What is mop-up chemo ?

Dharma girl
Dharma girl Member Posts: 40
in Colorectal Cancer #1
What is mop-up chemo ? I did a Google search but didn’t have much luck. Thanks.

Comments

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624
    #2
    Slang
    It's just kind of a slang we use. For instance I say I'm on mop up chemo right now. They think they have all the tumors, but not sure if they have all the cancer cells, so we do light chemo, for instance instead of the oxy now I'm just on Xeloda and then have Avastin to mop-up any left over cancer cells.
    Hope this helps.
    Winter Marie
  • Dharma girl
    Dharma girl Member Posts: 40
    #3
    herdizziness said:

    Slang
    It's just kind of a slang we use. For instance I say I'm on mop up chemo right now. They think they have all the tumors, but not sure if they have all the cancer cells, so we do light chemo, for instance instead of the oxy now I'm just on Xeloda and then have Avastin to mop-up any left over cancer cells.
    Hope this helps.
    Winter Marie

    a good option ?
    My mom had surgery and a Pet scan that came back clear, wouldn’t mop-up chemo be a good option for her ?

    At this point she has no cancer that can be “seen” . If it is there, it is micrometastases.
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624
    #4
    Dharma girl said:

    a good option ?
    My mom had surgery and a Pet scan that came back clear, wouldn’t mop-up chemo be a good option for her ?

    At this point she has no cancer that can be “seen” . If it is there, it is micrometastases.

    Well...
    I don't know, it's certainly something to ask the oncologist though. Each case is different and they might have a reason for a bit more. Only thing to do is ask them, and if you don't like their opinion, get a second one from another oncologist, couldn't hurt.
    Hugs,
    Winter Marie
  • Dharma girl
    Dharma girl Member Posts: 40
    #5
    herdizziness said:

    Well...
    I don't know, it's certainly something to ask the oncologist though. Each case is different and they might have a reason for a bit more. Only thing to do is ask them, and if you don't like their opinion, get a second one from another oncologist, couldn't hurt.
    Hugs,
    Winter Marie

    I think you are right
    I think you are right, maybe we need to make a appointment to see her oncologist and/or get a second opinion. Thanks.
  • TMac52
    TMac52 Member Posts: 352
    #6
    Dharma girl said:

    I think you are right
    I think you are right, maybe we need to make a appointment to see her oncologist and/or get a second opinion. Thanks.

    I'm mopping up now!
    Been through initial chemo/radiation then APR surgery, after surgery there is no evidence of cancer left in my body,,,,,,,,, so to be safe in case there any nasty cancer cells floating around they do another series of chemo if varies for different stages of disease. I was stage one so I am only doing 4 months were other people with stage 3 or 4 might do 6 months. I have 5 weeks to go. I did folfox however because of the feet problems they stopped the oxcalplatin and I will finish with the 5fu. and thats a wrap
    Tom
  • Kenny H.
    Kenny H. Member Posts: 502
    #7
    TMac52 said:

    I'm mopping up now!
    Been through initial chemo/radiation then APR surgery, after surgery there is no evidence of cancer left in my body,,,,,,,,, so to be safe in case there any nasty cancer cells floating around they do another series of chemo if varies for different stages of disease. I was stage one so I am only doing 4 months were other people with stage 3 or 4 might do 6 months. I have 5 weeks to go. I did folfox however because of the feet problems they stopped the oxcalplatin and I will finish with the 5fu. and thats a wrap
    Tom

    Same here. Wondering if a CT
    Same here. Wondering if a CT scan will be needed after mop-up?
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624
    #8
    Kenny H. said:

    Same here. Wondering if a CT
    Same here. Wondering if a CT scan will be needed after mop-up?

    Scheduled
    I'm scheduled for one 3 months after surgery, to see how things are surgical and tumor wise, then next one 6 months and if good one year and colonoscopy one year.
    Winter Marie
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866
    #9
    All it takes
    is for one little cancer cell to "escape" the surgery for cancer to spread. I've done it and would recommend it but everyone has their own opinions on it.
    -phil
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624
    #10
    PhillieG said:

    All it takes
    is for one little cancer cell to "escape" the surgery for cancer to spread. I've done it and would recommend it but everyone has their own opinions on it.
    -phil

    Escaping cell
    That's exactly why I'm do what the onc wants, I want any escaped [email protected] to be caught!!!
    Winter Marie
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #11
    herdizziness said:

    Scheduled
    I'm scheduled for one 3 months after surgery, to see how things are surgical and tumor wise, then next one 6 months and if good one year and colonoscopy one year.
    Winter Marie

    Anticipate doing CT after chemo ends and then another CT
    3 months after that and a CT/PET 3 months after that scan....You'll also probably do bloodwork for some time after chemo as well......steve
  • Dharma girl
    Dharma girl Member Posts: 40
    #12
    adjuvant therapy
    Are adjuvant therapy and mop-up the same thing ?
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #13
    Dharma girl said:

    adjuvant therapy
    Are adjuvant therapy and mop-up the same thing ?

    Its
    just a fancier way of saying the same thing-treatment after surgery......Generally, a tumor is removed but its microscopic,too-small-to-be-noted-on-scans particles that might remain that the "mop up" will hopefully eradicate forever....
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900
    #14
    TMac52 said:

    I'm mopping up now!
    Been through initial chemo/radiation then APR surgery, after surgery there is no evidence of cancer left in my body,,,,,,,,, so to be safe in case there any nasty cancer cells floating around they do another series of chemo if varies for different stages of disease. I was stage one so I am only doing 4 months were other people with stage 3 or 4 might do 6 months. I have 5 weeks to go. I did folfox however because of the feet problems they stopped the oxcalplatin and I will finish with the 5fu. and thats a wrap
    Tom

    i am mopping as well
    i was a t3/t4 so got the 6 month deal.
    done 8 folfox so far, got 4 to go.
    so much fun, NOT

    pete
  • belindahill
    belindahill Member Posts: 144
    #15
    adjuvent chemo
    My husband on adjuvant chemo after surgery 8 cycles, no sign of the cancer after surgery but the cancer cells are so small to see, so chemo is given to help stop the cancer from spreading at a later date. Also goes into account is the stage of the cancer at surgery and how many nodes were poss. Good luck
  • Dharma girl
    Dharma girl Member Posts: 40
    #16
    Thanks everyone
    Thanks everyone for the information and sharing your personal experiences.
    So much to learn, so little time.

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