Started FOLFOX - Questions

You have the typical side effects of Folfox. Try to ménage the constipation with diet if doesn't work ask your doctor. Don't go more than 3 days without stool. The jolt in the jaw is common. The fingertip sensitivity also, avoid touching clod things with your bare hands. This may happen in your throat too, so avoid cold drinks.

One part of the folfox will dry your hands and feet out line crazy. You need to moisterize 3-4 a day. I like Bio-oil from constco, but try other things too.

Recurrance? It's out of our hands. We can only hope. But sounds like you have a good chance by being Stage 2. Follow good diet, healthy life style, positive attitude and follow your doctors instructions.

I wish you all the best,

Laz

We're sorry you had to join us, but now that you're here, we're happy to help you in any way we can.

You will find a ton of wonderful advice to help you on your journey.

As my friends in the posts above said, the jaw shock and fingertip sensation are both normal. For me, they disappeared after the fourth of fifth treatment, sadly to be replaced by something else. 

We all experience different side effects though. 

I too had constipation. For me, Shredded Wheat was my biggest friend, and still are, and Carrots too. I found constipation to be terribly scary (still do) because that is how I found out I had coloerctal cancer. 

Drinking water is a positive, I'm glad you are doing that.

I think you will find out what works best for your body if you experiment with different foods. 

I kept a daily record of everything I went through during treatment. My vitals (weight, blood pressure, temperature), my bowel movements (frequency, consistency), pretty much anything my body did I wrote down, and if I had questions about certain things then I'd ask my Oncologist. Nothing was out of bounds, no matter how small or insignificant it seemed. 

Again, its been mentioned above, moisterize hands and feet regularly, as the foot and hand syndrome can be very uncomfortable. 

Another thing you may want to do, is rinse your mouth out about four times a day (twice at the least) with a mixture of warm water mixed with baking soda and salt. Its a godsend when those mouth ulcers start raising their ugly heads. And if you don't get mouth ulcers, well, you've lost nothing.  I used 1 cup warm water, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/8 teaspoon salt.

Reoccurance is a huge weight on my mind (I'm stage 3B), but its something I need to live with, and as Laz said, pretty much out of our hands if it happens or not. I plan on enjoying the time I have, though I'd be lying if I said that it doesn't worry me. I just don't let it consume me. 

Be sure and visit us often. You're amongst the finest of people. 

Good luck!

Just wanted to wish you a welcome but sorry you had to join us.  All the symptoms that you have experienced are normal.  You will find a lot of knowledge here and people will help you get through this.  The chemo is nasty but if it can get out those pesky left over cells you will go through that just to get rid of it.  I'm wishing you the best going forward and come here with any questions.  As far as constipation the doctor can help with something or maybe even something OTC.  Hope you feel better soon.

Kim

Lots of good advice here, so not much to add, except for this:

it's totally normal to fear recurrence, whatever stage you might be.  But I think that with the passage of time, you will find that this fear gradually moves to the back of the mind.  It may never go away fully, but the longer you stay healthy (and as a stage 2, it's very likely you will stay healthy!), the less you will have this fear.

This is just imo, of course, everyone is different.  But I've found that, for me, now 2 years out from my last surgery (after multiple recurrences), the constant fear and worry is finally muted.  Not gone, but a lot less overwhelming than it once was.

Cancer is serious, life-changing stuff.  You are going to have strong emotions around it, including fear.  I don't think there's any way to avoid that in the short-term.  But in the long-term, things will get better!

Hugs and strength coming your way~AA

PS On a more practical note, when the fear got to be too much for me, I would walk, watch distracting (=stupid) TV, find a good book to read, talk to a counselor, take an anti-anxiety med (these can really be a great tool, esp in the early, adjustment stages of this journey)...you can find what works for you!

TheLadySkye said:

Thank You

Thank you all for sharing your experiences.  I had my first post-chemo doc visit today and had a bit of scariness when some swelling in my leg resulted in some rather panicked tests about a possible blood clot.  Thankfully that came back negative, although they still don't know what's causing it.  The doppler showed no clots or pockets of fluid, but a good bit of soft tissue swelling.  Doc doesn't think it's the steroid or any of the meds in particular, so it remains a mystery that will hopefully resolve on it's own in short order.  

 

Second treatment on Monday.  Scary stuff

Watch the pain pills. They constipated you.  Keep child suppositories handy. I got the WORST constipation.   Hurt so bad.  Insert them and rest about 10 minutes. They should have you going.  Used mirilax or Decolax.    Food will start to taste horrible. I had to eat bland food.  Like a quesadilla of fried potatoes in a little oil and made a flour tortilla burrito. That was all I could eat. I did juice my veggIes.  Warm temp lemonaide and chamollie tea were my drinks. No Ice! 

I wish you the best.   In a hurry now but feel free to instant message me with any questions. 

Big hug.