First Folfox treatment

Coloncancerblows
Coloncancerblows Member Posts: 296 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Had my first Folfox treatment yesterday.  So far so good.  Get the pack off tomorrow at noon.  I slept pretty good considering the steroids in there.  Did experience that weird jaw sensation when biting the first time.  Thanks to the forum, I knew that was normal and didn't freak out.  Cold drinks are a no no so nipped that pretty quick.  I heard the symptoms usually start after the pack comes off so praying for minimal effects. Thanks to everyone for all the tips/suggestions.  May the force be with me!!  Kiss

 

Cyn

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Comments

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #2
    YAY!

    I've been waiting to hear from you, even though I knew your day would go well. Half of the battle is attitude, and you seem to have that in spades.

    As you know, I too had my chemo yesterday and my take-away chemo will be unhooked around noon on Friday too. 

    I swear, we're on the same track.  What time zone are you in? I'm Pacific. 

    What were you staged as? 

    Don't think too much about what other side effects you may experience. Enjoy the now, and face them when they get there. 

    Have a great day. And DON'T forget to pick up your bag when you get up. I've dragged mine to the floor a few times. 

     

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #3
    Keep us posted on how it goes!

    And don't forget to stay hydrated...that's the one mistake a lot of us made in the beginning, and it often ends in a trip to the ER.  And speaking of that, I learned that if you do get dehydrated, you can usually go into your infusion center and get IV fluids.  I didn't know that, waited too long, and landed in ER.  Not fun.  Much better to go in early if you feel like you're having trouble getting enough fluids.  Hugs~AA

  • Coloncancerblows
    Coloncancerblows Member Posts: 296 Member
    #4
    annalexandria said:

    Keep us posted on how it goes!

    And don't forget to stay hydrated...that's the one mistake a lot of us made in the beginning, and it often ends in a trip to the ER.  And speaking of that, I learned that if you do get dehydrated, you can usually go into your infusion center and get IV fluids.  I didn't know that, waited too long, and landed in ER.  Not fun.  Much better to go in early if you feel like you're having trouble getting enough fluids.  Hugs~AA

    Ana,
    I'm a big water drink

    Ana,

    I'm a big water drink anyway so have been chugging that down.  Don't want to get dehydrated.  I ended up buying a Brita water bottle and have been filling it with lukewarm tap water so that's helping a lot.

  • Coloncancerblows
    Coloncancerblows Member Posts: 296 Member
    #5
    Trubrit said:

    YAY!

    I've been waiting to hear from you, even though I knew your day would go well. Half of the battle is attitude, and you seem to have that in spades.

    As you know, I too had my chemo yesterday and my take-away chemo will be unhooked around noon on Friday too. 

    I swear, we're on the same track.  What time zone are you in? I'm Pacific. 

    What were you staged as? 

    Don't think too much about what other side effects you may experience. Enjoy the now, and face them when they get there. 

    Have a great day. And DON'T forget to pick up your bag when you get up. I've dragged mine to the floor a few times. 

     

    I forgot we're on the same

    I forgot we're on the same schedule.  Yeah for us!  I'm in Central time zone.  Staged at 3B. 

    I was freaking out sleeping with that fanny pack so I just kept it hooked to me all night long.  It wasn't a problem since I was able to sleep on my left side.  Can't wait to get it off on Friday so I can take a shower!  Sponge baths are icky.  Have a great day!!

  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #6
    annalexandria said:

    Keep us posted on how it goes!

    And don't forget to stay hydrated...that's the one mistake a lot of us made in the beginning, and it often ends in a trip to the ER.  And speaking of that, I learned that if you do get dehydrated, you can usually go into your infusion center and get IV fluids.  I didn't know that, waited too long, and landed in ER.  Not fun.  Much better to go in early if you feel like you're having trouble getting enough fluids.  Hugs~AA

    Effects may intensify with each additional dose (or they may

    not ,as each response is unique to each of us). If you can,try to do some exercise or activity and not just watch tv or internet(which i was ignorant of during my own tx)I tried to avoid people under assumption that my immune system was declining and didn't want to catch nothing from others. make sure you have emergency contact number to call if necessary at any time and learn what controls on pump do and how to discontent....when drinking,nothing cold, i would try to aim liquid down middle of mouth to avoid touching sides that caused strange feelings

  • wts
    wts Member Posts: 40 Member
    #7
    I'm on the same schedule. I

    I'm on the same schedule. I get unhooked tomorrow at 2:30. I get some other meds today and my pump refilled. I'm on treatment 5.  The drinking enough is what I have issues with. I always drink cold stuff but not now! Ussually I can drink cold drinks again around the Wed-Fri after I'm unhooked. I just get really tired the Friday I get unhooked and am tired over the weekend.

  • wts
    wts Member Posts: 40 Member
    #8
    I'm on the same schedule. I

    I'm on the same schedule. I get unhooked tomorrow at 2:30. I get some other meds today and my pump refilled. I'm on treatment 5.  The drinking enough is what I have issues with. I always drink cold stuff but not now! Ussually I can drink cold drinks again around the Wed-Fri after I'm unhooked. I just get really tired the Friday I get unhooked and am tired over the weekend.

  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    #9
    wts said:

    I'm on the same schedule. I

    I'm on the same schedule. I get unhooked tomorrow at 2:30. I get some other meds today and my pump refilled. I'm on treatment 5.  The drinking enough is what I have issues with. I always drink cold stuff but not now! Ussually I can drink cold drinks again around the Wed-Fri after I'm unhooked. I just get really tired the Friday I get unhooked and am tired over the weekend.

    CYN

    there you go!!!! you did it....proud of you.  I think in some ways that first one is so bad just because you are nervous and do not know what to expect.  Symptoms may get worse and may not but you have numero uno down and behind you.  Sometimes on chemo the taste of water will start to not appeal....then you get to be creative with all sorts of room temp things to drink...like adding a little lemon or lime or soda.  Some people have found ginger ale and some others have like orange soda....but AA is right....the nurses always told me that the patients who stay hydrated do way better.....

    all the very best and a big hug.....mags

  • tachilders
    tachilders Member Posts: 313
    #10
    Congrats on your first

    Congrats on your first treatment.  I just did number 15 yesterday, and also get my pump off tomorrow.  That makes 4 of us on the same schedule...  I didn't notice any worse side affects after my first treatment, with the exception of neuropathy setting in around tx #8 or 9.  In fact, I am at work now and have worked every Thursday and Friday after chemo since tx#1, and many days come in Wednesday after getting chemo.  IMHO, the keys are to stay active, stay hydrated, and eat as well as possible.  Also, if you feel the least bit nauseous, take a compazine ASAP.  Don't wait until you are actually getting sick.

    Tedd

  • Coloncancerblows
    Coloncancerblows Member Posts: 296 Member
    #11
    tachilders said:

    Congrats on your first

    Congrats on your first treatment.  I just did number 15 yesterday, and also get my pump off tomorrow.  That makes 4 of us on the same schedule...  I didn't notice any worse side affects after my first treatment, with the exception of neuropathy setting in around tx #8 or 9.  In fact, I am at work now and have worked every Thursday and Friday after chemo since tx#1, and many days come in Wednesday after getting chemo.  IMHO, the keys are to stay active, stay hydrated, and eat as well as possible.  Also, if you feel the least bit nauseous, take a compazine ASAP.  Don't wait until you are actually getting sick.

    Tedd

    Tedd,
    I plan on going back to

    Tedd,

    I plan on going back to work Feb. 25th which is six weeks after my surgery.  I'm hoping I'll just miss work the day I get the chemo.  Friday when I get the pack off, hopefully I'll have Sat. and Sunday to recoop.  Where I work is very understanding if I miss so that's okay.  I'm ready to go back and start being a little more active.  It's a desk job but just to get out of the house will help I'm sure. 

  • Coloncancerblows
    Coloncancerblows Member Posts: 296 Member
    #12
    maglets said:

    CYN

    there you go!!!! you did it....proud of you.  I think in some ways that first one is so bad just because you are nervous and do not know what to expect.  Symptoms may get worse and may not but you have numero uno down and behind you.  Sometimes on chemo the taste of water will start to not appeal....then you get to be creative with all sorts of room temp things to drink...like adding a little lemon or lime or soda.  Some people have found ginger ale and some others have like orange soda....but AA is right....the nurses always told me that the patients who stay hydrated do way better.....

    all the very best and a big hug.....mags

    Thanks Mags.  I heard the

    Thanks Mags.  I heard the water taste could get worse later.  We've got lots of juices and gatorade so I'll probably hit those later.  Got to remember to keep them out of the fridge though.  One down, 11 more to go! 

  • Coloncancerblows
    Coloncancerblows Member Posts: 296 Member
    #13
    wts said:

    I'm on the same schedule. I

    I'm on the same schedule. I get unhooked tomorrow at 2:30. I get some other meds today and my pump refilled. I'm on treatment 5.  The drinking enough is what I have issues with. I always drink cold stuff but not now! Ussually I can drink cold drinks again around the Wed-Fri after I'm unhooked. I just get really tired the Friday I get unhooked and am tired over the weekend.

    There are a bunch of us on

    There are a bunch of us on the same schedule!  Have you noticed you always get tired on the Friday they unhook it or just the later treatments?  I hate not being able to drink cold drinks.  I'm going to miss my Coke iccee's!! 

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #14
    Coloncancerblows said:

    Ana,
    I'm a big water drink

    Ana,

    I'm a big water drink anyway so have been chugging that down.  Don't want to get dehydrated.  I ended up buying a Brita water bottle and have been filling it with lukewarm tap water so that's helping a lot.

    Water, water everywhere...

    nor any drop to drink. (The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. Samule Taylor Coleridge)

    I pop my filtered water in the microwave for 30 seconds. Perfect!

    I also drink hot milk, hot apple juice with mulled spices, hot Cranberry juice with Allspice berried and cinnamon.  

    I find that having a selection of different hot drinks to choose from helps me keep my fluids up.

     

  • tommycat
    tommycat Member Posts: 790 Member
    #15
    One down---one at a time, and that's what counts

    Yay for you!!!!! Now the "what to expect" feeling is over, and you can get rid of that anxiety for the next visit.

    I too was dx Stage 3 rectal, and that was in Spring 2009. I am currently NED (no evidence of disease) so I can say that it was all worth it.

    I hope the whole process is as easy on you as it can be. Keep in mind that some days may feel like one step forward, two steps back, but in the end, you are making progress :)

    Your Friend in California~

    Tommycat

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #16
    Coloncancerblows said:

    There are a bunch of us on

    There are a bunch of us on the same schedule!  Have you noticed you always get tired on the Friday they unhook it or just the later treatments?  I hate not being able to drink cold drinks.  I'm going to miss my Coke iccee's!! 

    Here and there

    My first treatment I didn't get tired intil the Saturday. The second, I got tired on the Thrusday so I was expecting that today, but instead I am full of energy. 

    Variety is the spice of life, so play around with hot drinks that take you fancy. As you can see by my post above, I love to use spices in my juices. I've pulled out my Christmas Wassail recipes.

    The heartburn is definitely the worst side effect for me. Metal mouth and fuzzy tongue isn't nice, but oh, how I could live without the heartburn, especially at night. 

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #17
    A few more suggestions

    Get in the habit now of rinsing yourmouth frequently with warm water into which you've added about a tsp of equal parts salt/baking soda.  This will help to avoid mouth sores.  I did that at least 4 times a day, both during and between chemo cycles.  Mouth sores are no fun.

    I also found using plastic utensils or wooden chopsticks were easier on my cold-sensitive hands than metal flatware.

    For the "First Bite" syndrome, I'd take a pea-sized bit of bread or tapioca - just something to get past the pain (which was equally bad no matter how large a bite of food.)  It's easier to spit out, if need be (if the pain is too severe, which mine was.)

    Good luck!  You'll do fine with this, tho it's no fun.  We'll all be cheering you on.

     

  • Coloncancerblows
    Coloncancerblows Member Posts: 296 Member
    #18
    Trubrit said:

    Water, water everywhere...

    nor any drop to drink. (The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. Samule Taylor Coleridge)

    I pop my filtered water in the microwave for 30 seconds. Perfect!

    I also drink hot milk, hot apple juice with mulled spices, hot Cranberry juice with Allspice berried and cinnamon.  

    I find that having a selection of different hot drinks to choose from helps me keep my fluids up.

     

    Good idea about the hots

    Good idea about the hots drinks.  I love Sleepytime tea at night.

  • Coloncancerblows
    Coloncancerblows Member Posts: 296 Member
    #19
    Trubrit said:

    Here and there

    My first treatment I didn't get tired intil the Saturday. The second, I got tired on the Thrusday so I was expecting that today, but instead I am full of energy. 

    Variety is the spice of life, so play around with hot drinks that take you fancy. As you can see by my post above, I love to use spices in my juices. I've pulled out my Christmas Wassail recipes.

    The heartburn is definitely the worst side effect for me. Metal mouth and fuzzy tongue isn't nice, but oh, how I could live without the heartburn, especially at night. 

    I have definitely experienced

    I have definitely experienced the fuzzy tongue.  Does that hang around forever?  I'd rather have heartburn than the nausea though.  Hope I don't get either.  At the clinic, the nurse said there is one lady on Folfox and has had like 10 treatments and not one single symptom.  I want to be her!  lol

  • Coloncancerblows
    Coloncancerblows Member Posts: 296 Member
    #20
    tommycat said:

    One down---one at a time, and that's what counts

    Yay for you!!!!! Now the "what to expect" feeling is over, and you can get rid of that anxiety for the next visit.

    I too was dx Stage 3 rectal, and that was in Spring 2009. I am currently NED (no evidence of disease) so I can say that it was all worth it.

    I hope the whole process is as easy on you as it can be. Keep in mind that some days may feel like one step forward, two steps back, but in the end, you are making progress :)

    Your Friend in California~

    Tommycat

    Tommycat,
    Thank you.  So

    Tommycat,

    Thank you.  So happy for you that you're NED!!  Kiss

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #21
    Coloncancerblows said:

    I have definitely experienced

    I have definitely experienced the fuzzy tongue.  Does that hang around forever?  I'd rather have heartburn than the nausea though.  Hope I don't get either.  At the clinic, the nurse said there is one lady on Folfox and has had like 10 treatments and not one single symptom.  I want to be her!  lol

    Fizzy tongue

    My tongue clears up about five or six days after treatment so far. What happens as the treatments progress reamains to be seen. 

    I take my vitals and look at my tongue every day. I also keep a notebook, jot down what I'm experiencing.  I've been keeping a video diary too (love my Apple), good days and bad. 

    I want to be that lady your nurse told you about. I wonder what her secret is. 

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