Oxaliplatin+oral 5-FU for EC

archanbh
archanbh Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hello All:

My father has been a patient of Esophageal cancer for almost last two years. He had his lower esophagus operated in Feb, 2009. His tumor was in stage 3B. After that he received TCF for a cycle. Due to grade 4 GI toxicity in cycle 1, he received TC for next 4 cycles and then he had a Myocardial Infraction. After that chemotherapy stopped. Then in around 8 months time his malignancy recurred around the surgery site. At that point he was too weak to received any chemotherapy. So, the dr asked for radiation. He received 25 days of radiation, which ended Aug 14, 2010. Now, recently, during an endoscopy, the dr figured out that it's bleeding. Since, he is very weak and can't receive most of the chemo drugs, dr is suggesting low dose Oxaliplatin with oral 5-FU. He already suffers from extreme hyperacidity and gas daily and he's very weak. He does his bare minimum daily activity. He can't sit for more than 10 minutes. Will it be good idea to try Oxaliplatin + oral 5-FU? Please share your experience and views. I'll be very grateful.

Appreciate your input in advance,
Regards,
Archan

Comments

  • linda1120
    linda1120 Member Posts: 389
    #2
    Our experience
    Welcome to the EC board. I am fairly new here, but can offer our experience. My husband Jim is stage IVa and is being treated with Cisplatin & 5fu. He also did radiation at the same time. He has a heart condition and at the end of the treatment he was hospitalized for dehydration, internal bleeding, complete exhaustion, etc. He is still trying to come back from the last chemo and 27 days of radiation and it has been over three weeks. In the condition he is in right now, I can't imagine him doing more chemo. Our oncologist and I have a difference of opinion on his stage, he says stage 3, and after much research and knowledge from others here, due to him have celiac node involvement, he would be considered a stage IVa. It is still operable and sometimes doable, but my husband also has the heart complications. We are hoping for the best and are off for our second opinion at a major cancer hospital in Portland, Or. I am in no position to advise you, but wanted to share our experience. There are a couple of very knowledgeable people on this site and I am sure they will respond soon.

    I wish you and your family the very best,and will be following you on the board.

    God Bless,

    Linda
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    #3
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  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,392 Member
    #5
    Three key questions need to be answered
    Archan,

    It sounds like your Dad is in a very delicate state without additional chemotherapy. I can tell you that receiving chemo while dealing with other physical issues is very difficult. I had chemo while recovering from Ivor Lewis surgery and it made the side effects from chemo even more pronounced.

    I can tell you if I were in your Dad’s situation I would not want to suffer through additional chemo with no defined positive outcome.

    Which brings me to the three key questions I think need to be asked:

    1. And most important. What does your Dad want to do?
    2. What does your Dad’s oncologist predict is the potential positive outcome of additional chemo?
    3. If it were you, and you had the quality of life your Dad is about to have with chemo, would you want to continue?

    Sometimes even though the person who is fighting cancer has reached a quality of life that is unacceptable, they continue because they feel they are letting the family down if they give up. Family members put pressure on them to continue because they think they are just depressed.

    It is hard; but I think you have to ask, "What would I want if I were in a situation where I was already suffering and I was about to do something that will increase my suffering with no strong chance of a positive outcome"?

    I think if it were me I would say "enough is enough".

    I know this is a difficult situation, I pray that God will give you guidance and peace as your Dad makes this decision.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    6/21/2010 CT Scan NED

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

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