the plan

Good ol' FOLFOX - yup, been there, done that and live to tell

They will probably give you a steroid based nausea drug which keeps nausea at bay, and gives you a huge appetite. You'll feel rotten for 3/4 days after the treatment but then you will wake up on day 5 and want to eat a horse.

You're smart to ask about weight - it's very important to eat well and take in good nutrition while on chemo. Chemo alters ones matabolism, you'll need a lot more good calories to stay health enough to withstand the chemo. So pamper your body w/ good nutrition!

I started off on a largely vegetarian diet but quickly gave it up because my blood sign began to fall after 4 treatments. I added high quality protein like eggs and organic chicken white meat, not only I began to gain weight, my blood got healthy on its own, without nupogen! So eating well is really important.

Good luck to you!

Cheers,
Ying

Hi Cherriann,
I will be starting my 5th cycle of Folfox/Avastin on Sept. 11. So far the side effects haven't been that bad. I have not lost any weight. The first 3-5 days I note that I get more easily fatigued and the intolerance to cold liquids/food and the cold sensitivity in the hands and feet. I do have a very mild peripheral neuropathy most noticeable in the fingertips which has been persistent. I am taking magnesium, calcium, vit B6, vit E, vit C and beta carotene. I have not been as good with my diet as most of the others. I had diarrhea after the first cycle but none since. The mild nausea is helped by eating small amounts frequently. If I am going out to dinner the first week I usually will take an antinausea med.
Good luck, the not knowing is the hard part. It is tolerable but not something I look forward to every two weeks ( but this week we am going to New York to visit our son so I am skipping a week of chemo-hooray).
****

I didn't lose any weight thru chemo. I was tired on occasion a few days after chemo. On the night of chemo I was wired and often couldn't sleep but only on the first night.

Hi,
this is for Patricia, and Cherriann, I hope it helps both of you. I don't post that often.. but I do check in every once in a while... I am a Stage IV cancer survivor. I was dx in July 2003. I underwent the Folfox treatment with a port.. which thank God.. I am glad to have, the best decision I ever made... I had continuos treatment with the pump 24/7 for 6 weeks along with radiation.. then.. I had a month break, and then 6 mos of 5Fu, leukovorin, and oxillaplatin. I slept with the pump on a pillow next to me, and took a shower while my husband held it outside the shower. I never lost my hair, only thinned a bit. Never got sick, was able to have a near normal life... lol.. and did have the sensitivity to cold from the oxilliplatin.. so I only drank warm things, and used oven mits when I had to go in my fridge.. I live in PA and took my regimine in the winter too.. so cover your face and mouth with a scarf in the cold weather. It was all so worth it, I have been friends with NED since May 2004, and I continue to be blessed. I had my colostomy for 18 mos, and had it reversed with no problems. I still have my port, but am having it out in Sept. So.. everyone is different.. but I wanted to tell you my experience... good luck to both of you... and I'm sure with your positive attitude which pays an important part.. you girls will do fine... If you want to know more about me, my web page is Everyday is a Gift. So good luck, and just like SpongeBob said... Singe the beast!

Gail