FLOX Anyone?

I did FOLFOX but I've never heard of FLOX.

There are so many different chemo cocktails, I'm sure someone here will know. 

I am sorry that your mum has reached this point. You are both in my thoughts and prayers. 

I'm thinking it must be FOLFOX too.  I wonder if your mom would be eligible for a clinical trial?  There are some promising things in the works, and in most you have to have failed the 1st and 2nd line regimens, so she might be eligible.

herdizziness said:

FLOX

 

How FLOX chemotherapy is given and possible side effects.

FLOX for the treatment of Colon Cancer

FLOX is the acronym for a chemotherapy regimen used in the treatment of colon cancer.

Drugs in the FLOX combination:

F = Fluorouracil

L = Leucovorin

OX = Oxaliplatin

Chemotherapy is often given as a combination of drugs. Combinations usually work better than single drugs because different drugs kill cancer cells in different ways.

MOST COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF FLOX

• Nausea & Vomiting

• Risk of Infection

• Diarrhea

• Mouth Sores

For more information, see the 'Expert Resources' tab below.

is the same as 5-fu, I believe, so that would also be FOLFOX.  Just never heard of it called FLOX, but one acronym makes as much sense as the other, really.

tanstaafl said:

dose/schedule

flox and folfox(es) are different schedules or dosages of the active ingredients, 5FU, leucovorin and oxaliplatin. Examples snipped from papers:

FLOX 

oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 on day 1, 

bolus 5-FU 500 mg/m2 and FA 60 mg/m2 on day 1 and 2,.... repeated every second week.

 

FOLFOX4  consisted of...

14-day cycles of oxaliplatin 85mg/m(2), 

folinic acid 200 mg/m(2) (DL form) or 100 mg/m(2) (L form) on days 1-2 plus bolus, and fluorouracil 400 mg/m(2) (bolus) and 600 mg/m(2) (continuous 22 h infusion

 

FOLFOX6.... included 

oxaliplatin 100 mg/m2 and folinic acid 400 mg/m2 on day 1 followed by a 

5-FU bolus 400 mg/m2 and a 

46-hour infusion of 3000 mg/m2 every 2 weeks

thanks for the clarification!

Meowycat said:

I love you all!

WoW! Thanks for the love, research and clarifications eveyone. Mom had the first session of Flox yesterday ( onc also added Avastin) so we will see what happens. The wrench in all of this is that she is also on 31 days of IV and oral antibiotics for her jaw infection. Hope she does not crash.

Even funnier is that Dad and I are administering her IV Vanco. Imagine two muppets in charge of flushing your lines!

Thanks for picking me up and getting me back on my feet with all your support. Was feeling tired and down but much better now.

Huggies,

Nellie

 

Just reading about the antibiotics raised a red flag.  Have your mom watch out for diarrhea that has a very distinct odor and consistency, which may be c-diff.  You can get it from antibiotics or catch it while your immune system is low (4-7 days after chemo).  IV Vanco can both cause and treat C-diff.  It's nothing to mess around with.  She should call the onc at first diarrhea if she gets it.  If you take immodium while having c-diff, it can cause a very serious situation with your bowels.

Good luck to your mom

Linda

LindaK. said:

Watch out for c-diff

Just reading about the antibiotics raised a red flag.  Have your mom watch out for diarrhea that has a very distinct odor and consistency, which may be c-diff.  You can get it from antibiotics or catch it while your immune system is low (4-7 days after chemo).  IV Vanco can both cause and treat C-diff.  It's nothing to mess around with.  She should call the onc at first diarrhea if she gets it.  If you take immodium while having c-diff, it can cause a very serious situation with your bowels.

Good luck to your mom

Linda

if it was me.  You can find the refrigerated sort at Whole Foods, or at health food/supplement stores.  Getting the gut bacteria out of whack can lead to a whole host of other problems.