Question on break in chemo at the very end of treatment.....

lmliess
lmliess Member Posts: 329
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Good morning everyone! I haven’t posted in a while but I do come and read almost everyday and keep all of you in my prayers.

I had a reoccurrence in May in the plurel area of the lungs, so I have done 10 rounds of Folfori with Avastin. In September my scan came back clear and my last CEA number came in at 3.8 from 29.8. YAHA!!!!

Here is my dilemma…I have done 10 rounds and we are going to try to do 2 more for safe measures, however, I was supposed to do a round last week but I begged for the week off since it was Halloween week and I wanted to be able to do all the fun Halloween stuff with my six year old….now this week, I have a sore throat and a cough/cold. My ONC said if I don’t feel 80% better by tomorrow we will not do chemo. I already feel a little run down from this cold so I really can’t see doing chemo tomorrow. I guess my question is from all of your experiences, have any of you had to take a break when you are so close to the end? I want to get it done…but my body is saying take the break and rest. The 10th round really got to me too…I didn’t get out of bed one day. Would spacing out the last 2 really make a difference if my scan was clear in September and my CEA is normal???

Thanks!

Comments

  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #2
    It Will Be OK...
    Hi Linda

    Long time - no see:)

    I think you already answered your question - "body needs a rest and a break."

    If two weeks were going to be the difference in life and death, then the treatments would not mean too much.

    You'll be just fine and may feel even better by getting a couple of weeks - it's hard on the body to take that kind of pounding over and over again.

    If you don't feel well, there is always next week and it will be ok.

    Mine is in the pleura of my lungs as well (knew we would find something in common one day). I did 2 cycles of Folfiri, but we stopped and switched over to radiation and the 5fu pump for a six week cycle - and then I go back on five months of Folfiri to finish up.

    Cancer treatment sometimes can't be forced and we have to go with the flow sometimes - when we do that and listen to our bodies, it makes things better.

    Great news on knocking out 10 treatments - very proud of you:)

    Good to see you after all this time!

    -Craig
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • dmdwins
    dmdwins Member Posts: 454 Member
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Listen to your body
    Hi Linda

    So glad to hear about your CEA and clear scan. If your body is telling you to take a break I would.....I had to delay treatment a few times due to bloodcount issues but then was able to finish all 12. If I hadnt rested my body I am not sure I would have made it to the end. It is not uncommon for some to not even be able to finish...so my thought is take a break....then finish the last 2 :)

    Smiles,
    Dawn
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #5
    dmdwins said:

    Listen to your body
    Hi Linda

    So glad to hear about your CEA and clear scan. If your body is telling you to take a break I would.....I had to delay treatment a few times due to bloodcount issues but then was able to finish all 12. If I hadnt rested my body I am not sure I would have made it to the end. It is not uncommon for some to not even be able to finish...so my thought is take a break....then finish the last 2 :)

    Smiles,
    Dawn

    congrats for the results.No problem at all actually there are
    people that are having it every three weeks instead of two so no worries !
    Hugs !

    Pepe.
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #6
    break
    Sometimes a chemo break is what we need -- physically and/or psychologically. I am thinking of asking for one in a few weeks.

    For what it's worth, several years ago I had to postpone chemo two times in a row, due to low blood counts. My oncologist told me "studies have shown" than you can delay up to 3 weeks without interfering with the effectiveness of the chemo.

    Also, sometimes, you've just had enough. But maybe this break will help you get through the final few.....if you choose to.

    Love,
    Tara
  • lmliess
    lmliess Member Posts: 329
    #7
    taraHK said:

    break
    Sometimes a chemo break is what we need -- physically and/or psychologically. I am thinking of asking for one in a few weeks.

    For what it's worth, several years ago I had to postpone chemo two times in a row, due to low blood counts. My oncologist told me "studies have shown" than you can delay up to 3 weeks without interfering with the effectiveness of the chemo.

    Also, sometimes, you've just had enough. But maybe this break will help you get through the final few.....if you choose to.

    Love,
    Tara

    Thank you...
    so much for your responses. I feel better. And my oncologist seemed to think one more week break was just fine and put me on a Z-pak to clear up this sore throat and cough. I want to be off chemo so bad but I want to make it through the rest without getting completely wiped out. Maybe getting a cold was another way my body was saying 'give me a break!!'

    HUGS to you guys!!!

    Linda
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    #8
    Linda
    Linda,
    I have missed you. You and your little cutie pie have been on my mind. I love the news about the lower CEA and clear scan!! I don't know what to say about the treatment. I know **** put off treatment once and was so happy he did.
    Glad you got to enjoy Halloween with your little darling.

    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #9
    Happy Halloween!
    Linda,

    I think it's a great idea to give your body a rest. Have a body that's not completely under stress is important for the healing process.

    *hugs*
    Gail

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