chemo starts today

NEDbound
NEDbound Member Posts: 54
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Hello all!

I have my first Folfox treatment today.  Doing modified folfox 6.  Hoping for low side effects.

Here goes nothin,

Summer

Comments

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,428 Member
    #2
    Best Wishes Summer

    Take it one day at a time, you will be fine.  It is amazing, I mapped out my 12 sessions ahead of time on the calender and it looked like forever, but before you know it, it is done.

  • DD3
    DD3 Member Posts: 136 Member
    #3
    I

    wish you all the best.  Chemo is never fun, hoping for a easy ride for you.

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #4
    DD3 said:

    I

    wish you all the best.  Chemo is never fun, hoping for a easy ride for you.

    I hope you don't have bad

    I hope you don't have bad side effects. That was the worst part. And I hope it's successful!

  • vtspa6
    vtspa6 Member Posts: 172 Member
    #5
    You and my husband can

    You and my husband can compare notes during this, he just had his second treatment yesterday.  Will you be attached to a chemo pump for a few days after leaving the chair?  They say it is better this way because of less side effects, but I am not so sure.  With Tim, both times his face got very red, felt hot with chills, not hungry and upset stomach and of course sleepy.  He starts feeling better around 3 to 4 days after pump removed.  Thank goodness there are days in this that he does feel fine. 

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,428 Member
    #6
    vtspa6 said:

    You and my husband can

    You and my husband can compare notes during this, he just had his second treatment yesterday.  Will you be attached to a chemo pump for a few days after leaving the chair?  They say it is better this way because of less side effects, but I am not so sure.  With Tim, both times his face got very red, felt hot with chills, not hungry and upset stomach and of course sleepy.  He starts feeling better around 3 to 4 days after pump removed.  Thank goodness there are days in this that he does feel fine. 

    Some Extra Drugs Maybe?

    I had some steroids (do not remember which) and Ativan as part of the hook-up at the hospital before leaving with the pump for two days.  They seemed to help with nausea and also with energy.  The crash for me came about a day and a half after disconnect.  (Really kicked in about 4th treatment and would last about 3 days.)  The drugs also helped with the nausea.  I also had the pills which helped with the nausea.  If I felt a bit queasy, would pop one right away and it would help.  Started popping ahead of the curve (even before nausea), and was pretty lucky.

    Not hungry is part of it, and for me the first week was more of an issue.  Found some things to eat, like Graham Crackers and Ginger Snaps, and would try to eat no matter what.  Second week was pig out time :)  

     

  • NEDbound
    NEDbound Member Posts: 54
    #7
    vtspa6 said:

    You and my husband can

    You and my husband can compare notes during this, he just had his second treatment yesterday.  Will you be attached to a chemo pump for a few days after leaving the chair?  They say it is better this way because of less side effects, but I am not so sure.  With Tim, both times his face got very red, felt hot with chills, not hungry and upset stomach and of course sleepy.  He starts feeling better around 3 to 4 days after pump removed.  Thank goodness there are days in this that he does feel fine. 

    pump

    Yes, I have a pump as well.  Trying to figure out what I will do with it when I am working.  Sounds like Tim had pretty bad side effects.  When did he get red, hot and chills?  Did he do treatments every other week?

  • NEDbound
    NEDbound Member Posts: 54
    #8
    NewHere said:

    Some Extra Drugs Maybe?

    I had some steroids (do not remember which) and Ativan as part of the hook-up at the hospital before leaving with the pump for two days.  They seemed to help with nausea and also with energy.  The crash for me came about a day and a half after disconnect.  (Really kicked in about 4th treatment and would last about 3 days.)  The drugs also helped with the nausea.  I also had the pills which helped with the nausea.  If I felt a bit queasy, would pop one right away and it would help.  Started popping ahead of the curve (even before nausea), and was pretty lucky.

    Not hungry is part of it, and for me the first week was more of an issue.  Found some things to eat, like Graham Crackers and Ginger Snaps, and would try to eat no matter what.  Second week was pig out time :)  

     

    side effects

    I have zofran at home.  My infusion nurse suggested taking it preventatively over the next few days to a week.  I'll probably heed her advice. When you "crashed"  what happened?  Severe fatigue, or more things?

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,428 Member
    #9
    NEDbound said:

    side effects

    I have zofran at home.  My infusion nurse suggested taking it preventatively over the next few days to a week.  I'll probably heed her advice. When you "crashed"  what happened?  Severe fatigue, or more things?

    Yup Zofran

    That is what I had as pills.  Took them a bit proactively because they said heading it off at the pass would be a good idea.  I never was severely nauseous, just queasy sometimes.  "Crashing" was faitgue/tired.  When I was on the pump I was not bad at all.  A bit more tired the day of the hook-up, but that may be in part of long days, going to NYC (and if traffic was bad, urgh), waiting, getting vitals done, waiting, having port accessed and bloods drawn, waiting, seeing the Onc, waiting, well you get the idea ;)

    I would get tired a day after disconnect a bit, but two days it would hit.  The first 4 or 5 sessions not horrible, around the 6th I had a couple of times when I slept 36 out of 48 hours or more.  Usually got disconnected on Weds afternoons, started getting the tired feeling late Friday and would "come out of it" Monday.  Though that seemed to abate later on, around treatment 9 or so, though I am still tired and nap.  Was told that it may take another 4-6 months for fatigue to dissapate.  Neouropathy, hopefully start clearing in 2 months or so.  Keep an eye on the neuorpathy and make sure to let your Onc know if you start getting it.  I am pretty sure I mentioned this before, but just in case, it seems the Ox is what really does this.  MY Onc started me with 5FU without that Ox to see if anything happened with 5FU, then was going to aim for the next 9 sessions (sessions 2-10) with the Ox, he says the incremental cancer benefits are outweighed, in his opinion, about the nueorpathy risk in more than 9 sessions.  Just something to keep in mind.  And I am really happy he stopped after 8 sessions when I started ramping up on neuropathy.  

    There are days where it is real difficult to write, get money or credit card out of wallet, button shirt.  Typing also can be a bear, but my laptop at the right angle is not too bad.  Go figure :)

    Again, in the grand scheme of things, I hope anyone who has chemo has it no worse than I did.  

    Cannot wait until you post on your last disconnect day, it is great :)

  • vtspa6
    vtspa6 Member Posts: 172 Member
    #10
    NEDbound said:

    pump

    Yes, I have a pump as well.  Trying to figure out what I will do with it when I am working.  Sounds like Tim had pretty bad side effects.  When did he get red, hot and chills?  Did he do treatments every other week?

    Tim gets these symptoms as

    Tim gets these symptoms as soon as we get home from the treatment and keeps them until a couple of days after the pump is disconnected.  Each day is a little less sickness but not by much.  His treatments are every other week.

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,428 Member
    #11
    vtspa6 said:

    Tim gets these symptoms as

    Tim gets these symptoms as soon as we get home from the treatment and keeps them until a couple of days after the pump is disconnected.  Each day is a little less sickness but not by much.  His treatments are every other week.

    Yup

    FOLFOX is every other week.  Go to place to get infused.  Get pumped attached.  Wear it 46 hours (give or take).  Disconnect and repeat.  Eventually it settles in to a pattern.  Check for the items I mentioned sbove, steroids and Avitan may help.

    Hang in there.

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