Clinical trials

vchildbeloved
vchildbeloved Member Posts: 133
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi, Valerie here.
DX 4/2008 with stage III colon cancer with 1 positive lymph node, had surgery and about to undergo chemo with 5 FU, oxaliplatin, and leucovorin. Thought that I would be chosen for the trial drug erbitux, but found out today that I wasn't. Has that happened to anyone else and did you feel a little deprived or like a part of something that could possibly help was denied?

Comments

  • kat1960
    kat1960 Member Posts: 14
    #2
    Hi,
    I didn't feel at all like that because the standard now for Stge III cc (and oxaliplatin isn't very old) is the Oxali,Leucovorin and 5-fu. I have had 5 treatments now and it isn't as terrible as I thought it would be. I heard the side effects from Erbitux can be pretty tough. But that's also what I heard about Oxali. Though my doc said I wouldn't have many side effects I really didn't beleive him until now. My biggest complaint is weak and tired for several days - I can take that before the Big C!
    Everything I've researched on St III agrees on these three drugs. It's scary going in that first time but if you have a good oncologist and chemo nurse they will always be there to talk to.
    Good luck - think of the chemo as little pac-men going around eating up all those bad guys - IF there are any left.
    KathyM
  • vchildbeloved
    vchildbeloved Member Posts: 133
    #3
    kat1960 said:

    Hi,
    I didn't feel at all like that because the standard now for Stge III cc (and oxaliplatin isn't very old) is the Oxali,Leucovorin and 5-fu. I have had 5 treatments now and it isn't as terrible as I thought it would be. I heard the side effects from Erbitux can be pretty tough. But that's also what I heard about Oxali. Though my doc said I wouldn't have many side effects I really didn't beleive him until now. My biggest complaint is weak and tired for several days - I can take that before the Big C!
    Everything I've researched on St III agrees on these three drugs. It's scary going in that first time but if you have a good oncologist and chemo nurse they will always be there to talk to.
    Good luck - think of the chemo as little pac-men going around eating up all those bad guys - IF there are any left.
    KathyM

    Thx Kathy,
    that was very helpful and encouraging. I start my treatment this coming Monday.

    Will keep you in my prayers.

    Valerie
  • apache4
    apache4 Member Posts: 272 Member
    #4
    Welcome to the site although I bet you wish you didn't have to be in the situation. My dx was 6/06 with stage IV, so many tumors in liver, can't count them. After surgery I had that chemo routine and it wasn't 1/2 as bad as I thought it would be. Had some neuropathy from the Oxy, but it is tolerable. It did a great job stablizing my tumors and I even went NED for a couple of months. This combo is lst standard of care for Stage IV. I then had to go back on treatment and did Flofiri which is 5-fu with Irinotecan. Did 7 treatments of that and tumors kept growing so I am now on Avastin, Erbitux and the Irinotecan. Started that yesterday and I have a good feeling about it. Oh! I did have the Avastin with that first treatment, also. You should be fine with what you are going to get. My thoughts are with you...good luck/ Linda
  • apache4
    apache4 Member Posts: 272 Member
    #5
    Welcome to the site although I bet you wish you didn't have to be in the situation. My dx was 6/06 with stage IV, so many tumors in liver, can't count them. After surgery I had that chemo routine and it wasn't 1/2 as bad as I thought it would be. Had some neuropathy from the Oxy, but it is tolerable. It did a great job stablizing my tumors and I even went NED for a couple of months. This combo is lst standard of care for Stage IV. I then had to go back on treatment and did Flofiri which is 5-fu with Irinotecan. Did 7 treatments of that and tumors kept growing so I am now on Avastin, Erbitux and the Irinotecan. Started that yesterday and I have a good feeling about it. Oh! I did have the Avastin with that first treatment, also. You should be fine with what you are going to get. My thoughts are with you...good luck/ Linda
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #6
    Valerie,

    Yup, I had 2 of the 3 you mention...Oxil and 5-FU...I was stage III. With the chemo and radiation, I had no cancer left...but, we didn't know that till after the resection..lol...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • vchildbeloved
    vchildbeloved Member Posts: 133
    #7
    KathiM said:

    Valerie,

    Yup, I had 2 of the 3 you mention...Oxil and 5-FU...I was stage III. With the chemo and radiation, I had no cancer left...but, we didn't know that till after the resection..lol...

    Hugs, Kathi

    Kathy, were there any positive lymph nodes involved? I was told that where mine was located that radiation could not be done. I had 1 out of 18 nodes postive.

    Thx,
    Valerie
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #8
    vchildbeloved said:

    Kathy, were there any positive lymph nodes involved? I was told that where mine was located that radiation could not be done. I had 1 out of 18 nodes postive.

    Thx,
    Valerie

    I had one node that was listed as 'interested'. Not interesting....lol!

    Sometimes rads can't be done, it's true, because of the location of the tumor...mine was actually in the first rectal fold....

    I'm sending good vibes!

    Hugs, kathi
  • doris2657
    doris2657 Member Posts: 38
    #9
    Hi Valerie

    I just did my 2nd treatment on folfox only problem I had was the fatigue and horrible heartburn for the first 2 days after chemo,I was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer onfeb 5th 2008 then on march 18,2008 I had my second surgery for a tumor in my colon come to find out I had colon cancer that had spread to my ovaries and 6 positive lymphnodes,I trust my onc he says my survival chances are 85%,so stay possitive and God Bless you

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