Did folfuri chemo help to reduce rectal tumour - how know?

Bellen

Hello all - Started folfuri chemo + avastin for CRC with mets to liver.  Have a few questions for all on this site who have/had colorectal cancer.  Was your tumour reduced in size by your chemo treatment?  Would the chemo cocktail stop the tumour from blocking the intestine?  How did you know if the chemo was working to reduce tumour - does a CT scan show?  My cancer did not show in CT scan - diagnosed initially by abd ultrasound that showed "spots" In liver. Thank you to all who may answer my questions.  So appreciate.  Best to everyone.

Bellen

Chemo reduce tumour

Hello all - Please add to previous post. My initial diagnosis started with seeing spots in my liver, then had CT scan, liver biopsy, and colonoscopy to confirm adenocarcinoma with mets to liver.  

Heartbroke

Folfuri chemo + avastin

Im sorry you have to do this Bellen. However, I hope this post helps answer some of yur questions.  My wife was 32 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer. Her cancer has mets to the liver and lungs. After 3 months of folfox we seen that the cancer was still growing. We switched fo fulfuri and avastin. She has been on this 9 months. She has multiple tumors that were the size of softballs that are now about the size of pingpong balls. The side effects come and go but they are much better than those she experienced with folfox. He hair hasnt fallen out but shes always had crazy thick hair. Its much thinner than it was but its hanging on. She gets really dry skin and the last 2 months she has been pretty nauseous for the 24 hours following chemo. However, staying hydrated helps. Her first CT scan showed very little improvment. Then the following one there was massive shrinkage. It sucks for her on the day of chemo, but it keeps her around to watch our 3 lil kids grow. I am a huge "fan" of this drug and I am very thankful for it. For us, its working. Good luck Bellen. I dont know you but you are in my thoughts. My heart aches for my wife any anyone else who has to share this pain. Fight it!  

Bellen

Folfiri reduce CRC tumours

Dear Heartbroke - I am so sorry that your wife has been diagnosed with this and my heart goes out to her, you and your family.  Sending all my best to your wife - she is in my thoughts and prayers that she continues to see a positive response to this chemo regimen.  And thank you so much for taking the time from your worries to respond - this is very encouraging.  Sometimes, it is hard to stay positive in the midst of everything, and your response means a lot to me.  It sounds like I may be on exactly the same chemo cocktail.  Does she also have a chemo bolus of 5Fu for 2 days?  And have it every 2 wks?  Sincere best wishes.

vtspa6

My husband first had FOLFOX

My husband first had FOLFOX/Avastin and it completely disolved the tumor in his colon, he still has some mets left in his lungs and lymphnodes but they are tiny.  He did have a colostomy due to the fear of blockage before he started chemo.  He could not have his tumor surgically removed because of where it sat.  But the chemo worked and is still working, at least keeping the cancer from growing.  He is now taking FOLFIRI/Avastin because FOLFOX side effect of neropathy.

Bellen

Fulfiri

Hello all - Just an update - did not have my 2nd chemo treatment due to low WBC, so delayed until next week.  Wonder if all the stuff I had prior to my 1st chemo treatment affected my WBC - in past three wks had colonoscopy and prep for it which wiped me out, had port in 2 days later, pain meds given caused intestinal blockage, had first fulfiri treatment, another blockage due to diarrhea then constipation - so I had a lot of stuff that really left me feeling pretty bad.  I did not have any surgery to remove CRC - biopsy confirmed it.  And had biopsy of liver mets. Please keep me aware of how everyone is doing, and wishing all the best.