Irrinotecan and 5fu pump

Hooley
Hooley Member Posts: 156
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Is there anyone who like me has had both these treatments.   Eg hour and half infusion at clinic at then a take home cad for 48 hours. What I am wondering has anyone stopped taking home the 5fu pump and if so any adverse effects ?

Comments

  • Roddy2
    Roddy2 Member Posts: 21
    #2
    Irinotecan and 5Fu

    Hi Hooley,

    Mate of mine has been on the Irinotecan, Avastin and 5fu pump for some time now and not likely to change in the near future. Has had 30 plus doses. He gets hit pretty hard by the Irinotecan and feels crook right from when they start to infuse till 4or5days later. Worst thing is that he has to travel for  a couple of hours by plane to get to the centre each fortnite. But to see the best Oncologists, you have make this effort. They are the ones  helping us get to see another day.

    cheers

    Roddy

  • johnnybegood
    johnnybegood Member Posts: 1,117 Member
    #3
    Roddy2 said:

    Irinotecan and 5Fu

    Hi Hooley,

    Mate of mine has been on the Irinotecan, Avastin and 5fu pump for some time now and not likely to change in the near future. Has had 30 plus doses. He gets hit pretty hard by the Irinotecan and feels crook right from when they start to infuse till 4or5days later. Worst thing is that he has to travel for  a couple of hours by plane to get to the centre each fortnite. But to see the best Oncologists, you have make this effort. They are the ones  helping us get to see another day.

    cheers

    Roddy

    hello

    in 2011 i had irrinotecan+avastin before and after my liver resection.my onc decided to not give the 5fu because irrinotecan is known for the diareah side effect and he thought the xtra 5fu combined would cause even a worse effect of diareah.i did well on that ,it shrunk my tumors for the liver resection and after it held my lung tumors back.i may be looking at going back on that cocktail in the near future dont know the plan yet.good luck and i would definately talk to your onc about it...Godbless...johnnybegood

  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    #4
    johnnybegood said:

    hello

    in 2011 i had irrinotecan+avastin before and after my liver resection.my onc decided to not give the 5fu because irrinotecan is known for the diareah side effect and he thought the xtra 5fu combined would cause even a worse effect of diareah.i did well on that ,it shrunk my tumors for the liver resection and after it held my lung tumors back.i may be looking at going back on that cocktail in the near future dont know the plan yet.good luck and i would definately talk to your onc about it...Godbless...johnnybegood

    Are the xeloda pills

    Are the xeloda pills available for you??    Some people have the option of taking the pills instead of the pump.  

  • danker
    danker Member Posts: 1,276 Member
    #5
    pump

    I had fu5 pump giving me 1&1/4 Ml per hour 24/7 for 5 weeks.  Was also getting radiation those 5 weeks m-f.  Then 6 week rest before resection. It worke!! I have been NED nearly 3 years.  Hope you waill too. Good luck!!

  • Hooley
    Hooley Member Posts: 156
    #6
    Roddy2 said:

    Irinotecan and 5Fu

    Hi Hooley,

    Mate of mine has been on the Irinotecan, Avastin and 5fu pump for some time now and not likely to change in the near future. Has had 30 plus doses. He gets hit pretty hard by the Irinotecan and feels crook right from when they start to infuse till 4or5days later. Worst thing is that he has to travel for  a couple of hours by plane to get to the centre each fortnite. But to see the best Oncologists, you have make this effort. They are the ones  helping us get to see another day.

    cheers

    Roddy

    Tks roddy.  Yeh they say

    Tks roddy.  Yeh they say irrinotecan is the tuff stuff. But as u say keeps us going

  • Hooley
    Hooley Member Posts: 156
    #7
    johnnybegood said:

    hello

    in 2011 i had irrinotecan+avastin before and after my liver resection.my onc decided to not give the 5fu because irrinotecan is known for the diareah side effect and he thought the xtra 5fu combined would cause even a worse effect of diareah.i did well on that ,it shrunk my tumors for the liver resection and after it held my lung tumors back.i may be looking at going back on that cocktail in the near future dont know the plan yet.good luck and i would definately talk to your onc about it...Godbless...johnnybegood

    Hi johnnybegood
    am interested

    Hi johnnybegood

    am interested in your lung tumors.  How many? Size? Location? Surgery?    What shrunk the lung ones and over what period of time?

    gods richest blessings 

  • Hooley
    Hooley Member Posts: 156
    #8
    smokeyjoe said:

    Are the xeloda pills

    Are the xeloda pills available for you??    Some people have the option of taking the pills instead of the pump.  

    Had xeloda during my second

    Had xeloda during my second year. Kept things stable for while then started to grumble. Bugger 

  • Hooley
    Hooley Member Posts: 156
    #9
    danker said:

    pump

    I had fu5 pump giving me 1&1/4 Ml per hour 24/7 for 5 weeks.  Was also getting radiation those 5 weeks m-f.  Then 6 week rest before resection. It worke!! I have been NED nearly 3 years.  Hope you waill too. Good luck!!

    So excited for u.  Think I've

    So excited for u.  Think I've got to decide if i try lung surgery or not.  im bit tired of 3 yrs chemo.  But am grateful to still be here!

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #10
    5FU pump

    For about 3 & half yrs I was on the Folfiri regimin every  two weeks. Infusion started with the ususal dexamethasone and granistron (antiemetic), then an hour + infusion of leukovorin. Then the Irinotecan.  Then the avastin. The loading dose of fluororacil (FU) should take about 8-10 minutes, very slow push to bring the blood levels up tp theraputic value. The key is to start the 5FU pump quickly after the loading dose because the 5FU only has a halflife of 15 to 20 minutes. If the theraputic blood level drops after 30 or more minutes of the loading dose, the slow infusion on the pump won't be as effective.  Also if the loading dose is pushed too fast it made me nauseated and feel bad. I don't get nauseated easily. I always let the nurse know that I was timing her push so she wouldn't hurry. Like I said the 5FU has a very short half life so by a few hours after D/C the pump it will be gone, the Irinotecan and  Avastin last longer, but you'll feel prettry good after a couple of days. I have never had any trouble with the pump removal or soreness at  the skin insertion site. They will always load the catheter with 100 units per ml of heparin to keep the catheter from clotting when the pump is removed.  Going into chemo with an attitude of being sick all the time will probably make it so. Go in with the attitude of the tough guy that you will be not let this ruin your week. Be strong and live long.

    Dan

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