Question on length of Chemo after surgery

LivinginNH
LivinginNH Member Posts: 1,456 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello all,

I am new to posting on this site, but I've been reading your comments for a couple of months now. A quick synopsis of the situation is that my boyfriend (age 42) was diagnosed and operated on for a tumor in his colon on 7 December 09. He had a successful liver resection to remove four tumors from his liver 4 weeks ago. He is doing well, albeit a bit sore. His doctors at Mass. General have scheduled 16 weeks of post surgery chemo beginning 19 April(he's on Folfox, and it's been working fine, so they'll continue with this treatment.) However, from the many postings that I've read, it seems that 6 mos. is the standard treatment following surgery, not four. Of course, I hate the thought of him going through two months more of additional treatment, but at the same time I want as many cancer cells to be eradicated as possible! Any thoughts about this? Thank you!!

Comments

  • 5678dance
    5678dance Member Posts: 39
    #2
    How often
    is he having treatments? Mine was the standard 6 months, but I have them every other week.

    Kathi
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    #3
    How Much
    My husband had six months of chemo, every other week, so that would be 12 treatments, then a 2 week break, he is now on what I call "chemo light" (5FU, Leucovorin every week adding Avastin every other week). He had colon resection before chemo but his liver was too involved and he had mets to the lungs also so he did not have liver or lung resection or radiation, etc. Is your boyfriend getting chemo every week or every other week?

    Sounds like he is in good hands and is lucky he was able to already have a liver resection so for now would not worry about 4 months vs 6 months.

    Take care - Tina
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #4
    I had to quit after 7 rounds
    My drs weren't concerned that I couldn't complete the 12 rounds of chemo. They'd remarked that new research was showing that 8 was probably enough, but most drs aren't ready to switch from the established protocols of 12 rounds.
  • LivinginNH
    LivinginNH Member Posts: 1,456 Member
    #5
    geotina said:

    How Much
    My husband had six months of chemo, every other week, so that would be 12 treatments, then a 2 week break, he is now on what I call "chemo light" (5FU, Leucovorin every week adding Avastin every other week). He had colon resection before chemo but his liver was too involved and he had mets to the lungs also so he did not have liver or lung resection or radiation, etc. Is your boyfriend getting chemo every week or every other week?

    Sounds like he is in good hands and is lucky he was able to already have a liver resection so for now would not worry about 4 months vs 6 months.

    Take care - Tina

    8 Treatments

    Hi again,

    Thank you both for replying. I should have been more clear - he is having 8 treatments over a 16 week period. He's been off of FOLFOX for the past five weeks due to the surgery, but the onc wants to start him back sooner than the normal 8 wks. since he's doing well. And yes, we've been fortunate so far in that he was able to have the liver resection (lots of praying). It's been a roller coaster ride, but we're taking it one day at a time (he has a wonderful outlook on things - a very positive attitude overall.) So based on your responses, I suppose I should ask the doctor about why he's not doing 12 weeks... Can't hurt to ask, right? :-)
    Thanks again.
  • LivinginNH
    LivinginNH Member Posts: 1,456 Member
    #6
    abrub said:

    I had to quit after 7 rounds
    My drs weren't concerned that I couldn't complete the 12 rounds of chemo. They'd remarked that new research was showing that 8 was probably enough, but most drs aren't ready to switch from the established protocols of 12 rounds.

    Ok, thank you for the input,

    Ok, thank you for the input, that makes me feel a little better. I know that my boyfriend probably wouldn't challenge the surgeon's decision, so it's good to hear that 8 weeks may be enough. I'm so glad that I found this forum, everyone is so very supportive and helpful. God Bless.
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #7
    Cycles
    Things usually run in 6 month cycles at Sloan Kettering where I go. I also get CT scans every 2 months on average.
    I hope he continues to do well.
    -phil
  • C Dixon
    C Dixon Member Posts: 201
    #8
    Now I have a question about this.
    My history:

    Nov '08: Diagnosed Stage IV Signet Ring Adnenocarcinoma with mets to liver and diaphragrm.
    May '09: Completed 12 Rounds Folfox
    June '09: Clear Scans
    Sept '09: Went in for liver resection and found active disease still on diaphragm
    Three weeks later had diaphragm resection, liver RFA and HIPEC
    Nov '09: Started Folfiri and have completed 12 rounds with clear scans and last two CEA's were 0.86 and 0.87.

    I am scheduled to go to Duke in two weeks for PET and CT. I thought if I had clear scans they would move me to closely watch but my locals doc said today that he would prefer 16 rounds.

    Anybody out there had to do more than twelve round post-surgical.

    I was not a happy camper today!

    Thanks,

    Catherine
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #9
    C Dixon said:

    Now I have a question about this.
    My history:

    Nov '08: Diagnosed Stage IV Signet Ring Adnenocarcinoma with mets to liver and diaphragrm.
    May '09: Completed 12 Rounds Folfox
    June '09: Clear Scans
    Sept '09: Went in for liver resection and found active disease still on diaphragm
    Three weeks later had diaphragm resection, liver RFA and HIPEC
    Nov '09: Started Folfiri and have completed 12 rounds with clear scans and last two CEA's were 0.86 and 0.87.

    I am scheduled to go to Duke in two weeks for PET and CT. I thought if I had clear scans they would move me to closely watch but my locals doc said today that he would prefer 16 rounds.

    Anybody out there had to do more than twelve round post-surgical.

    I was not a happy camper today!

    Thanks,

    Catherine

    Post Surgical Chemo
    I've had more treatments with assorted chemo than you'd care to know about...
    It's usually done until it is not longer needed or until the person can not take anymore chemo.
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #10
    C Dixon said:

    Now I have a question about this.
    My history:

    Nov '08: Diagnosed Stage IV Signet Ring Adnenocarcinoma with mets to liver and diaphragrm.
    May '09: Completed 12 Rounds Folfox
    June '09: Clear Scans
    Sept '09: Went in for liver resection and found active disease still on diaphragm
    Three weeks later had diaphragm resection, liver RFA and HIPEC
    Nov '09: Started Folfiri and have completed 12 rounds with clear scans and last two CEA's were 0.86 and 0.87.

    I am scheduled to go to Duke in two weeks for PET and CT. I thought if I had clear scans they would move me to closely watch but my locals doc said today that he would prefer 16 rounds.

    Anybody out there had to do more than twelve round post-surgical.

    I was not a happy camper today!

    Thanks,

    Catherine

    Treatments
    I know of people who've been placed on chemo every other week for life, so 16 isn't bad, tho more than the usual 12.
  • LivinginNH
    LivinginNH Member Posts: 1,456 Member
    #11
    abrub said:

    Treatments
    I know of people who've been placed on chemo every other week for life, so 16 isn't bad, tho more than the usual 12.

    Chemo after surgery

    Hello all,

    Well, we got the answer from Rick's surgeon today in regard to why Rick will only be receiving 8 rounds of FOLFOX instead of 12 as a follow-up to his recent liver resection. The doctor stated that the 4 rounds pre-surgery counted towards the full 12 rounds. He'll start back on chemo on the 19th, so I'm sure that we'll have many more questions over the next few months. Our thanks go out to everyone for providing us with such valuable insights as we go through this very difficult process. God bless.

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