Adjuvant therapy

Cammy · New User Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: New Jersey

Hi: I am a new guy here. I had colon resection April 1st and there was nothing seen in the liver, lungs or nodes (stage 2A). I go for a chemo consultation with an oncologist wed. He will probably want me to get the adjuvant. I fear this because I will just be getting strong after surgery and recovering, then BOOM right into chemo. I have spoken to people who had little or no side effects, but on the internet I have read horror stories. Can anyone give me the straight scoop on what I might expect?
Thanks and prayers for all of you who struggle. Cammy

mistyw · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:50 pm Post subject: Re: Adjuvant therapy

Cammy I'm new to all this too and it sounds like our situations are similar. I just underwent surgery for Stage II-No spread to lymph nodes. I'm going for my consult next week and will be starting Folfox in probably two weeks.

Obviously I have no experience stories, sorry, but maybe we can share our war stories as we go. Sometimes just knowing someone else is going through the same thing helps.

Cammy · New User Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: New Jersey

Thanks for the reply. I wish you good luck and prayers. Funny, I don't remember that particular chemical (folfox) as being in the mix, at least in my readings on the net. Anyway I am sure there is someone out there that has had the adjuvant and can help us out on symptoms.
All the best, Cammy

brainman · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:26 am Post subject: Re: Adjuvant therapy

Cammy, I am very sorry about your cancer. Colorectal Cancers can be so hard to deal with.

How a person reacts to chemotherapy and what side effects occur really depends on a lot of thing... primarily the specific type of chemotherapy. But then even with the same chemotherapy, the side effects vary from one person to the next. That is why you read so much variety in the reports on the Internet. Take all that you read and prepare for the worse but expect the best is all that you can do.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Cammy · New User Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: New Jersey

Thanks brainman: Not sure what you mean by "so hard to deal with"?
Appreciate your time and Godbless. Cammy

brainman · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:51 am Post subject: Re: Adjuvant therapy

I mean that colon cancer can cause so many problems: digestion problems, colostomies in many if not most cases, blockages, food toleration problems...
Plus, the chemos often cause a lot of side effects.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

christine · New User Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Location: L.A.

cammy and mistyw,

Move over...it looks like we're all in the same boat !

I had my surgery on March 26. BTW are your bowels back to normal ? Mine are still loose but getting more predictable.

I will be getting oxiliplatin, 5fu and folfox for my chemo treatments.

The oxiliplatin will make you sensative to cold. The folfox will be coming home with me in a pump for 2 days.

I too feel better than I have for the past year and then now chemo. Oh well, gotta do what ya gotta do.

Cammy · New User Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: New Jersey

Hi: Yep it looks like I will have exactly the same thing, but with a twist: The doc. says it will give me a 2%...yeah just TWO PERCENT better chance of survival based on a 5 year rate, and it could be that all my cancer is now gone, but who would take the chance? I am so miffed.
Good luck ladies. prayers for you. Cammy

christine · New User Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Location: L.A.

Have any of you two had chemo yet ? I just got my PICC line in today and I didn't feel a thing. I was terrified for no reason. I do that to myself all the time.

I do start chemo on Monday though.

I don't know when I'll be back though....my computer died. I'm posting from my Dads house. So I'll report back when I can.

Cammy · New User Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: New Jersey

Yes not too scared about the port going in. Will get chemo in two weeks. Please let us know how you experience the treatments. I pray you have NO side effects. Cammy

christine · New User Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Location: L.A.

No side effects so far, just a wierd taste in my mouth. It's been 24 hours since therapy and I have the one that came home with me which will be disconnected tomorow.

Cammy · New User Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: New Jersey

I'm so glad. Maybe my prayers worked. Can you eat, are you hungry?
keep up the good work, kill all those little buggers. Cammy.

christine · New User Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Location: L.A.

Thanks for the prayers !

I can eat no problem! I feel normal for now and I hope it stays that way, just the metallic taste but I can completely tolerate it.

The PICC line bugs though...I'm still not used to it I suppose. I am babying my arm and keeping it bent and not moving it too much. The guy I talked to in chemo said he did that too when he first got it too.

As far as the take home therapy, I prefer to wear it as a hip bag type thingy instead of purse style. I slept pretty good with it too. I slept with it around my waist too. I just loosened it a bit so I could move it to the side of my hip or back if I wanted to sleep on my side.

Everything is SO FAR SO GOOD! I will also pray that you have no side effects.

REB · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 4:28 pm Post subject: Re: Adjuvant therapy

That is good that you are taking the Chemo well. My first treatment made me very sick. After that, I did much better.

I found eating actually lessens the nausea. Seems weird, but it worked.

Towards the end, nausea was not a problem, but muscle fatigue was.

I got to where I hated taking home the 5-FU. I couldn't sleep well with it, I couldn't shower, and the tape started itching by the second day.

I hope your treatments are trouble free.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor and Temporary Colostomy
Started Chemotherapy 11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil) and leucovorin, oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
Last Chemo treatment 04-09-08, Colostomy Reversal 04-28-08 Age:41

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