Folfox #5

LOUSWIFT
LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I went for Folfox treatment #5 fully expecting to be turned away for low platelet counts. I went from 110,000 treatment #2 to 66,000 for #3 then 44,000 for #4. So I expected the count to drop into the 30,000 and be turned away. Instead and I don't know why they climbed back to 66,000. Onc said I needed a week off to climb them back into the 90,000. He gave me the option do #5 today or take a week off now or take a week off before #6. Since #6 is three days before Christmas and I wouldn't be sick for that with my family it was a no brainier. Of coursenow my entire schedule will be set back a week. I was hoping to do just 8 total folfox treatments but Onc wants 12. He said he may switch out Oxi for irinotecan. He says he is concerned about permanent damage to my hands and feet from neuropathy caused by Oxi. I am more concerned with the severe diarrhea and dehydration irinotecan is know to cause. Anyway experiencing a new side effect a runny nose. Nope no cold just a runny nose along with a host of old favorite side effects I am used to having. I still don't know if I'll switch drugs or even if I can or will do 12 treatments. Time will tell. Take Care all Lou

Comments

  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #2
    Hey Lou
    Congrats on doing #5! since you had a tough time with the oxy before maybe switching to the irinotecan might work better for you?. That would make it FOLFORI right? I think you just want out of the FOLFOX club and into the big leagues. :) Since my CEA keeps climbing with FOLFOX I'm wondering if after scans in January it might not be suggested to me also? Who knows. This journey is so full of surprises.

    I've had a runny nose last time and this time too. At first thought that it might be just a cold or allergies ... but it's been pretty consistant for longer than a cold and a bit different than my allergy nose so ... Let's blame it on chemo!! HUGS to you, Lou, you're doing great.
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    #3
    Lori-S said:

    Hey Lou
    Congrats on doing #5! since you had a tough time with the oxy before maybe switching to the irinotecan might work better for you?. That would make it FOLFORI right? I think you just want out of the FOLFOX club and into the big leagues. :) Since my CEA keeps climbing with FOLFOX I'm wondering if after scans in January it might not be suggested to me also? Who knows. This journey is so full of surprises.

    I've had a runny nose last time and this time too. At first thought that it might be just a cold or allergies ... but it's been pretty consistant for longer than a cold and a bit different than my allergy nose so ... Let's blame it on chemo!! HUGS to you, Lou, you're doing great.

    Hey Lou
    and Lori that drippy drippy sound is your nose and it is the chemo...my turned on and just basically ran.....then the eyes started dripping too.

    Lou way to go 5 is great. Remember take er one at a time....I remember my onc did that to me once with xeloda....sprang another 6 rounds on me....haha good joke. Oh well....you are doing so well....listen to the neuropathy advice and wait and see....

    Lori you two are such fine oxy members proud of you both!!!!!

    hugs .....sniff sniff sniff

    maggie
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #4
    My platlettes are dropping as well
    it would be interesting to know what caused your increase in platelets

    my platlette scores below
    just before folfox 2 was 232
    just before folfox 3 was 158
    The safe range is 150 to 400
    only results I have. these and the x10 9th power/L

    found this link, its only one that said no diet way of boosting platelets.
    http://www.oncolink.org/experts/article.cfm?c=1&s=3&ss=3&id=1870

    still looking, any comments ...
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #5
    pete43lost_at_sea said:

    My platlettes are dropping as well
    it would be interesting to know what caused your increase in platelets

    my platlette scores below
    just before folfox 2 was 232
    just before folfox 3 was 158
    The safe range is 150 to 400
    only results I have. these and the x10 9th power/L

    found this link, its only one that said no diet way of boosting platelets.
    http://www.oncolink.org/experts/article.cfm?c=1&s=3&ss=3&id=1870

    still looking, any comments ...

    Yes Pete
    Platelets are one of those things that dont' respond to much other than transfusions. I've been dealing with low platelets with my son for years and if there was any real proven way to get them up I'd know about it as we've done all sorts of things to try and keep him from having regular transfusions.

    Now, with low white blood cells that's not the case. With that you can help some with diet and also with the neupogen or neulesta. My son's been on neupogen 3x a week for years even with diet changes. But, those darn platelets are a whole other animal.
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #6
    Lori-S said:

    Yes Pete
    Platelets are one of those things that dont' respond to much other than transfusions. I've been dealing with low platelets with my son for years and if there was any real proven way to get them up I'd know about it as we've done all sorts of things to try and keep him from having regular transfusions.

    Now, with low white blood cells that's not the case. With that you can help some with diet and also with the neupogen or neulesta. My son's been on neupogen 3x a week for years even with diet changes. But, those darn platelets are a whole other animal.

    thanks lori
    i will look up neupogen or neulesta.
    so much stuff on net, alot just opinion.
    really want to get my lymp up higher. i want my immune system to function well.
    hope your coping ok today with folfox today.
    pete
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #7
    Treatment
    Awesome job on #5 - that is when all of it hit me. Hope you do well with this and so glad that you are going to get an extra week off. Don't worry about being set one week behind, if the plateletts don't go up you have to wait an extra week anyway. My oncologist would give my treatment unless my number was 100,000 so you are getting chemo with low plateletts. Be careful and stay away from people that are sick. You will be more easy to catch a cold. Never had the other chemo in place of oxy but oxy as you know, can be a beast. Good luck.

    Kim
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #8
    Lori-S said:

    Yes Pete
    Platelets are one of those things that dont' respond to much other than transfusions. I've been dealing with low platelets with my son for years and if there was any real proven way to get them up I'd know about it as we've done all sorts of things to try and keep him from having regular transfusions.

    Now, with low white blood cells that's not the case. With that you can help some with diet and also with the neupogen or neulesta. My son's been on neupogen 3x a week for years even with diet changes. But, those darn platelets are a whole other animal.

    You are right
    There really is nothing to do and my doctor just said it is a matter of time and waiting for them to come back up but it can be frustrating when you are just wanting the chemo to end and it ends up being pushed back week after week for low plateletts.

    Kim
  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    #9
    Lori-S said:

    Hey Lou
    Congrats on doing #5! since you had a tough time with the oxy before maybe switching to the irinotecan might work better for you?. That would make it FOLFORI right? I think you just want out of the FOLFOX club and into the big leagues. :) Since my CEA keeps climbing with FOLFOX I'm wondering if after scans in January it might not be suggested to me also? Who knows. This journey is so full of surprises.

    I've had a runny nose last time and this time too. At first thought that it might be just a cold or allergies ... but it's been pretty consistant for longer than a cold and a bit different than my allergy nose so ... Let's blame it on chemo!! HUGS to you, Lou, you're doing great.

    Folfox club
    After some research I don't think I'm going to switch to Folfori Irinotecan. I have been pretty lucky on the diarrhea with Folfox and I know my toilet well enough. I'm getting to know the side effects from Folfox and I am able to quickly adjust when they occur. Studies show Folfox is somewhat more effective but statistic are just a creative way to lie according to my grad-school statistics Prof. I just got my CEA called to me while typing this and I am 0.84 down from 2.3 post surgery. Of course this could change once I'm off the Folfox but I sure hope not. Keep me up-to-date on you Hugs! Lou
  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    #10
    maglets said:

    Hey Lou
    and Lori that drippy drippy sound is your nose and it is the chemo...my turned on and just basically ran.....then the eyes started dripping too.

    Lou way to go 5 is great. Remember take er one at a time....I remember my onc did that to me once with xeloda....sprang another 6 rounds on me....haha good joke. Oh well....you are doing so well....listen to the neuropathy advice and wait and see....

    Lori you two are such fine oxy members proud of you both!!!!!

    hugs .....sniff sniff sniff

    maggie

    thanks
    I don't get sick not even colds. I have never had surgery excpet for cancer and when I was eight years old brain surgery. My Mom said it was because my brain was too big for my head but it was a hit in the head from a toy hammer from a girl friend. It made me blind for a while. I prefer my Mom's story. So I know the runny nose is just another side effect in the Folfox adventure. Lou
  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    #11
    pete43lost_at_sea said:

    My platlettes are dropping as well
    it would be interesting to know what caused your increase in platelets

    my platlette scores below
    just before folfox 2 was 232
    just before folfox 3 was 158
    The safe range is 150 to 400
    only results I have. these and the x10 9th power/L

    found this link, its only one that said no diet way of boosting platelets.
    http://www.oncolink.org/experts/article.cfm?c=1&s=3&ss=3&id=1870

    still looking, any comments ...

    platelets
    Strange isn't about platelets. I was 110,000 at #1 folfox treatment and dropping after each treatment thereafter until #4 when for no apparent reason they went up to 65,000 Why? There is no shot and no diet that will do this. Now ONc says they are going to crash-why? I have never been able to climb into the 150's since my radiation back in 2006 when my pelvis shared the radiation with my cancer. Nothing can be done about it, I will always be low even after chemo stops. Take Care Lou

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