone start the car and get it warmed up before you get into it... and make sure you are wearing your gloves to use the door handle on the outside. Hahaha... do NOT rest your head against the window once you are inside... the window will be cold!! As will the steering wheel, unless you have one of those fuzzy wuzzy steering wheel covers . You may have to wear your gloves to drive until the steering wheel warms up.

Now, the good news is... the first 3-4 days while on the Oxi is the worst, but then it starts getting better. So, you can expect any or all of the above symptoms for 3-4 days out of every 3 weeks... not too bad

Hugggggs,

Cheryl

claud1951

Effects
Hi Mike,

I was Stage 3, ascending colon. Have been NED for almost a year now!

I was one of those that got all side effects from the Oxaliplatin and Xeloda, which you may not get, but wanted to let you know what to look for. As the others have said, the cold. Tingling in fingers when you touch anything. And drink or eat. You might want to use a straw and if metal silverware is a problem, use plastic.
Muscle spasms in calves of legs. Also, when I was using the mouse (computer) my hand would stay in that postition for a few seconds (after I took my hand away). And..brushing teeth, my mouth would stay in that smile postion for a few seconds. Wierd, it was. Sometime it hurt to cry. Only just for the second the tear came out. That's weird , too.

Oh..something else. I call them "flavor burst". If I would put a piece of food in my mouth, it was like this burst of hurt. You know when you put something sour and you have this..this...burst of saliva in the back of your tongue and it hurts for a second? I don't know how to explain it but hope you understand. It only lasts for mere seconds but you know it happened.

From the Xeloda. Hand/feet. Peeling, sore. A suggestion is to get some Eucerin Cream and start using it. It's real thick and you can get it in the Drug Store. Use the Jar because the tube is hard to squeeze. I also got some cotten socks and gloves and use the lotion and put those on after I put the lotion on.
Some people like Udder Cream as well. Or a Mary-Kay product called Night Emollient. Now that has a scent to it. While the scent isn't bad, you may not like it.

I know all of this sounds bad, but just wanted to tell you of what you could get. You'll get through this with your great attitude. I had a good attitude as well. It was like, opps, there is another effect from chemo.

Another suggestion, or ask your nurses, when the IV drip was to fast, it seemed like I got those symptoms worse. They slowed the IV and it helped some. Still got the symptoms but seemed a little better. Now that sounds weird but ask them about it.

Number one effect from chemo is fatigue. Listen to your body! Rest when needed. It makes a difference. I tried not to rest when needed and found out that was the wrong thing to do. Just stop everything and rest. It's healing.

And..water..water..water. Drink lots of it. Get that stuff out!

Let the Onc nurses and doctors know all of your symptoms.

Oh...my fingernails really grew! Ha

Alway use your energy for moving forward. You'll do it!!

My best to you and yours and let us know how you are doing

Claudia

Buzzard

claud1951 said:

Effects
Hi Mike,

I was Stage 3, ascending colon. Have been NED for almost a year now!

I was one of those that got all side effects from the Oxaliplatin and Xeloda, which you may not get, but wanted to let you know what to look for. As the others have said, the cold. Tingling in fingers when you touch anything. And drink or eat. You might want to use a straw and if metal silverware is a problem, use plastic.
Muscle spasms in calves of legs. Also, when I was using the mouse (computer) my hand would stay in that postition for a few seconds (after I took my hand away). And..brushing teeth, my mouth would stay in that smile postion for a few seconds. Wierd, it was. Sometime it hurt to cry. Only just for the second the tear came out. That's weird , too.

Oh..something else. I call them "flavor burst". If I would put a piece of food in my mouth, it was like this burst of hurt. You know when you put something sour and you have this..this...burst of saliva in the back of your tongue and it hurts for a second? I don't know how to explain it but hope you understand. It only lasts for mere seconds but you know it happened.

From the Xeloda. Hand/feet. Peeling, sore. A suggestion is to get some Eucerin Cream and start using it. It's real thick and you can get it in the Drug Store. Use the Jar because the tube is hard to squeeze. I also got some cotten socks and gloves and use the lotion and put those on after I put the lotion on.
Some people like Udder Cream as well. Or a Mary-Kay product called Night Emollient. Now that has a scent to it. While the scent isn't bad, you may not like it.

I know all of this sounds bad, but just wanted to tell you of what you could get. You'll get through this with your great attitude. I had a good attitude as well. It was like, opps, there is another effect from chemo.

Another suggestion, or ask your nurses, when the IV drip was to fast, it seemed like I got those symptoms worse. They slowed the IV and it helped some. Still got the symptoms but seemed a little better. Now that sounds weird but ask them about it.

Number one effect from chemo is fatigue. Listen to your body! Rest when needed. It makes a difference. I tried not to rest when needed and found out that was the wrong thing to do. Just stop everything and rest. It's healing.

And..water..water..water. Drink lots of it. Get that stuff out!

Let the Onc nurses and doctors know all of your symptoms.

Oh...my fingernails really grew! Ha

Alway use your energy for moving forward. You'll do it!!

My best to you and yours and let us know how you are doing

Claudia

Yes another effect I had
Claudia, I copied and pasted this from your post, I have the exact same thing happen to me. I never took it as a side effect though.


Oh..something else. I call them "flavor burst". If I would put a piece of food in my mouth, it was like this burst of hurt. You know when you put something sour and you have this..this...burst of saliva in the back of your tongue and it hurts for a second? I don't know how to explain it but hope you understand. It only lasts for mere seconds but you know it happened.