Chemo starts Monday: 5Fu and leucovorin

theresa8
theresa8 Member Posts: 61
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Ten weeks after his surgery my husband will finally get his chemo.The infection that was delaying things has cleared so he's ready to go. He feels he's buying an extra insurance policy against this coming back. He'll be getting 5Fu and leucovorin. Doctors told him there wouldn't be many side effects. I'm skeptical, he did receive this kind of chemo during his radiation/chemo prior to surgery with not much side effects. Anyone ever had this kind of protocol.He'll be dong this 5 days a month for four months. I hope that it doesn't mess him up since he's really feeling great eventhough he,s still having some issues with his ille.
Anything we know beforehand helps him get ready for the challenge.
Theresa

Comments

  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    good news!
    I know you have been worried about when he will be able to move on with his fight! Glad he will be starting chemo and that you feel comfortable with that decision. I did 5FU and Leucovorin back when I was first diagnosed and they took me off the Oxaliplatin. The only real problem was the diarrhea; it was bad. Hyocyamine 375mg was a big help for me. Being careful about what I ate also; no fresh fruit during week 1.
    mary
  • mom_2_3
    mom_2_3 Member Posts: 953 Member
    Theresa
    I did 5FU and can report that I had minimal side effects. I had no digestive issues or mouth sores or anything. I only had a slight fatigue on disconect day.

    I hope your husband does well on the treatment
    Amy
  • peegie
    peegie Member Posts: 7
    mom_2_3 said:

    Theresa
    I did 5FU and can report that I had minimal side effects. I had no digestive issues or mouth sores or anything. I only had a slight fatigue on disconect day.

    I hope your husband does well on the treatment
    Amy

    Hope for good results
    My husband just completed 6 months of 5FU, leu..., and oxyplatin. His worst side effects were extreme fatigue (which still remains==but he is NED) and diarhea (?). But his nurse advised using Imodium (beginning the morning of treatment) and it made him much more comfortable. He is still experiencing some numbness in his fingers and feet. But getting better each day.

    Someday I will learn to spell these medical terms.
  • Patteee
    Patteee Member Posts: 945
    I did the same chemo after
    I did the same chemo after they ax'ed the oxi crap. The side effects were nothing compared to the oxi ones. Basically I could eat and taste things again, my hair even started to grow back. The only thing that persisted was the fatigue and I got fluids every 3-5 days for 2 months. Both of these issues my oncologist felt were hangovers from the oxi. I am already thinking that it is indeed good that your husband will be on 5fu and leucovorin!
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    Patteee said:

    I did the same chemo after
    I did the same chemo after they ax'ed the oxi crap. The side effects were nothing compared to the oxi ones. Basically I could eat and taste things again, my hair even started to grow back. The only thing that persisted was the fatigue and I got fluids every 3-5 days for 2 months. Both of these issues my oncologist felt were hangovers from the oxi. I am already thinking that it is indeed good that your husband will be on 5fu and leucovorin!

    Taking the oxi out of FOLFOX made a world of difference for me
    I can do the Leucovorin and 5FU standing on my head!!!!One more dose to go starting tomorrow; return pump final time (I hope) Wed....With the oxi, by fourth round I was done for....Good luck in your husband's treatment...steve
  • theresa8
    theresa8 Member Posts: 61
    coloCan said:

    Taking the oxi out of FOLFOX made a world of difference for me
    I can do the Leucovorin and 5FU standing on my head!!!!One more dose to go starting tomorrow; return pump final time (I hope) Wed....With the oxi, by fourth round I was done for....Good luck in your husband's treatment...steve

    Problems with ille
    I don't know if we'll make it to chemo. Since Friday his appliance has had to be changed everyday. It just won't stay put. Tuesday the surgeon poked around the 2 fistulas and removed the loose skin around them. Now there is no more skin for the appliance to stick to. We are very discouraged with the way things are going It's Sunday evening 7:30 and we,re off to the stoma nurse to try to find a solution to this. Our other option is for my husband to get a reversal surgery as soon as posible and to forget about the chemo. This illeostomy with its two fistulas have really complicated things for him.
    Hope this week goes better
    Theresa
  • RickMurtagh
    RickMurtagh Member Posts: 587 Member
    theresa8 said:

    Problems with ille
    I don't know if we'll make it to chemo. Since Friday his appliance has had to be changed everyday. It just won't stay put. Tuesday the surgeon poked around the 2 fistulas and removed the loose skin around them. Now there is no more skin for the appliance to stick to. We are very discouraged with the way things are going It's Sunday evening 7:30 and we,re off to the stoma nurse to try to find a solution to this. Our other option is for my husband to get a reversal surgery as soon as posible and to forget about the chemo. This illeostomy with its two fistulas have really complicated things for him.
    Hope this week goes better
    Theresa

    you can get appliances that
    you can get appliances that do not require an adhesive to stick to the skin - they use a belt to hold it snuggly to the skin. I have not heard of anyone using them, just that they were a good alternative if the condition of the skin around the stoma is poor.
  • mark440
    mark440 Member Posts: 63
    folfox
    Im on the folfox- oxial..leucervorin. for 6 months, going for my 3rd treatment tomorrow, So far Ive had a problem with bowels... first bite jaw spasms( its bad) and tingleing in the fingers and toes... cant eat or drink anything colder than room temperature.. Good luck! LIVESTRONG!
  • Fight for my love
    Fight for my love Member Posts: 1,522 Member
    Dear Theresa,if your husband
    Dear Theresa,if your husband only does 5fu+leu,it is going to be ok.The nasty one is oxi.My husband just finished all his treatments at the beginning of April.He did 4 round of full 5fu+leu+oxi,and 8 round of 5fu+leu because the severe side effects from oxi.The main side effects my husband suffered were fatigue on the days with chemo,queasy stomach nosebleeding,and dry skin.He usually recuperated very quickly(usually he felt fine at the end of the week since he received chemo on Tue,Wed and Thu).Please try not to worry too much,doctor has all kinds of medication to take care of side effects.If you can prepare some hand cream,that would be great just in case your husband suffers dry skin.You can make some warm soup for him if he suffers queasy stomach.Anyway,good luck to your husband for his treatments.Take care.
  • theresa8
    theresa8 Member Posts: 61

    Dear Theresa,if your husband
    Dear Theresa,if your husband only does 5fu+leu,it is going to be ok.The nasty one is oxi.My husband just finished all his treatments at the beginning of April.He did 4 round of full 5fu+leu+oxi,and 8 round of 5fu+leu because the severe side effects from oxi.The main side effects my husband suffered were fatigue on the days with chemo,queasy stomach nosebleeding,and dry skin.He usually recuperated very quickly(usually he felt fine at the end of the week since he received chemo on Tue,Wed and Thu).Please try not to worry too much,doctor has all kinds of medication to take care of side effects.If you can prepare some hand cream,that would be great just in case your husband suffers dry skin.You can make some warm soup for him if he suffers queasy stomach.Anyway,good luck to your husband for his treatments.Take care.

    So far so good ! His ille isn't causing any problems today so we,re ready to go.
    Thanks to everyone for your encouraging words.
    Theresa
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    theresa8 said:

    So far so good ! His ille isn't causing any problems today so we,re ready to go.
    Thanks to everyone for your encouraging words.
    Theresa

    Glad to hear it! Good luck!

    Glad to hear it! Good luck!