Moms surgery scheduled for Wednesday

Stefi
Stefi Member Posts: 31
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
We met with the oncologist yesterday to get the results of my moms PET CT scan and nothing too unexpected showed up! The spots they saw on the liver from the CT scan did light up and also 2 lymph nodes but nothing else, thank God. The oncologist seemed hopeful and told us the liver surgeon is planning on going after the spots on the liver after some chemo if all goes well. Mom will be going into surgery next Wednesday to remove the rectal tumor and will have a 5-7 day hospital stay. We met with the colon/rectal surgeon today and he is hopeful she will not have a colostomy, but it is possible. With the liver spots and the need to start chemo fast, if he runs into complications he will not do an ileostomy, just a colostomy. If she heels well, she will start chemo about 3-4 weeks after surgery. She will be getting the port for the chemo and will have the chemo for 2 days once every 2 weeks for about 6 treatments before they do the next scan. If all goes well, we will then talk about the liver resection. She will be getting 5FU, Leucovorin, Oxaliplatinum, and Avastin. Have any of you had the same mix of chemo?

Comments

  • chris37
    chris37 Member Posts: 18
    Scan
    Hey,
    Stefi Im glad that nothing too unexpected showed up. I hope that all goes well for your mom. Im sorry I cant help with the chemo info. As you know I will go for my Pet Scan on Tuesday. Keep us posted on how things go theirs wonderful people out here that will be able to answers questions you might have and point you guys in the right direction.
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    Chemo mix
    Lots of us have had that mix. It's also called "Folfox plus Avastin". Folfox is the 5FU, Leucovorin and Oxaliplatin. It's a tough regimen, but is very standard for colorectal cancers. I got through 7 rounds of it, as I suffered rare extreme side effects. I know many people who got through all 12 cycles. It's not easy, but it is doable.

    Good luck to your mom - wishing her a healthy outcome.
  • Stefi
    Stefi Member Posts: 31
    abrub said:

    Chemo mix
    Lots of us have had that mix. It's also called "Folfox plus Avastin". Folfox is the 5FU, Leucovorin and Oxaliplatin. It's a tough regimen, but is very standard for colorectal cancers. I got through 7 rounds of it, as I suffered rare extreme side effects. I know many people who got through all 12 cycles. It's not easy, but it is doable.

    Good luck to your mom - wishing her a healthy outcome.

    Thank you!
    Thank you for the well wishes. I have seen a lot of posts about the Folfox plus Avastin so now I know it is the same as what my mom will be getting. I know it is different with each person, but is 12 cycles the typical amount of this chemo that people get? When we asked the oncologist, he said she would have 6 treatments then have a scan and possibly speak to the liver surgeon about a liver resection for the spots on her liver. I really appreciate all your help, advice, and well wishes! Thank you!

    Steph
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    Praying
    I'll be praying for you and your mom. Hope her surgery goes well.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    Stefi,
    I wish your mom all

    Stefi,

    I wish your mom all the best for her surgery.
  • mom_2_3
    mom_2_3 Member Posts: 953 Member
    All the best
    Stefi,

    Wishing your mom all the best for her upcoming surgery. Make sure to let us know how it goes. I will be thinking of her on Wed morning.

    Amy
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    Hi Stefi
    Yes, 12 treatments is the norm but since your mom has cancer spread to the liver, lymph nodes and had a rectal tumor, she'll probably be on chemo again after the liver resection. The Avastin cannot be started until Mom has healed pretty well. Most chemo is started around 5 -6 weeks after surgery but since Mom already has metastasis, things are more urgent.

    Praying her surgery goes very well and she heals quickly.