mFOLOX 6 / Avastin chemo (we welcome any advice)

What to expect...
I was on a similar regime 5 years ago, minus the Avastin. I had some nausea during the 48 hours of infusion but felt fairly good for the rest of the 2 weeks. My platelet and wbc counts went down and we had to reduce a few of the doses. It was not as bad as I was expecting. I think I only had two ocassions of hanging over the toilet!

Everyone will have different reactions and side-effects.

It is an effective mix. I hope it goes well.

Rob: in Van

Shayenne said:

Hi Devastated!
I am on Folfiri with Avastin, and like you, am on the pump for 46 hours.

I go to the infusion center, where they draw my blood, and check it to make sure it's ok to get chemo, bring a good book, ipod, or something to do during the chemo take, since it takes a few hours!

I have a numbing cream that was prescribed to me so the needle didn't hurt going into the port, works really good!

They then attach the IV with the Avastin, which takes about 30 minutes, they took the leucovorin and 5fu Bolus push away from me due to mouth sores, but I do get the 1 1/2 hour transfusion of Irinotecan, and then the pump nurse comes and will hook me up to my pump, which will take a few minutes, and I get disconnected on Friday, by a home health nurse, who will take my vitals, and then pull me off the thing!

You can expect a few days of feeling very tired with no energy for the next few days after being disconnected, but it's only temporary, you start feeling like yourself about 4 days later, thats me anyway, so drink alot of fluids, and flush that stuff out of you.

They will hopefully give you great anti-nausea meds for the nausea. Emend is the best for me, the first day I got chemo, I was sicker then a dog, the anti nausea meds they gave me didn't work, and I couldn't move or eat for days! Until they gave me Emend and dexamethasone, it worked great.

Diarrhea is possible, but you can take Immodium-AD to help with that, since you are on Folfox, I heard it can also give you some bad neuropathy, a tingling in the hands and feet, hopefully you don't.

Mouth sires also, try and use Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash, it's alcohol free, and doesn't burn like other toothpastes do. Kimby had a great recipe for a mouth sore remedy!

I'm sure more will be on here with some great advice, I wish you all the best on this journey, stick with it, and think positive!

Hugsss!
~Donna

I started this reply
I started this reply attached to Shayanne because her response has similarities to my husbands reactions. Below is some of what has occured with my husband and some of my experiences as we both learn how to live with the changes cancer has brought to our lives.
My husband just completed round seven of his first 8 rounds of Fulfox and avastin. I hope you get the best nurse on your first day. The nurse will be able to answer most of your questions, since you will be there for about 4 hours there is time to get them answered.
Tuesdays every other week is infusion day and then he is on a pump for 48 hours. Take a fanny pack to hold the bottle.
The steroids do cause mood changes. My husband has started calling it his roid rage days. He doesn't seem to have control of his emotions. We have had low, crying episodes to the most ugly screaming matches. He and we have done better knowing the pattern to avoid having life discussions on the first four days. Even when he thinks he is ask,ing politely on those days it does come out as a command.
Diarrhea is the worst for my husband. He spent the first 4 rounds trying to find foods that did not bring it on. Finally he figured out that it is the drugs and eats what he wants when he wants. He now takes two Immodium every morning and two every evening and seems to have control but we continue to plan that for any excursions we know what the bathroom facilities are.
He also takes Prilosect OTC for the acid pain he experiences.
Sleep is the most important for your husband to get. He will be fatigued from the chemo and needs all his strength. In rounds one and two my husband did not get to sleep the nights of one - three and that really made him grumpy. He now takes Ambient every night and sleeps better most night.
My husband also uses Biotene. He got mouth sores early, but now he brushes his teeth and rinses 4 times per day and it seems to keep them at bay.
If your husband also gets oxaliplatin (hopefully spelled right) it will cause neuropathy. My husband describes the feeling like touching a 9 volt battery to your tongue. He can't drink anything cold for 5-6 days after infusion or it will close his throat for 30 seconds. He has to use an oven mit if he gets things from the refrigerator or especially the freezer. We keep V8 Infusion in the pantry at room temp for those days and crystal light since it won't go bad sitting on the counter.
My husband had the fullest head of hair in a silver and black blend and a full beard. He has lost 3/4 of the hair on his head and amount 1/2 in his beard. Most has been the silver hair so it appears that his hair left is getting darker.
Chemo fog is real. He will forget things and remember things differently than they happened. We put a three month white board calendar up with all our appointments, birthdays, school events, etc. That way we can be reminded easily and others who have come to help to know where he and my daughter needs to be and when.
Today is day 5 of round seven and he cannot taste anything. So nothing is satisfying. Meals have taken a different approach. Since I work more than full time and our daughter is in school it can be hard in the best times to get meals done. My husband now eats when and what he wants so sometimes for the rest of us it is get what you can.
I think the biggest change will be the impact on your husbands ego. It has been hard for my husband to accept that he is unable to do things. Since he was semi-retired he was in charge of the homemaking chores, (laundry, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc.), the yards and the getting our daughter to her events. I have had to take on much of those, but wait just long enough to give him the chance and praise him for what he can accomplish.
We had also had to learn a new language. When he uses to huff or make certain noises I knew he might be irritated, frustrated or angry. Now it is him just breathing or from the pain. He is also having to learn my changes. Sometime I just need to take a deep breath to relieve stress and it does not mean he did something wrong.
I know I have gone on quite a bit, but it is my hope that your husband could avoid all reactions, it is unlikely. I hope some of this helps.
The best thing I did was find this site. There are so many caring and helpful people with support and advise. Both survivers and caregivers have taught me many things and mostly I just read the postings.
You are in my thoughts and prayers. I know it will be hard, but you also need to take care of you during this time as well. Let others help. Last night was a not so good mac and cheese, but a family member dropped it round and I did not have to cook. So in some ways it was the best.

Denise