Anyone on Folriri with Avastin?

Glv49
Glv49 Member Posts: 206 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi,

I don't know if you remember me or not.. but I had colon cancer 6 yrs ago, Stage IV.. you can read my story under Everyday is a Gift. I wrote about my hubby who now has colon cancer .. he was dx last July he took Folfox for 6 mo.. had a PET/CT it showed small spot on liver. He had his liver rescetion in April of 09. Scans every 3 mos.. the first one in July showed all was well. The one he had last week shows 3 tiny spots on lung, enlarged paravertabrael lymph node... nothing lit on the PET but did show on CT. His Cea is 0.5 his blood work is good. We saw the once today, and now she wants to do another CT scan, and an MRI of his back, she said if this comes back positive for Mets he will so Folfiri with Avastin. We are so worried about all of this, how can everything look so good in July and in 3 mos be like this? If anyone has experience with this regimine please let me know.. also do you take oxillaplatin with Folfiri like you do with Folfox?? He has this tests scheduled for Nov 4th and sees the once on the 18th. I would appreciate any input.

Thanks,
Gail

Comments

  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #2
    Gail,
    Gail, I have no information on those meds but just wanted to offer to pray for your family. Gosh, this must be so hard. I'll be praying that hubby's CT and MRI have good results.

    God bless,
    Diane
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #3
    dianetavegia said:

    Gail,
    Gail, I have no information on those meds but just wanted to offer to pray for your family. Gosh, this must be so hard. I'll be praying that hubby's CT and MRI have good results.

    God bless,
    Diane

    Hey Gail!
    I remember you, so sorry to hear about your husband. It's hard to learn that in only 3 mos, it could be back, I hope not! Hopefully the results come back negative!

    I am on Folfiri with Avastin, I been on it since February, have been in and out of the hospital though with obstructions, (I have a colostomy, Stage 4 with inoperable mets to liver), but so far, it is working, my onc said the mets have shrunk, I still can't be operated on, but they are getting smaller. She was talking last week about taking me off Ironetecan in December to stabilize the disease, thinking it will be better for me, and if it doesn't work, there was more cocktails to try, but I don't know if I want to be without the irontecan.

    I've never done oxyplatin, (Folfox) my onc hates it especially the long term effects it has on her patients, she mentioned giving it to me, should the ironetecan not work, but hasn't had too. The avastin works well with the liver, and other tumors, it actually stops the blood supply that feeds the tumor, to stop it from growing, but it's working slowly on me, I don't think I'll be operable, but who knows?

    There is some nausea, which you know, come with some good anti-nausea meds, I take Emend, Dexamethasone, Zofran and Compazine. Diarrhea, and Fatigue, hair thinning, I didn't lose all my hair, but it did thin alot! But at least it doesn't give you the neuropathy that may come with the Folfox, that regimen scares me, but if I ever had to do it, I would, if there was a chance it would shrink the cancer more.

    Hope this helps! if you need to ask anything else, post away :)

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • Glv49
    Glv49 Member Posts: 206 Member
    #4
    Shayenne said:

    Hey Gail!
    I remember you, so sorry to hear about your husband. It's hard to learn that in only 3 mos, it could be back, I hope not! Hopefully the results come back negative!

    I am on Folfiri with Avastin, I been on it since February, have been in and out of the hospital though with obstructions, (I have a colostomy, Stage 4 with inoperable mets to liver), but so far, it is working, my onc said the mets have shrunk, I still can't be operated on, but they are getting smaller. She was talking last week about taking me off Ironetecan in December to stabilize the disease, thinking it will be better for me, and if it doesn't work, there was more cocktails to try, but I don't know if I want to be without the irontecan.

    I've never done oxyplatin, (Folfox) my onc hates it especially the long term effects it has on her patients, she mentioned giving it to me, should the ironetecan not work, but hasn't had too. The avastin works well with the liver, and other tumors, it actually stops the blood supply that feeds the tumor, to stop it from growing, but it's working slowly on me, I don't think I'll be operable, but who knows?

    There is some nausea, which you know, come with some good anti-nausea meds, I take Emend, Dexamethasone, Zofran and Compazine. Diarrhea, and Fatigue, hair thinning, I didn't lose all my hair, but it did thin alot! But at least it doesn't give you the neuropathy that may come with the Folfox, that regimen scares me, but if I ever had to do it, I would, if there was a chance it would shrink the cancer more.

    Hope this helps! if you need to ask anything else, post away :)

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna

    Thank you Donna and Diane,
    Thank you Donna and Diane, we can certainly use prayers thats for sure. Thank you Donna for the info about the folfiri. My husband took the oxillaplatin and had neuropathy in his hands, so I am hoping this won't be a side effect this time around. I will keep you posted on his tests.. thanks again, and your all in my prayers.

    Gail
  • trish07
    trish07 Member Posts: 138
    #5
    Folfox and Folfiri...
    It is my understanding that these are the chemo regimines you are talking about.

    Folfox- A combination of Folinic Acid,Flourouracil(5fu) and Oxaliplaitin.

    Folfiri- A combination of Folinic Acid,Flourouracil (5fu) and Irinotecan.

    The Oxaliplaitin regimine did not work on my husband so he will be starting the Folfiri in Nov.

    Avastin is often added to both of these regimines.

    Trish
  • Paula G.
    Paula G. Member Posts: 596
    #6
    Hi
    So sorry you are having to go through this with your hubby. Oxilaplatin is with thw FOLFOX not FOLFRI. My husband had the FOLFOX with the OXY for eight treatments and had a reaction. He also had avastin. He will be starting Xeloda plus avastn on Friday. It is the oral 5-FU. Good luck Paula G.
  • jillpls
    jillpls Member Posts: 238
    #7
    was on both at one time or another
    HI, I started with the folfox and it worked for 11 months. Then when it came back I was put on Folfiri with Avastin for 12 cycles. Then just Avastin and Xeloda for another 11 months. It has now shown it's head again so I'm looking into some clinical trials. Good luck, stay positive and know that God has your back. He has mine for sure.
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    #8
    Hi Gail
    Hi Gail,
    My husband was on Folfox Feb 09 - August 09. Then a lymph node lit up and now he is on Folfori + Avastin. He is currently hooked up to his second treatment. He is a bit nauseaus (he takes Emend) and tired. After the first round he felt sick for a few days but then was able to surf, night dive and jog a few times. We're praying that this works.

    Prayers for you and your hubby too.

    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • Peadubb
    Peadubb Member Posts: 1
    #9
    Hi Gail
    My hubby was also dx with stage 3b colon cancer in January. He finished the Fluorouracil (5FU) with Oxiliplatin in September. Went for his first ultrasound yesterday and they found a small spot on the liver. We see the family doc on Friday and then...? He has all of the neuropathic (numb hands and feet) feelings still.
    From what I understood, the 5fu regimen has more of the long term side effects, whereas the Folfiri may not cause the neuro type things, but this is just from reading, not from experience.
    Prayers to you and your hub through this
    Pam
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #10
    Peadubb said:

    Hi Gail
    My hubby was also dx with stage 3b colon cancer in January. He finished the Fluorouracil (5FU) with Oxiliplatin in September. Went for his first ultrasound yesterday and they found a small spot on the liver. We see the family doc on Friday and then...? He has all of the neuropathic (numb hands and feet) feelings still.
    From what I understood, the 5fu regimen has more of the long term side effects, whereas the Folfiri may not cause the neuro type things, but this is just from reading, not from experience.
    Prayers to you and your hub through this
    Pam

    Hey Gail
    I am on the Folfiri with Avaston. I have had 7 treatments. Started out with 4 mets to liver...1 being large and on a vessel... and also 15+ in the lungs...spread all over. In just those 7 treatments it has cleared my liver completely and there are just 4 mets left in lungs and they have shrunk 50-60%. I never get sick to my stomach... and really not too many side effects. My hair did thin a lot like Donna said and my feet and hands dried out so much they started peeling.... just gotta keep a lot of Udder Cream on them. Oh yeah...lost my eyebrows too. I feel very fortunate and blessed for the progress I have made thus far. I had some serious issues and hospital stays recently but that was NOT related to the Folfiri but rather meds I take for seizures. Hopefully my next PET scan will show more progress but you just never know with this stuff as you well know. I am sure everything will work out fine for you both. I will keep you in my prayers.

    Peace...... Jennie
  • KATE58
    KATE58 Member Posts: 299
    #11
    Peadubb said:

    Hi Gail
    My hubby was also dx with stage 3b colon cancer in January. He finished the Fluorouracil (5FU) with Oxiliplatin in September. Went for his first ultrasound yesterday and they found a small spot on the liver. We see the family doc on Friday and then...? He has all of the neuropathic (numb hands and feet) feelings still.
    From what I understood, the 5fu regimen has more of the long term side effects, whereas the Folfiri may not cause the neuro type things, but this is just from reading, not from experience.
    Prayers to you and your hub through this
    Pam

    Hi GAIL,
    iT'S THE
    Hi GAIL,
    iT'S THE OXILAPLATIN THAT CAUSES THE PERIFERAL NEUROPATHY NOT THE 5FU. IT TOOK A COUPLE MONTHS FOR ALL THE NEUROPATHY TO GO AWAY AFTER I FINISHED THE FOLFOX(OXY).
    I'm about to start the folfiri in abouy 10 days I'll let you know how that goes.
    Shayenne (Donna)seems to have a lot of experience on folfiri.
    good luck to you guys!
    kate

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