Starting the next chemo

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plh4gail
plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Okay...I found out today that next Tuesday I will start Oxaliplatin and the 5fu pump again. Getting a little nervous, but also looking forward to getting on with treatment. I will keep reading your posts and put any good advice to use.

Gail

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  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #2
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    OK Gail
    Let us know when you get home as we will have to induct you into the FOLFOX club. I promise not to make you stand on your head while balancing the pump with your toes.
    ☺
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    #3
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    Lori-S said:

    OK Gail
    Let us know when you get home as we will have to induct you into the FOLFOX club. I promise not to make you stand on your head while balancing the pump with your toes.
    ☺

    Ok, now I'm smiling
    Hahaha......finally a smile for me today.

    Folfox...is that another name for the chemo's I will be taking?

    Gail
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #4
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    plh4gail said:

    Ok, now I'm smiling
    Hahaha......finally a smile for me today.

    Folfox...is that another name for the chemo's I will be taking?

    Gail

    Pretty sure
    Be sure to ask your onc, though just in case he adds or takes something out. But, it is the standard first line. Sometimes Avastin is added for stage 4s. My onc is waiting for that until we do the 12 rounds of FOLFOX hoping that I won't have to go any further. No matter which you take someone here will have experience with it. Isn't that great? FOLFOX is the folonic acid, 5FU and oxaliplatin. I will be hoping you do well with it.
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #5
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    chemo
    Good luck with it!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    #6
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    Folfox Club
    Good luck Gail. Oxi and 5 FU really sucked for me but the memories have faded over the months. Kinda' like having a baby...the labor is horrible but the reward makes you forget just how bad it really was.

    I know you will do well.

    -Pat
  • okthen
    okthen Member Posts: 232
    #7
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    Good Luck Gail! I'll be
    Good Luck Gail! I'll be thinking of you! My hubby gets hooked up tomorrow after being off for 4weeks...I think I may have to drag him there, he is certainly not looking forward to it. )o:
    Let us know how you do,
    Chriss
  • bruins1971
    bruins1971 Member Posts: 227
    #8
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    Fun Stuff
    I am on Oxyliplatin and 5FU right now heck I am wearing a pump of the 5FU right now as I speak after I had round 10 yesterday and I now wear this pump for 46 hours. It's really not that bad but for the neuropathy in my feet and sensitivity to cold but they go away about 2 days after the pump is disconnected.

    bobby
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    #9
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    I'm ready with a bit of
    I'm ready with a bit of strange anticipation. I guess I just want to get it started and over so I can start to find my new normal.

    Gail
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #10
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    plh4gail said:

    I'm ready with a bit of
    I'm ready with a bit of strange anticipation. I guess I just want to get it started and over so I can start to find my new normal.

    Gail

    stay warm
    Hi Gail,

    I'll be thinking of you and praying for you, if you'd like as you start Folfox.
    Be sure to have gloves ready to take anything out of the refrig or freezer!
    Hugs to you-

    Lisa
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    #11
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    Hey Gail -I totally
    Hey Gail -I totally understand the conflicting feelings of being nervous about chemo, but also wanting to get one with it. You've done some chemo before while doing radiation. Was that just 5fu alone?

    Try not to worry. Some folks have a real hard time with Oxali and others breeze through it. For most of us, it just sucks and we do the best we can. I did 12 treatments that ended in Feb. It worked great and got me to surgery. I did Folfori this past Fall, but it didn't work at all. Yesterday I did my 2nd treatment of Folfox and I'm handling it fine.

    You have had a hell of Fall. You've gotten through chemo/rad and surgery. The reversal must have gone very well. So - "Well done!!"

    Enjoy every moment until Tuesday, and then it "game on."

    Take Care,
    Roger
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    #12
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    lisa42 said:

    stay warm
    Hi Gail,

    I'll be thinking of you and praying for you, if you'd like as you start Folfox.
    Be sure to have gloves ready to take anything out of the refrig or freezer!
    Hugs to you-

    Lisa

    Lisa
    Thank's Lisa..prayers,good thoughts, all well wishes, positive signs, and good humor are a good thing for me. Helps keep my spirits up. The other day I went into the church I attend off and on and had some one on one time with "Whoever Was Listening". I sat in the front row all by myself at 830 in the morning on a Monday. Nice. ............Oh man I forgot to get the gloves today at Target. I had that on my mind, but I guess the thought didn't last long enough for me to remember.

    Gail :)
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    #13
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    Crow71 said:

    Hey Gail -I totally
    Hey Gail -I totally understand the conflicting feelings of being nervous about chemo, but also wanting to get one with it. You've done some chemo before while doing radiation. Was that just 5fu alone?

    Try not to worry. Some folks have a real hard time with Oxali and others breeze through it. For most of us, it just sucks and we do the best we can. I did 12 treatments that ended in Feb. It worked great and got me to surgery. I did Folfori this past Fall, but it didn't work at all. Yesterday I did my 2nd treatment of Folfox and I'm handling it fine.

    You have had a hell of Fall. You've gotten through chemo/rad and surgery. The reversal must have gone very well. So - "Well done!!"

    Enjoy every moment until Tuesday, and then it "game on."

    Take Care,
    Roger

    Yes, while doing radiation,
    Yes, while doing radiation, it was the 5fu pump for 5 weeks. They said it was a low dose at that time. I think it was the combination of the 2 that kicked my behind, but it took 2 to 3 weeks to get back to feeling well. I'm just really wishing this was happening after the Holidays, my 9 and 11 year old see me go through so much. I do try to look, act, be as normal as I can. I just wanted to go through the Holidays without the chemo. Time to get busy with lights, tree, and shopping.

    Gail :)
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    #14
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    okthen said:

    Good Luck Gail! I'll be
    Good Luck Gail! I'll be thinking of you! My hubby gets hooked up tomorrow after being off for 4weeks...I think I may have to drag him there, he is certainly not looking forward to it. )o:
    Let us know how you do,
    Chriss

    All of You
    Thank's to all of you! It helps me to know there are other's and if you can all do it, then so can I.

    Gail :)
  • Kenny H.
    Kenny H. Member Posts: 502 Member
    #15
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    plh4gail said:

    Yes, while doing radiation,
    Yes, while doing radiation, it was the 5fu pump for 5 weeks. They said it was a low dose at that time. I think it was the combination of the 2 that kicked my behind, but it took 2 to 3 weeks to get back to feeling well. I'm just really wishing this was happening after the Holidays, my 9 and 11 year old see me go through so much. I do try to look, act, be as normal as I can. I just wanted to go through the Holidays without the chemo. Time to get busy with lights, tree, and shopping.

    Gail :)

    Just had #3 of 12 treatments
    Just had #3 of 12 treatments & on the Folfox pump as I type. Be sure to have them give you the nausea med also. other than that only side effects are the sensitive to cold esp drinks. Been taking it well so far also. Good luck.
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #16
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    Hi Gail:)
    Good luck with you next treatment.

    A couple of things just for your knowledge base:

    1. The 5fu pump they had you on during your radiation was not a LOWER DOSE. In fact, it is the same dose they give you on the 46-hour pump - the difference is the infusion rate, it is usually 0.5ml per hour for the seven days. Whereas on the 46-hour timer, they throttle the same amount to you in only two days - thus we really feel the hit at the end of the 2 days.

    2. Folfox is the cocktail of several drugs: Oxaliplatin, Leucovorin, and 5fu bolus.

    You hang in there - your magazine will be shipped soon, I've just been whipped from treatment - and there might just be a surprise for you, under your tree from Santa Craig:) He knows if you've been naughty or nice, so be good for goodness sake, LOL:)

    Oh, and be sure to ask your onc about MAGNESIUM SULFATE with your infusion. If this works for you, it would allow you to drink cool or cold drinks without that terrible, sharp sensation. And it lessens the neuropathy in your hands and feet.

    Be sure to ask about it - it may not work for you, as it sometimes does not for everybody...however, it if it does work for you, it will ease the burden of your treatments and help put some humanity back into your struggle....it's worth doin' at least once:)

    Ok, good luck and I am watching your story unfold...

    -Craig
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #17
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    Crow71 said:

    Hey Gail -I totally
    Hey Gail -I totally understand the conflicting feelings of being nervous about chemo, but also wanting to get one with it. You've done some chemo before while doing radiation. Was that just 5fu alone?

    Try not to worry. Some folks have a real hard time with Oxali and others breeze through it. For most of us, it just sucks and we do the best we can. I did 12 treatments that ended in Feb. It worked great and got me to surgery. I did Folfori this past Fall, but it didn't work at all. Yesterday I did my 2nd treatment of Folfox and I'm handling it fine.

    You have had a hell of Fall. You've gotten through chemo/rad and surgery. The reversal must have gone very well. So - "Well done!!"

    Enjoy every moment until Tuesday, and then it "game on."

    Take Care,
    Roger

    Hi Roger , I'm glad you are back to folfox that sure is going to
    work again!, and l see you are handling it quite well , that's the way!
    Hugs!
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #18
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    Sundanceh said:

    Hi Gail:)
    Good luck with you next treatment.

    A couple of things just for your knowledge base:

    1. The 5fu pump they had you on during your radiation was not a LOWER DOSE. In fact, it is the same dose they give you on the 46-hour pump - the difference is the infusion rate, it is usually 0.5ml per hour for the seven days. Whereas on the 46-hour timer, they throttle the same amount to you in only two days - thus we really feel the hit at the end of the 2 days.

    2. Folfox is the cocktail of several drugs: Oxaliplatin, Leucovorin, and 5fu bolus.

    You hang in there - your magazine will be shipped soon, I've just been whipped from treatment - and there might just be a surprise for you, under your tree from Santa Craig:) He knows if you've been naughty or nice, so be good for goodness sake, LOL:)

    Oh, and be sure to ask your onc about MAGNESIUM SULFATE with your infusion. If this works for you, it would allow you to drink cool or cold drinks without that terrible, sharp sensation. And it lessens the neuropathy in your hands and feet.

    Be sure to ask about it - it may not work for you, as it sometimes does not for everybody...however, it if it does work for you, it will ease the burden of your treatments and help put some humanity back into your struggle....it's worth doin' at least once:)

    Ok, good luck and I am watching your story unfold...

    -Craig

    Hi Gail, hope everything goes week for you!
    Good luck, l will pray for it!.
    Hugs!

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