Search Results for '5fu'
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Search Results
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In reply to: New chemo cocktail
Hi Aberdeen,
I’m currently on the modified Folfox6 regimen. So far my blood counts (especially the red ones) have not rebounded as well as they used to. My counts were fine for my first treatment then for my second treatment the chemo had to be reduced by 20% because my RBC’s were too low. I have had 2 treatments so far, with only mild cold sensitivity and neuropathy in my toes. I won’t have new scans until the end of October so right now I have no idea if it’s working. But even if I do have tumor shrinkage I won’t know if it’s the chemo or the radioembolization I had about 1 month ago. I’m sorry that I can’t speak about how effective it is. I only know about my side effects.I spend about 6 hours at the chemo center getting anti-nausea meds, oxaliplatin, leucovorin, magnesium along with one other vitamin-type med (chemo-brain won’t let me remember!) to lessen the neuropathy, and a 5FU push. Then I go home with a pump of 5FU for 46 hours.
The cold sensitivity is weird, it makes my jaws and lips feel like I’ve tasted something sour, and my throat feels like there’s something stuck in it but my breathing isn’t effected. I think it’s actually a spasm and only lasts as long as I’m drinking the cold drink. When I touch something cold it feels like I’ve held onto an ice cube for too long but the sensation doesn’t linger once I stop touching something cold. The entire cold sensitivity only lasts a couple of days (so far). However, I have read on other sites where people have extreme cold sensitivity, they have to wear gloves if they need something from the fridge or freezer. And if it’s cold outside and breathing hurts to wear a scarf and breathe through it.
I hope I’ve given you some useful info. Take care.
In reply to: FU5
Xeloda is 5FU in pill form. According to my old oncologist, the body processes the pill to form 5FU. However, he said there were no studies comparing the effectiveness of Xeloda and 5FU. I took Xeloda for 7 weeks while have radiation, and the combination was very effective for me.
Kristin
In reply to: FU5
If I am remembering correctly…that the folfox regime is comprised of 5FU, oxaliplatin, and something else. I remember talking to my doctor about this and she said that the xeloda and oxaliplatin regime came out of folfox. So I am guessing that 5FU and xeloda are related.
This regime has been discussed before. Try searching the forum for 5FU or folfox.
IF you are not comfortable with your doctors decisions, get a second opinion. There are several places to check. Has your dad tried xeloda? I *think* that xeloda has fewer side effects than 5fu, but I am not positive.
Best of luck
KrisOn May 20, 2009 my Dad passed away at the age of 70. I am still in disbelief and cannot believe he is gone. He was diagnosed with this terrible disease on August 8, 2008, 1 day before his 70th birthday. Now, 9 months and 12 days later he is gone. My sister and I took him to the Mayo Clinic in hopes “they” could do something. After a failed attempt at a liver resection it was suggested he try chemo. In December 2008 he started his treatments, Gemzar for 3 months. After the CT scan showed no growth or no shrinking of the tumors, the oncologist suggested radiation and 5FU. After 6 weeks of that Dad was experiencing vomiting and a lot of pain in his abdomen. He was admitted to the hospital on May 16, 2009 with a large amount of fliud build up in his abdomen. On May 18th the doctors suggested we contact Hospice as there was nothing more the doctors could do for Dad. We had him transfered to HospiceCare on Tuesday, May 19th and he died 1 day later on May 20th. I am devastated and am not sure how to cope or what to do next. My two greatest fears in life have always been, losing my Dad and being alone. Now one has come true. If anyone has any advise on how to cope with a loss of a loved one, a father and friend please share. I am scared!
Bless all the people affected with this dreaded disease, the caregivers, the family and friends.
Topic: Hiccups and Burping
Hello-
I am trying to find out if anyone has any suggestions for stopping the constant hiccups and burping my Dad is experiencing? Here is a quick history on Dad.* Diagnosed with CC on August 8th, 2008
* Unsuccessful liver resection at Mayo Clinic – September 2008
* Gemzar chemo for 3 months – December 2008 – February 2009
* Radiation and 5FU treatment – March 2009 – April 2009
* Completed treatment (for now) on April 17th, 2009
* Been very sick – Constant vomitting for the last 3 weeks
*Doctors thinks it is the 5FU working itself out of his system
* For the last week has constant hiccups and burping
* Says he sees to have to gasp for a breath and feels like food
is caught in his esophagusCan anyone suggest something to stop the hiccups and burping as this is very difficult to deal with all day long.
Thanks and God Bless,
In reply to: Searching for Information
Hi Iam on waiting list for liver transplant. My tumor is in bile duct and only hope is transplant. I was diagnosed in July 2008. There are only 2 places that do transplants for our disease, it is still considered a clinical trial. One is the Mayo Clinic and the other is Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis Mo. I am a patient at Barnes-Jewish. My doctor is William Chapman (google him, quite impressive). I had to complete 6rounds of gemcidabean chemo, 6 weeks of radiation with 5FU chemo pump, and a staging surgery to make sure nothing had changed. All of my treatments were bearable, main complaint fatigue achy naseau and all managed with drugs. I then qualified for transplant. While I wait I take oral chemo, Xeloda. I am very lucky because most doctors don’t know this is an option for our cancer. I have been on list for 3 months. I had a MRI saturday and found out no change, which is good. That means for 8 months since diagnosis it has not grown or spread , which is what they want. I can not say enough good about Dr. Chapman or Barnes Hospital, my symptons were just itchy and he knew right away after ERCP what was going on. Dr. Chapman told me that Barnes or Mayo were the only places doing this trial. Good luck, your sister is in our prayers. Cathy spraywedo@aol.com
In reply to: Cholangiocarcinoma
Hi Jane, I have done all the chemo-gemcidabean, 5FU(pump) and now Xeloda. I also had radiation. I have been sicker with the flu, to see me I look normal not bald or pale. my side effects from a ll of this was fatigue. It took a while to come on and a while to go away. I see you are from Chicago, so I would contact Dr. William Chapman (google him, quite impressive) he is located at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis MO. He is one of the leaders in this cancer. He is a transplant specialist ( I am on transplant list) with out him I would have no hope. Don’t let chemo scare you it is not what the movies potrait, they have great drugs to manage all the side effects. It is a small price to pay to see tomorrow. Good luck Cathy -spraywedo@aol.com
Topic: Chest Pain?
Dad has been complaining of chest pain today. He’s also coughing up some muccous. He’s been receiving weekly 5fu for 3 weeks now, following 3.5 mo. of gemzar. Does anyone have any experiencing with chest pains complaints?
In reply to: Does Bile Leak?
Hi Larry, it sounds like you and my Dad will be on very simular schedules…. as he is expected to start the radiation with 5FU sometimes next week, also 5X week for 6 weeks. The new 5FU that he’s been on for 2 weeks now has made him extremely tired & the docs have told Dad that the radiation will destroy one kidney and a portion of his lung. I just spoke with another gal last week that indicated that the radiation was less tough on her husband than the Gemzar, so it’s hard to tell what the response may be. The 6 week external radiation, in Dad’s case, is expected to be followed by internal radiation (brachytherapy) via his biliary cath. The key objective, is to reduce the size of the tumor to the point that it can be resected. The surgeon says that if they can reduce it just a bit, he’ll try and resect. He is the only doc. we found (after half a dozen opinions) that said he’d attempt surgery. The tumor is about the size of a softball & is located near a major vein. Most of the docs said that they didn’t recommend radiation – but in the same breath indicate that it is the only chance for survival… so why not try????
Please keep us posted as to how the combo is working for you Larry, you are clearly a fighter & you’ll be in our thoughts and prayers.
Best to you,
TessIn reply to: question about oxaliplatin
Hello there my neighbor down the road, it’s Tess from your old NY stomping grounds! I wanted to say hello & let you know that you and Gary continue to be in our thoughts. You still feel like a neighbor, in that all 3 of my brothers are together in Myrtle Beach this week!
Those are excellent CA-19 number drops for Gary. Dad’s dropped from 26,000+ to 6,000 & are back up to 9,000+ this week. The docs say that this is one of several diagnostic tools & that while the scans aren’t showing growth of the tumor, the rise in CA-19 numbers & rise in bilirubin level (back up to 16+), are outweighing the positive results from the scan, in terms of the ‘big picture’.
We don’t have any experience with the oxaliplatin, but I do know that the docs have decided this week to change Dad’s chemo from Gemzar to 5FU & that he did have to take time off with the Gemzar for various regions between Nov & Feb. (e.g. infection, blood work readings, etc.).
I have a question for you that I hope you can assist me with. Dad is very jaundice & has high bilirubin levels & continues to leak bile out his pics. The docs can’t explain it, as they say the biliary cath (diverting the bile) is in perfect position. They’ve also said this week that Dad has a hernia. Could there be a connection between the hernias & a bile duct leak? Can you tell me more about the bile duct leak?
Thanks so much.
Sending hugs….
TessIn reply to: Does Bile Leak?
Very interesting Raye, thanks for sharing. The docs & nurses here have never heard of leaking bile. Moreover, the oncologist & radiologist can’t understand why Dad is so jaundice & why his bilirubin levels are so elevated, as the scans appear to suggest that the biliary cath is in perfect position to divert the bile. Yes, Dad too has lost an alarming amount of weight & has next to no appetite. He started 5FU in exchange for gemzar last week & is scheduled to being radiation next week. Thanks for the note, there’s comfort in knowing Dad is not alone on this one.
Best to you,
TessIn reply to: sir-spheres
Hello Keith & welcome, I am sorry to hear about your Mom’s recurrent tumors. You have a great team here to field your questions to! While not directly related to SIR spheres, per research for my Dad, when we were looking into the microspheres – we were told it would work in conjunction with the gemzar. He just finished up 3.5 months of gemzar & started a new chemo, 5FU, last week. He will likely begin brachytherapy radiation next week (5 days week/5 weeks) & this will be in combination with his new chemo, which will be infused via a pump that he will wear 24/7. I have certainly found varying opinions on what docs will do & how they will do it. We went after about 10 different opinions, just to get comfortable with what our options really were. You are right to ask all the questions you have, at any time.
The “search forum” tab above should assist with locating additional insights into the combo of SIR with chemo ….. consider checking out this thread, for example…
http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=2294Wishing you and your family all the best Keith.
Tess
In reply to: After the Whipple?
Hi Jill. It’s my first time posting here, but saw your post and had to answer.
Just about 5 yrs ago, when I wish I had gall stones, I was dx’d with PC. Not knowing any better, I was lucky enough to end up at Hopkins in MD (I live in PA). Post-whipple, they said I had BDC that grew into the pancreas. At that time, they said the standard of care, and treating it the same as PC, was to follow up with radiation and chemotherapy.
At a local hospital, I did the 5FU pump (5 days on, weekends off) and radiation. Then followed up with 1 a week sessions of Gemzar for 4-6 weeks (not quite sure). Please do the followup as it’s better to rid yourself of any of those lingering cells now. Later is a whole different battle.
Hopkins has a very active PC board where everyone goes. The BDC board is not very active. Lots of info (and searches are helpful).
While I’m looking forward to celebrating my 5 yr whippleversary on 8/3, I wish you and your family the very best.
RS in PA
In reply to: new to cc and this site
Hello Carol & welcome. You & your husband have been through a lot in a very short period of time, my thoughts are with you. You have a great team here with a lot of experience, as you can see from the many posts, that can answer so many of your questions- or be simple be there to listen. My Dad has cc & was diagnosed in Nov. 08, the constipation has been a huge struggle for Dad, causing major discomfort & irritability. When he was in the hospital for several days in Dec. & was on a hydration drip, he was more normal than he’s been in several months… & while he knows hydration & stool softeners are key- drinking so many liquids is still a very big challenge for him. He also takes milk of magnesia (occasionally) in addition to the Maalox , this had a more immediate impact for the relief of constipation & indigestion for Dad. He starts the 5FU this week, in exchange for the gemzar, & this is may cause diarrhea instead of constipation according to the paperwork. The burping & indigestion are also causing Dad significant discomfort & he’s so very tired all the time.
Just wanted to drop you a note & remind you, along with the others, that you’re not alone.
Here is a link to some iron-rich food sources…. As an aside, the chemo really effected Dad’s appetite & we’ve found that lemon helps to rid his mouth of the salty/metallic taste, so that he can tollerate more.
http://www.bloodbook.com/iron-foods.html
Hugs to you Carol,
TessIn reply to: Does Bile Leak?
Hey guys, just thought I’d post an update on the leaking bile & the increased jaundice, as the docs can’t explain it. It is suspected it’s bile leaking from the pic line, as it cultured negative for infection & is green like bile. Dad is awefully jaundice still & the doc’s can’t explain it. After numerous reviews, it appears that his biliary catheter, diverting the bile, is in perfect place and doing its job. Per the scans last week, after 3 mo. of gemzar, the tumor has not grown. However this week the CA19 is back up to 9,000 + & the bilirubin level to 14. Dad is not eating much & is so very weak. He’s expected to start 5FU via a daily pump infusion & radiation (brachytherapy) next week. I worry about his strength level. He also spiked a fever this week, with terrible chills & confusion. It held out for a couple hours as he refused to go to the ER, then it broke & he was back to normal. It was odd, in that it was his off week for chemo.
As an aside, I contacted a bilirubin toxicity specialist this week to inquire into potential negative implications of jaundice in the system for extended periods of time…. The specialist indicated that the form of bilirubin
that is accumulating in Dad’s circulation and is being excreted
in the bile will predominantly be the so-called “direct” or
“conjugated bilirubin”, which is not a toxic form of the pigment. He further noted that the toxic form is “indirect” or “unconjugated” bilirubin which is,
in general, a problem only in newborn babies and certain extremely
rare diseases. He says that although the jaundice may be extremely
disconcerting and worrying, one should not worry about toxicity from
the yellow pigment itself. That explanation did provide some relief following some readings on bilirubin toxicity.Keep us in your thoughts & as always, thanks for sharing your insights.
Best,
Tess
