Avastin/Ox for Dummies...........

Buckwirth said:

The treatment is known as
Folfox with Avastin.

FOLFOX is a chemotherapy regimen for treatment of colorectal cancer, made up of the drugs
FOL– Folinic acid (leucovorin)
F – Fluorouracil (5-FU)
OX – Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)[1]

Leucovorin is basically a vitamin, and is used to improve the absorption of the Fluorouracil. The half life for 5FU is very short, so to maximize the effectiveness it is given in a continuous small dose over a long period of time (this is the bag. It is carried for about 42 hours).

Oxaliplatin is a Platinum based drug that is known to be effective in CRC.

Expect some of the side effects to include diarrhea, constipation, stomach cramps, cold sensitivity (at the fingertips, and at soft tissues. NO ICED drinks or frozen foods for at least the first week after each treatment!)

Neuropathy, expressed as a loss of sensation or numbness in the hands and feet is a common side effect of the platinum drugs, and should be monitored. There are some treatments that can be added that soften the effect, but if it gets bad he may want to stop Oxaliplatin and move to Folfiri, which substitutes Irinotecan for the Oxaliplatin.

There is a shortage of Leucovorin, so he may get Xeloda, a pill form of 5FU.

Avastin is what is referred to as a biological, and is different from chemo. It is also called a targeted therapy. It works as an anti-angiogenesis agent, preventing the formation of new blood vessels to the tumor, effectively starving it. There are side effects, some of them serious and most of them unlikely, but you should discuss those with a medical professional.

I understand the numbness of the first appointment. May I suggest that you schedule a follow-up with the chemo nurse to go over the treatment one more time, and to bring along a recording device. Most smart phones have one built in that is quite adequate, and if one is not built in it can be added at the devices app store, usually at no cost.

You should also ask about other drugs that are part of the regimen, but meant to control side effects. These can include anti-nausea drugs, anti-cramping drugs and powerful steroids, each of which can have its own side effects you, as a caregiver, should be aware of.

This is a simplified explanation of what he might experience. The severity of each side effect varies greatly from individual to individual. Keep the oncologist's number handy, and be prepared to call him at all hours if you have a concern about what your husband is experiencing. You will often get the exchange, but someone from the office is always on-call and will call you back promptly.

Hope this helps,

Blake

steveandnat said:

So sorry to hear this
This really stinks...Buckwirth explained it really good. I wish you all the best and pray the treatment works fast and clears everything up. Praying hard.
Jeff