Stopping Folfox after 8?

Basically same thoughts - I had severe neuropathy; didn't yet have chemo brain; markers showed nothing, and I was told we'd never know if the chemo was of benefit to me.  I quit before symptoms got worse (and there are studies to see if fewer treatments are as effective.)

Yes, my cancer came back, but I don't think that the chemo would have changed that.

PM me if you want to discuss my thought processes.

Alice

My oncologist(s) said each bit of the cocktail in FOLFOX helps a bit, with the Oxaliplatin helping a few percentage points.  They also said that even though they go for 12 treatments, they hope for a minimum of 8 with the Oxaliplatin but no more than 10 with the Oxaliplatin due to the risk of neuropathy outweighing the benefit of vis a vis curtailing the cancer.  

Outside the U.S. there are places that only go for three months and studies (like zx10guy mentioned) are ongoing to perhaps change that in the U.S.  The trials have been going on awhile, including when I was in chemo in the Summer of 2015.

Speak it over with you oncologist, maybe drop the Ox.  Note that it is not linear (according to my doc).  He called that part off for me when the neuropathy failed to resolve between my treatments.  I found myself tired about 2/3rds through when the steroids wore off, which was about 2 days after the disconnect.  Then I would crash.  But otherwise I was doing a lot of things, including going to ballgames and walking miles around the park.  (Stage IVB, 11 out of 21 Lymph nodes)

Sorry that you have joined our little group of Cancer patients and caregivers. 

I had nine FOLFOX treatments almost four years ago. I still have neuroptathy, mostly in my legs and feet, but diminished feeling in my finger tips and lack of strength in my hands. 

Sadly, I had a terribly hard time with the brain fog, which has never quite gone away. I get confused very quickly. 

Best to keep a keen eye on how you are reacting to your treatments. 

I hope you are able to make a decision that you feel comfortable with. I also hope that you are well for your upcoming work trip.  

Tru

AmaP3 said:

Quit after 7

Sorry to hear you've had a recurrence. I tell my family that recurrence is fairly likely no matter what I do, but I know it will be tough if it happens. I think 7 or 8 rounds of full-dose Folfox is good enough. I know I'm no oncologist, and I may be pushing toward getting off just because I'm sick of the whole routine. But, I really think I've reached a happy medium among all of the opinions out there. 

I'm curious, did your neuropathy decrease or disappear?

But never went away completely. I've found insoles that work for me (and are no longer available) and ice last some fine motor skills,  but nothing serious.  At this point!, I live a full normal life, fully active. 

There is a balance to consider : are the potentially permanent side effects from treatment and their potential  impact on quality of life worth it in the grand scheme of things. Only you can make that decision for yourself. You need to be comfortable with wh a terrible additional rounds of chemo may be buying you. In my case, my on X gated up front th a time the chemo might provide no benefit at all, but he wanted to try it nonetheless.  When I decided to stop,my Dr's did not try to dissuade me..

Additional note:  my recurrence was treated surgically (as much as possible).  I also had Intraperitoneal Chemo again, but couldn't tolerate it to complete.  Because of where/how my recurrence occured, I didn't even consider systemic chemo/folfox again.

I can tell you that I have fought this mess for the past 11 years and still continue to fight it.  They prescribed 12 rounds of FOLFOX in 2006 but I stopped after 10.  The cancer returned in 2013 and they presribed another 12 rounds of FOLFOX along with irrenatikin and avastin and an additional 1-1/2 years of avastin after the initial treatments.  I stopped this mix after 10 rounds as well but continued the avastin for the prescribed additional 1-1/2 years.  Now it appears that the cancer may be returning (tests tomorrow) so I really don't know if the 12 treatment regiment is better than the 10.  Most likely I am facing another 12 rounds of FOLFOX beginning in July even though my doctor says there is no data past the 8 treatment to support going the full 12.  Probably not much help

I had 8 rounds of chemo then maintainence chemo.  The doctor at the local clinic ordered 12 rounds of Oxaliplatin and 5FU, but when I consulted with Axel Grothey at Mayo Clinic, he said that 8 rounds would be just as effective and would reduce the possibility of longterm neuropathy.  I had stage 4 with tumors in my liver and lungs.  I was told surgery was not an option for me, so am on maintainence chemo for the rest of my life.  I get Avastin infusions every 3 weeks and take Xeloda tablets for 14 days, then 7 off.

My tumors continued to shrink and the colon tumor even dissappeared while on the xeloda.  I had 2 procedures to get rid of the tumors in my liver (Ablation and therespheres).  I still have some small lung tumors and will find out this summer if they will do anything for them.  They were so small the doctors think the chemo has killed them all, but a couple still showed up on the scan in January.  

All this to stay alive longer.  My doctors have all told me I cannot be cured, and that even if I get rid of all the visible tumors, that because I am Stage 4 "it always comes back".

Good luck and God Bless you!

Joan  

I did 8 rounds of folfox for my CRC with mets to the liver.  My onco stopped the regimen and now I am only doing the oxaliplatin component plus xeloda after there were further mets to my lungs.  I also did cetuximab and TACE as an adjunct to my treatment regimen.