What is mop-up chemo ?

Dharma girl

What is mop-up chemo ? I did a Google search but didn’t have much luck. Thanks.

herdizziness

Slang
It's just kind of a slang we use. For instance I say I'm on mop up chemo right now. They think they have all the tumors, but not sure if they have all the cancer cells, so we do light chemo, for instance instead of the oxy now I'm just on Xeloda and then have Avastin to mop-up any left over cancer cells.
Hope this helps.
Winter Marie

Dharma girl

herdizziness said:

Slang
It's just kind of a slang we use. For instance I say I'm on mop up chemo right now. They think they have all the tumors, but not sure if they have all the cancer cells, so we do light chemo, for instance instead of the oxy now I'm just on Xeloda and then have Avastin to mop-up any left over cancer cells.
Hope this helps.
Winter Marie

a good option ?
My mom had surgery and a Pet scan that came back clear, wouldn’t mop-up chemo be a good option for her ?

At this point she has no cancer that can be “seen” . If it is there, it is micrometastases.

herdizziness

Dharma girl said:

a good option ?
My mom had surgery and a Pet scan that came back clear, wouldn’t mop-up chemo be a good option for her ?

At this point she has no cancer that can be “seen” . If it is there, it is micrometastases.

Well...
I don't know, it's certainly something to ask the oncologist though. Each case is different and they might have a reason for a bit more. Only thing to do is ask them, and if you don't like their opinion, get a second one from another oncologist, couldn't hurt.
Hugs,
Winter Marie

Dharma girl

herdizziness said:

Well...
I don't know, it's certainly something to ask the oncologist though. Each case is different and they might have a reason for a bit more. Only thing to do is ask them, and if you don't like their opinion, get a second one from another oncologist, couldn't hurt.
Hugs,
Winter Marie

I think you are right
I think you are right, maybe we need to make a appointment to see her oncologist and/or get a second opinion. Thanks.

TMac52

Dharma girl said:

I think you are right
I think you are right, maybe we need to make a appointment to see her oncologist and/or get a second opinion. Thanks.

I'm mopping up now!
Been through initial chemo/radiation then APR surgery, after surgery there is no evidence of cancer left in my body,,,,,,,,, so to be safe in case there any nasty cancer cells floating around they do another series of chemo if varies for different stages of disease. I was stage one so I am only doing 4 months were other people with stage 3 or 4 might do 6 months. I have 5 weeks to go. I did folfox however because of the feet problems they stopped the oxcalplatin and I will finish with the 5fu. and thats a wrap
Tom

Kenny H.

TMac52 said:

I'm mopping up now!
Been through initial chemo/radiation then APR surgery, after surgery there is no evidence of cancer left in my body,,,,,,,,, so to be safe in case there any nasty cancer cells floating around they do another series of chemo if varies for different stages of disease. I was stage one so I am only doing 4 months were other people with stage 3 or 4 might do 6 months. I have 5 weeks to go. I did folfox however because of the feet problems they stopped the oxcalplatin and I will finish with the 5fu. and thats a wrap
Tom

Same here. Wondering if a CT
Same here. Wondering if a CT scan will be needed after mop-up?

herdizziness

Kenny H. said:

Same here. Wondering if a CT
Same here. Wondering if a CT scan will be needed after mop-up?

Scheduled
I'm scheduled for one 3 months after surgery, to see how things are surgical and tumor wise, then next one 6 months and if good one year and colonoscopy one year.
Winter Marie

PhillieG

All it takes
is for one little cancer cell to "escape" the surgery for cancer to spread. I've done it and would recommend it but everyone has their own opinions on it.
-phil

herdizziness

PhillieG said:

All it takes
is for one little cancer cell to "escape" the surgery for cancer to spread. I've done it and would recommend it but everyone has their own opinions on it.
-phil

Escaping cell
That's exactly why I'm do what the onc wants, I want any escaped bast@rds to be caught!!!
Winter Marie

coloCan

herdizziness said:

Scheduled
I'm scheduled for one 3 months after surgery, to see how things are surgical and tumor wise, then next one 6 months and if good one year and colonoscopy one year.
Winter Marie

Anticipate doing CT after chemo ends and then another CT
3 months after that and a CT/PET 3 months after that scan....You'll also probably do bloodwork for some time after chemo as well......steve

Dharma girl

adjuvant therapy
Are adjuvant therapy and mop-up the same thing ?

coloCan

Dharma girl said:

adjuvant therapy
Are adjuvant therapy and mop-up the same thing ?

Its
just a fancier way of saying the same thing-treatment after surgery......Generally, a tumor is removed but its microscopic,too-small-to-be-noted-on-scans particles that might remain that the "mop up" will hopefully eradicate forever....

pete43lost_at_sea

TMac52 said:

I'm mopping up now!
Been through initial chemo/radiation then APR surgery, after surgery there is no evidence of cancer left in my body,,,,,,,,, so to be safe in case there any nasty cancer cells floating around they do another series of chemo if varies for different stages of disease. I was stage one so I am only doing 4 months were other people with stage 3 or 4 might do 6 months. I have 5 weeks to go. I did folfox however because of the feet problems they stopped the oxcalplatin and I will finish with the 5fu. and thats a wrap
Tom

i am mopping as well
i was a t3/t4 so got the 6 month deal.
done 8 folfox so far, got 4 to go.
so much fun, NOT

pete

belindahill

adjuvent chemo
My husband on adjuvant chemo after surgery 8 cycles, no sign of the cancer after surgery but the cancer cells are so small to see, so chemo is given to help stop the cancer from spreading at a later date. Also goes into account is the stage of the cancer at surgery and how many nodes were poss. Good luck

Dharma girl

Thanks everyone
Thanks everyone for the information and sharing your personal experiences.
So much to learn, so little time.