questions on treatment, irinotecan

Bear23
Bear23 Member Posts: 84
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I have a couple of questions about treatment choices and I'm not quite sure which way to go. Background: stage 4 mets to lungs , mets are less than 1 cm but numerous. chemoradiation, surgery, FOLFOX, recently Avastin + 5fu + leuco.

So the Avastin 5fu didn't show any reduction to the mets but very little increase. So now I am waiting for the KRAS testing and in the meantime I have options of starting irinotecan plus avastin, or starting the FOLFIRI. I;m not sure which way to go. The doctor says I'm not at a critical stage and he is comfortable with not using the most aggressive approach, FOLFIRI, and could do just irinotecan plus avastin and then add erbitux when we know results of KRAS. OR could just do ERbitux. I sort of feel like I want to take a little more aggressive approach this time but not quite sure of going all the way. Add to the mix, I work in the school so I am off for the summer and could do more aggressive now and scan in 2 months with hopes of good news and then downgrade treatment when school starts up.

I would appreciate anyone chiming in on this as I ponder. Will be starting next Tuesday the 6th on something. What should I be considering besides side effects , of course side effects are a big concern but also getting this thing kicked.

Thanks,
Bear

Comments

  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #2
    Folfiri
    Hey Bear!

    Just want to say that I went with Folfiri... which includes the CPT11..... got rid of 15+ tumors all over my lungs in 9 treatments....plus 4 in the liver.... I was NED 6 months..off chemo 2 months..then went on a maintenance chemo that DID NOT include the CPT11..... just found out yesterday that I have a recurrence of 5 nodules in lungs with 2 being active. Now I am going back with the Folfiri..WITH the CPT11..... I think that was the kicker but it was also what caused my hair to fall out.... oh well.... Hope all goes good for you. Let us know what you decide. Take care

    Jennie
  • Bear23
    Bear23 Member Posts: 84
    #3
    idlehunters said:

    Folfiri
    Hey Bear!

    Just want to say that I went with Folfiri... which includes the CPT11..... got rid of 15+ tumors all over my lungs in 9 treatments....plus 4 in the liver.... I was NED 6 months..off chemo 2 months..then went on a maintenance chemo that DID NOT include the CPT11..... just found out yesterday that I have a recurrence of 5 nodules in lungs with 2 being active. Now I am going back with the Folfiri..WITH the CPT11..... I think that was the kicker but it was also what caused my hair to fall out.... oh well.... Hope all goes good for you. Let us know what you decide. Take care

    Jennie

    Thanks Jennie. I decided to
    Thanks Jennie. I decided to not do the complete FOLFIRI. Had treatment today with just CPT11 and Avastin. Still waiting on the KRAS testing results and may add Erbitux or Vectibix when we get those results. Keeping my fingers crossed on the side effects that I will be one of those who tolerate it well.

    Sorry to hear about your recurrence. Hope things work out well for you once again.

    Valerie

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