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

Comments

  • db8ne1
    db8ne1 Member Posts: 142 Member
    #2
    Updates appreciated

    Hi, Cyn.

    Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. 

    I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in early December 2012.  I just finished 6 weeks of daily (5 days a week) 5FU and Radiation.  I'm scheduled for more tests over the next few weeks and looking at surgery late March/early April.  Then 6 months of more chemo - likely Folfox.  So, I'm interested to hear all about your experiences.  Please keep us all updated! 

    I wish you well on this journey and will keep you in my prayers.

    Jen

  • Coloncancerblows
    Coloncancerblows Member Posts: 296 Member
    #3
    db8ne1 said:

    Updates appreciated

    Hi, Cyn.

    Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. 

    I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in early December 2012.  I just finished 6 weeks of daily (5 days a week) 5FU and Radiation.  I'm scheduled for more tests over the next few weeks and looking at surgery late March/early April.  Then 6 months of more chemo - likely Folfox.  So, I'm interested to hear all about your experiences.  Please keep us all updated! 

    I wish you well on this journey and will keep you in my prayers.

    Jen

    Hi Jen,
    So sorry about your

    Hi Jen,

    So sorry about your diagnosis.  Are you getting the chemo and radiation first to shrink the tumor before they do surgery?  They thought they were going to have to do that with me but it turns out they didn't.  I get my treatments every two weeks and go home with the fanny pack which runs for 46 hours.  It's a little inconvenient but manageable.  I've only had one session and get the next one the 27th.  The first couple of days I wore the pack were fine but the day I got it off was when the nausea kicked in.  Threw up a few times and then it was pretty much over.  Amazingly, after I threw up I felt a lot better and was able to eat some soup.  The weird thing is the first day the pack came off, I slept almost 19 hours straight!  The second day it was off I slept another 17 hours.  And I was able to sleep with the fanny pack on so it wasn't like I was lacking sleep.  Day 3 the pack came off was completely normal and I was eating and acting like myself again.  Every day after that got better and better.  So.....now I'm waiting until next week to see how the second session goes.  Good luck on your upcoming tests and I'll be praying for you too.

    Hugs,

    Cyn

  • wts
    wts Member Posts: 40 Member
    #4
    db8ne1 said:

    Updates appreciated

    Hi, Cyn.

    Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. 

    I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in early December 2012.  I just finished 6 weeks of daily (5 days a week) 5FU and Radiation.  I'm scheduled for more tests over the next few weeks and looking at surgery late March/early April.  Then 6 months of more chemo - likely Folfox.  So, I'm interested to hear all about your experiences.  Please keep us all updated! 

    I wish you well on this journey and will keep you in my prayers.

    Jen

    I was diagnosed in June 2012.

    I was diagnosed in June 2012. getting ready for my 6th treatment of Folfox. The 5FU treatments went pretty well. No issues with Radiation. My surgeries went great as well. Folfox isn't very nice to me but I still work but miss a day every now and then to rest.

  • YoVita
    YoVita Member Posts: 590 Member
    #5
    You go girl!

    One down - on your way.  I took anti-anxiety or anti-nausea pills at the first sign - that helped me.  

    Best, Vita

  • swordranch
    swordranch Member Posts: 35
    #6
    db8ne1 said:

    Updates appreciated

    Hi, Cyn.

    Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. 

    I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in early December 2012.  I just finished 6 weeks of daily (5 days a week) 5FU and Radiation.  I'm scheduled for more tests over the next few weeks and looking at surgery late March/early April.  Then 6 months of more chemo - likely Folfox.  So, I'm interested to hear all about your experiences.  Please keep us all updated! 

    I wish you well on this journey and will keep you in my prayers.

    Jen

    Jen

    Hi Jen!  You sound like you are on the same regime that I have been.  I am on the very last post-surgery chemo as we speak.  Let's talk!  How did the 5FU treat you during your first chemo?  Mine was no problem, just the diarreah and radiation burns.  Have not been nauseated at all during the last 7 months but had to figure out quickly what to eat and when to eat it.  First thing stay hydrated and go into your treatments very well hydrated and very well rested. I had treatments starting on Tuesday was good till Friday then had a couple of days of pain, feels like back labor, was better if I watched really carefully what I eat, for me it was never let my stomach get empty but never let it get too full.  Good ol' Kraft mac and cheese and bacon were the best for me.  The farther I got into the treatments the less careful I had to be, just had to be prepared that it may cause the pain to stretch into another day.  A little less energy as I got farther into it better if I am able to get out and get lots of fresh air and out of the house here on the ranch.  The biggest irritation that I have is the neuropathy and I was very careful with the cold...it still seems to be possibly permanent.  My best suggestion is to get reiki therapy, hypnosis and acupuncture for stress, relaxation and neuropathy relief.  The best things I could have done for myself!

    Laura

    diagnosed March 1, 2012, pre-surgery chemo/radiation March/May 2012, Radical APR, permanent ostomy July 11, 2012, post-surgery chemo (5FU, leucovorin, oxcilliplatin) August 2012/Feb 28th,2013.

     

  • gizzyluv
    gizzyluv Member Posts: 143
    #7
    Jason starts his chemo

    Jason starts his chemo treatments Monday. Sounds like he's gonna be on the same thing as you, so I'm really glad I can come here for references along the way, because I know there are gonna be so many questions, so many side effects, etc. so it's good to know we will have people who are going through it at the same time. (just sad that any of you are having to go through it PERIOD) I really dread it because it kills me to see him suffering, but on the other hand I can't wait for it to start because I know (I pray) he will have the outcome we're all hoping for & the tumor will begin to shrink, which will relieve a lot of his discomfort & (again, I pray) the surgeon will then be able to go in & take the tumor out. I'll be praying for all of you & please do the same for Jason.....Take care & God Bless, Kris

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #8
    Two down?

    How did your second treatment go? 

    I've been thinking of you. 

    Pretty soon you'll catch me up, as my fourth chemo session was cancelled because of low White Blood Count (WBC). 

  • gizzyluv
    gizzyluv Member Posts: 143
    #9
    Trubrit said:

    Two down?

    How did your second treatment go? 

    I've been thinking of you. 

    Pretty soon you'll catch me up, as my fourth chemo session was cancelled because of low White Blood Count (WBC). 

    Hey! I'm sure you probably

    Hey! I'm sure you probably already know this, but I was talking to my nieces husband who is a medical researcher & he said for us to be prepared to have setbacks like that when Jason starts his treatments. He said not to let it surprise us if he has to reschedule his chemo appts sometimes because of low WBC....he said it doesn't mean it isn't working, it means it IS! He said the chemo is pretty much going in determined to "Kick some cancer A**", so if it goes a little too far (which is a good thing) that he will have a drop in WBC, but it's just a delay, not a bad thing, or not an indication that anything is really wrong. (other than the obvious, of course) Like I said, I'm sure you know this already, but thought I'd share it just in case. Hope you all are doing well! ((((HUGS))))) to you all! Kris

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #10
    gizzyluv said:

    Hey! I'm sure you probably

    Hey! I'm sure you probably already know this, but I was talking to my nieces husband who is a medical researcher & he said for us to be prepared to have setbacks like that when Jason starts his treatments. He said not to let it surprise us if he has to reschedule his chemo appts sometimes because of low WBC....he said it doesn't mean it isn't working, it means it IS! He said the chemo is pretty much going in determined to "Kick some cancer A**", so if it goes a little too far (which is a good thing) that he will have a drop in WBC, but it's just a delay, not a bad thing, or not an indication that anything is really wrong. (other than the obvious, of course) Like I said, I'm sure you know this already, but thought I'd share it just in case. Hope you all are doing well! ((((HUGS))))) to you all! Kris

    WOW!

    I didn't know that, Kris.

    Thank you for passing on the information. 

  • hippiechicks
    hippiechicks Member Posts: 509 Member
    #11
    Trubrit said:

    WOW!

    I didn't know that, Kris.

    Thank you for passing on the information. 

    Often if the low WBC becomes

    Often if the low WBC becomes a pattern, they will give a Nulasta shot after treatments to boost the counts up.  It is a fairly normal thing to happen from what I gather...I had to have a shot for 11 of 12 treatments.

    Good luck to you!

  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #12
    hope it goes great

    Hope it goes GREAT for you!

     

    *hugs*

    Gail

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #13
    hippiechicks said:

    Often if the low WBC becomes

    Often if the low WBC becomes a pattern, they will give a Nulasta shot after treatments to boost the counts up.  It is a fairly normal thing to happen from what I gather...I had to have a shot for 11 of 12 treatments.

    Good luck to you!

    Me too!

    Yes, Hippie, I will be having Neupogen shots five days a week after each chemo session from now on. 

    At least I can get them here in my little rural town.

    Thanks!

    - SUE -

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