timing of adjuvent chemo

elizabethgd
elizabethgd Member Posts: 145
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I had surgery(colorectal, chemo radiation first) 4 mnths ago. I should have begun adjuvent chemo 2 months ago.Has anyone had experience with starting chemo later than standard ? or opinion?

Comments

  • P_I_T_A
    P_I_T_A Member Posts: 133
    #2
    Sept-Nov
    I had surgery in September and started my FOLFOX in November, guess that's 3 months. Onc. didn't seem too worried about it. I had an issue with my surgery incision healing, which caused the delay. I hope they start you soon though. I would think, the sooner the better. Maybe your onc. wants to give you more time to recover from the operation since you did chemo/rad before(I didn't.) Maybe someone with a similar situation would be more helpful.

    -DJ
  • elizabethgd
    elizabethgd Member Posts: 145
    #3
    P_I_T_A said:

    Sept-Nov
    I had surgery in September and started my FOLFOX in November, guess that's 3 months. Onc. didn't seem too worried about it. I had an issue with my surgery incision healing, which caused the delay. I hope they start you soon though. I would think, the sooner the better. Maybe your onc. wants to give you more time to recover from the operation since you did chemo/rad before(I didn't.) Maybe someone with a similar situation would be more helpful.

    -DJ

    thanks for your response.
    thanks for your response. How has the folfox been? Hope things go well.. thanks again for comments.. Elizabeth
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #4
    elizabethgd said:

    thanks for your response.
    thanks for your response. How has the folfox been? Hope things go well.. thanks again for comments.. Elizabeth

    DX March 25th 2008.....
    did chemo /Rad for 25 treatments 5 weeks.......surgery 5 weeks after the last treatment, July 15th 2008, then did post op chemo starting November 2008 and finished in the 1st part of May 2009 of Oxaliplatin,5FU,leucouvorin, did 10 treatments of all 3 then the last 2 without the oxaliplatin...The oxaliplatin is the butt kicker.....but its also the main cancer cell killer...
  • elizabethgd
    elizabethgd Member Posts: 145
    #5
    Buzzard said:

    DX March 25th 2008.....
    did chemo /Rad for 25 treatments 5 weeks.......surgery 5 weeks after the last treatment, July 15th 2008, then did post op chemo starting November 2008 and finished in the 1st part of May 2009 of Oxaliplatin,5FU,leucouvorin, did 10 treatments of all 3 then the last 2 without the oxaliplatin...The oxaliplatin is the butt kicker.....but its also the main cancer cell killer...

    Thanks for response..I was
    Thanks for response..I was diagnosed T3N2 before surgery. AFter surgery T2N0 but my tumor did not change much in size..Did you recover from side effects of oxaliplatin? I hear there is often neuropathy. I was thinking I would not have adjuvent therapy. because i went from T3 to T2 But now I think I should..Port ischeduled for this Thursday..Thanks for response
  • P_I_T_A
    P_I_T_A Member Posts: 133
    #6
    elizabethgd said:

    thanks for your response.
    thanks for your response. How has the folfox been? Hope things go well.. thanks again for comments.. Elizabeth

    I've been pretty fortunate I think
    I'll be going in for my 6th treatment tomorrow. Halfway home!! I'll have nausea for about 2-3 days after I get unhooked. I have Ativan and Zofran to help with that. Oxy is a bit of a pain. I don't drink hot drinks (hot tea or coffee), so not being able to drink cold stuff has been problemactic. I do have hot chocolate occasionally. Warm water doesn't taste appealing after a while. Oranges are a lifesaver though. I had 2 bad 'shake & bake' episodes as they like to call it here on board with treatments 3 & 4. My onc. thought my levels were bottoming out around then, reduced my Oxy by 20% and removed my FU bolus. No shake & bake this time. Actually, this has been my best week since starting treatment. As long as you're up front with your onc., a good one is willing to work with your conditions and adjust accordingly. Long story short, it's been an inconvenience. but nothing that can't be dealt with and will be over before you know it. I'm (relatively)young (40) and in decent shape, but everyone responds differently to treatment. Good luck going forward!

    -DJ
  • elizabethgd
    elizabethgd Member Posts: 145
    #7
    P_I_T_A said:

    I've been pretty fortunate I think
    I'll be going in for my 6th treatment tomorrow. Halfway home!! I'll have nausea for about 2-3 days after I get unhooked. I have Ativan and Zofran to help with that. Oxy is a bit of a pain. I don't drink hot drinks (hot tea or coffee), so not being able to drink cold stuff has been problemactic. I do have hot chocolate occasionally. Warm water doesn't taste appealing after a while. Oranges are a lifesaver though. I had 2 bad 'shake & bake' episodes as they like to call it here on board with treatments 3 & 4. My onc. thought my levels were bottoming out around then, reduced my Oxy by 20% and removed my FU bolus. No shake & bake this time. Actually, this has been my best week since starting treatment. As long as you're up front with your onc., a good one is willing to work with your conditions and adjust accordingly. Long story short, it's been an inconvenience. but nothing that can't be dealt with and will be over before you know it. I'm (relatively)young (40) and in decent shape, but everyone responds differently to treatment. Good luck going forward!

    -DJ

    thanks for info
    I don't have good oncolo. they do not want to hear complaints.. just do it and move on..The oncologist I like is about 2 hours drive away.. and going for infusion would be possible, but maybe difficult... I am not sure what a FU bolus is. But will find out.. you ARE young..glad things are working for you!!! thanks again for your response..
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #8
    Elizabeth, I'm 59 and made
    Elizabeth, I'm 59 and made it through all 12 FOLFOX tx's. I was Stage III colon so no rads and had surgery within 5 days of my dx. Chemo began 6 weeks later.
    Dx'd and surgery Jan. 2009. Chemo Feb - Aug 2009.

    Yes, Oxi does cause neuropathy but I'm dealing with it. Five months out from the end of chemo, my fingertips are still 'pins and needles' but cold no longer bothers me. I can put in my pierced earrings, button clothes, type, knit, etc. My feet feel like my socks are filled with wet sand. It's different but not unbearable. Ir's my new normal and I can live with it forever, if need be.

    Elizabeth, you said you were T3 pre rads and T2 now. Well, I was Stage III and all known cancer was removed during surgery. That does NOT make me a Stage 0. I think the new staging for rectal cancer patients is misleading. There is a clinical and another staging. I've forgotten what I'd read on another thread. You need to be treated based on the pre surgery/ pre rads dx.
  • elizabethgd
    elizabethgd Member Posts: 145
    #9
    dianetavegia said:

    Elizabeth, I'm 59 and made
    Elizabeth, I'm 59 and made it through all 12 FOLFOX tx's. I was Stage III colon so no rads and had surgery within 5 days of my dx. Chemo began 6 weeks later.
    Dx'd and surgery Jan. 2009. Chemo Feb - Aug 2009.

    Yes, Oxi does cause neuropathy but I'm dealing with it. Five months out from the end of chemo, my fingertips are still 'pins and needles' but cold no longer bothers me. I can put in my pierced earrings, button clothes, type, knit, etc. My feet feel like my socks are filled with wet sand. It's different but not unbearable. Ir's my new normal and I can live with it forever, if need be.

    Elizabeth, you said you were T3 pre rads and T2 now. Well, I was Stage III and all known cancer was removed during surgery. That does NOT make me a Stage 0. I think the new staging for rectal cancer patients is misleading. There is a clinical and another staging. I've forgotten what I'd read on another thread. You need to be treated based on the pre surgery/ pre rads dx.

    thanks
    HI thanks for encouragement. I am worried that having waited soo long for adjuvent chemo that there will not be any benefit in my going through all of the pain and anguish... I thought that because I had gone from T3 to T2 that meant observation .. and that my oncologist was just pushing the chemo.. so now I am almost 4 1/2 months away from last surgery. adn should have started 2 months ago...It is great that you have done so well.. Take care and thanks again for commenting.
  • Bear23
    Bear23 Member Posts: 84
    #10
    elizabethgd said:

    thanks
    HI thanks for encouragement. I am worried that having waited soo long for adjuvent chemo that there will not be any benefit in my going through all of the pain and anguish... I thought that because I had gone from T3 to T2 that meant observation .. and that my oncologist was just pushing the chemo.. so now I am almost 4 1/2 months away from last surgery. adn should have started 2 months ago...It is great that you have done so well.. Take care and thanks again for commenting.

    Stage III
    Hi, I was T2N2. I did rad/chemo for 25-30 treatments. (don't remember exactly how long) Then surgery. I got cdiff so I was delayed some. Had surgery in Aug and started chemo the end of Sept. I don't know about how long you've waited but I trust my onco so if he said do it, I would. I had 12 treatments of FOLFOX but had to go to 80% halfway through because of my counts. I'm 44 and tolerated it quite well. Sure I had all the side effects but hopefully it was worth it. Talk to your onco. You can do it. Sure, it stinks at the time but will you regret not doing it? I hope you can work it out. Do what you think is right. Hugs.

    Bear
  • elizabethgd
    elizabethgd Member Posts: 145
    #11
    Bear23 said:

    Stage III
    Hi, I was T2N2. I did rad/chemo for 25-30 treatments. (don't remember exactly how long) Then surgery. I got cdiff so I was delayed some. Had surgery in Aug and started chemo the end of Sept. I don't know about how long you've waited but I trust my onco so if he said do it, I would. I had 12 treatments of FOLFOX but had to go to 80% halfway through because of my counts. I'm 44 and tolerated it quite well. Sure I had all the side effects but hopefully it was worth it. Talk to your onco. You can do it. Sure, it stinks at the time but will you regret not doing it? I hope you can work it out. Do what you think is right. Hugs.

    Bear

    thanks for comments
    It sounds like you were on time with surgery and then post surgery chemo.. Thanks for your words of encouragement. How are you now? any lasting side effects? What were you able to eat during treatment? Did you get nauseated as soon as you started taking treatment? Thanks again. Elizabeth
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #12
    elizabethgd said:

    thanks for comments
    It sounds like you were on time with surgery and then post surgery chemo.. Thanks for your words of encouragement. How are you now? any lasting side effects? What were you able to eat during treatment? Did you get nauseated as soon as you started taking treatment? Thanks again. Elizabeth

    Elizabeth!
    You're expecting to have every symptom ever known to man! Chill, girl!

    I felt queasy three times! THREE times. Never threw up. Those 3 times were during my last 2 tx's of FOLFOX. I had been given a script for Phenergen and that's all it took. I ate well, too. I gained 9 lbs during chemo. I had a headache maybe 2 times due to the steroids and felt VERY tired for 2 or 3 days after disconnect most tx's.

    You CAN do this! If you go into this expecting bad stuff, bad stuff will find you. You've made it this many years and you're a tough gal. You CAN do this!
  • emrose
    emrose Member Posts: 136
    #13
    3months
    My husband had surgery December 9, 2009 (stage 3). His onc recommended chemo start in January but he did not begin until early march. We went on a vacation to Mexico and wanted to try and start a family. For us, it was worth it. Our little boy is 14weeks old and just amazing! So far things are ok. He had a clear colonoscopy last month and a pet scan later this month.

    Goof luck!
  • elizabethgd
    elizabethgd Member Posts: 145
    #14
    emrose said:

    3months
    My husband had surgery December 9, 2009 (stage 3). His onc recommended chemo start in January but he did not begin until early march. We went on a vacation to Mexico and wanted to try and start a family. For us, it was worth it. Our little boy is 14weeks old and just amazing! So far things are ok. He had a clear colonoscopy last month and a pet scan later this month.

    Goof luck!

    congratualtions!!
    What a sweet story!! Hope everything continues well. Precious baby!!!
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #15
    elizabethgd said:

    congratualtions!!
    What a sweet story!! Hope everything continues well. Precious baby!!!

    Look at that little man........!!! Congrats emrose.. also eliza
    bethgd........I will do the 12 for you so you don't have to...Elizabeth, its gonna be fine, and you will do fine, just breathe, and calm down, the worst is already over....Love and Hope, Buzz
  • emrose
    emrose Member Posts: 136
    #16
    Buzzard said:

    Look at that little man........!!! Congrats emrose.. also eliza
    bethgd........I will do the 12 for you so you don't have to...Elizabeth, its gonna be fine, and you will do fine, just breathe, and calm down, the worst is already over....Love and Hope, Buzz

    Thanks!!
    I need to change the picture - he's so much bigger now and looks just like his daddy!! Also, I meant that my husband had surgery December 9 2008 NOT 2009! Sheesh - it's all really a blur now! Chemo and pregnancy all at once - still not sure how we made it through. But, we did! And I know you will to Elizabeth!
  • elizabethgd
    elizabethgd Member Posts: 145
    #17
    Buzzard said:

    Look at that little man........!!! Congrats emrose.. also eliza
    bethgd........I will do the 12 for you so you don't have to...Elizabeth, its gonna be fine, and you will do fine, just breathe, and calm down, the worst is already over....Love and Hope, Buzz

    Thanks for encouragement...
    Thanks for encouragement... the nurse just called... 3-5 hours of chemo at clinic.. then 44 hours hooked up at home...every 2 weeks.. that is a long time to be hooked up..night and day for for 2 days.. Have you heard this type of chemo before?
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #18
    elizabethgd said:

    Thanks for encouragement...
    Thanks for encouragement... the nurse just called... 3-5 hours of chemo at clinic.. then 44 hours hooked up at home...every 2 weeks.. that is a long time to be hooked up..night and day for for 2 days.. Have you heard this type of chemo before?

    Carried the Pump Much Longer
    My treatment plan when I was doing the 5fu fanny pack was 7-DAYS A WEEK/24 HOURS A DAY.

    Just 2 days at a time would have been ok by me, but I handled 7-days a week easy enough - I drove and I worked and carried the bag everywhere I went; took showers, slept and everything else too. This was just the regimen that had me on at the time.

    I found the Folfox much more debilitating - you should do ok with the 2-day bag. Best of luck and just keep the lines untangled :)
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    #19
    elizabethgd said:

    Thanks for encouragement...
    Thanks for encouragement... the nurse just called... 3-5 hours of chemo at clinic.. then 44 hours hooked up at home...every 2 weeks.. that is a long time to be hooked up..night and day for for 2 days.. Have you heard this type of chemo before?

    Yep
    Almost everybody gets it, the hookup for 44 hours. It is in a fanny pack and the line goes to your port. You really don't see it if that what worries you, just wear a shirt not tucked in. George went to work with it and did just about anything he wanted. We didn't go out too much when he had the fanny pack but it was because he was so fatigued after work. It will be fine. Once you get it any questions just jump on here and ask. Take care - Tina
  • elizabethgd
    elizabethgd Member Posts: 145
    #20
    geotina said:

    Yep
    Almost everybody gets it, the hookup for 44 hours. It is in a fanny pack and the line goes to your port. You really don't see it if that what worries you, just wear a shirt not tucked in. George went to work with it and did just about anything he wanted. We didn't go out too much when he had the fanny pack but it was because he was so fatigued after work. It will be fine. Once you get it any questions just jump on here and ask. Take care - Tina

    Thank you again!!
    You are all great! Hoping for the best!

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