Search Results for '5fu'

Well, here I am again in the patient role. I really enjoyed the 2-1/2 years of being a pill popping chronic illness patient. Now to get back to fighting again.
The last ct scan showed new growth in lymph nodes and indeterminate “lights” that are too small to guess at. So the work begins.
First, I am off the clinical trial. I did post that part on my clinical trial section.
In the past 24 hours I was given the bad news, met with my radiologist, received calls from my onc today about trials, scheduled an ekg for tomorrow, a pet scan for Friday, and a biopsy for Christmas Eve morning! I’m tired! I forgot how much time this takes. And I start a new job tomorrow afternoon. First day on the job… Oh, I’m sorry, I need some time off… Great timing, huh?
On top of that, I’ve been overwhelmed with a good friend on hospice. I’ve been fighting a cold so haven’t seen her the past few days, but she’s fading fast.
And my mom was just put on hospice in Alabama, too far for me to help. And I won’t be there at Christmas because of my new health issues and the new job. I told God that his timing sucks.
I’ve spent most of the day on the phone setting up appts. and need to get my calendar book up and running again, I guess.
I still feel fine, and at least I get to look forward to finding my ankles again! And losing the puffy eye look. Such an attractive look!
We are looking into trials or radiation first. Gem/Cis will be the next option. Gem/ox is my last choice because I still have a bit of neuropathy so I figure I won’t handle too many infusions. Dr. Denlinger is looking at 5fu paired with other drugs. We’ll see what she comes up with. She’s also reaching out to MSKCC and Georgetown for suggestions.
That’s all for now. My big girl panties are on and I’m lacing up the gloves.

Hi guys, I’ve been reading on these forums the last couple of weeks but finally decided to join and post about my mother.

Last month, August 2015, a general check up at her GP found some mildly elevated LFT’s, so an ultrasound was ordered. After an ultrasound, she had an immediate CT scan which discovered an approximate 9cm mass located within the liver. Otherwise she was completely asymptomatic. She had an MRI and then was referred to a HPB surgeon, and then had a biopsy on a nearby lymph node approx 2.5cm, which returned negative for cancer. CT on lungs showed lungs were clear. The surgeon ordered a biopsy of the liver, and then were referred to an oncologist. He explained that although there is no portal vein invasion, it is currently inoperable to the the closeness to a vein (I can’t recall which one), however his aim is to shrink the tumor and then go for a liver resection. He seems confident he can do this provided the tumor shrinkage. At this stage we did not even know what type of cancer she had (so we assumed it was just liver cancer).

Once we saw the oncologist (early Sep 2015), we were told the diagnosis was cholangiocarcinoma. He wasn’t very positive when we saw him, stated it was pretty advanced (although clear lungs, no mets, negative lymph node biopsy), however he said theres some abnormal looking lymph node(s) nearby. He decided because she is young, fit and healthy to start her on FOLFIRINOX (oxaliplatin, irinotecan, folinic acid and 5FU). I’m not sure why he decided on this over gem/cis, which seems to be the first line treatment. I have not been able to personally ask him this. She had a port insertion in the clavicle area, and receives treatment every 14 days. She is currently on day 2 of the second cycle and is handling it quite well, minimal side effects including occasional diarrhoea, some pins and needles on the first 3 days of cycle. The oncologist explained that there’s a 50% chance she will respond to the chemotherapy – so we are trying to stay positive.

I’m very grateful because she has amazing family around her at this difficult time. I’m also very proud of her for the way she has handled it, through the ups and downs, the tears and the strength and courage she has had, and how positive she is remaining now that she has started the chemo. Up until starting the chemo she was very scared and emotional, but know she feels she is soldiering through it. I feel bad for my dad, him and my mum have been together since they were 16 years old, and he lost his mother to brain cancer at 15 years old. My boyfriends father was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer one year ago, and although he has had successful treatment and surgery and is currently cancer free, I don’t think even that prepared me for my own mother’s diagnosis. I work in the healthcare field (pharmacist), so I’m very grateful to have a greater understanding of many aspects of the cancer journey, particularly in regards to medications and medical terminology.

I would love to hear from anyone in Australia who is going through a similar journey. Also, anyone who has had experience with FOLFIRINOX in cholangiocarcinoma. We are hopeful that if folfironix fails, we might be able to access a trial medication or possibly have access to some funds for a medication like Pembrolizumab, however we would look into tumor profiling before going down this avenue.

Thanks again for reading, and nice to meet you all!

Hi There
Went to Oxford today to see oncologist who was talking about an option for Kim to do a clinical trial
A trial looking at oxaliplatin and 5FU for advanced biliary tract cancers (ABC-06)
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-c … cers-abc06
I also discussed the possibility of sirt and they are going to review again but because of ascites and her resection she might not be eligible. Without treatment a prognosis was given of about 6 months and they cant guarantee whether she will get the chemo option on the trial. Can anyone else shed some light on the trial proposed? Is this something that has been offered in the US? Kim is Stage 4 now and her liver has about 7 grape sizes nodules/tumours? . She also has lymph node involvement around the abdomen and ascites.
Bitter sweet day as her daughter had a GCSE results today which were fantastic.
Love to hear of anyone in a similar situation or been through these options themselves x

Hello all
After many months of having elevated liver enzymes I was diagnosed on April 2nd 2014 with extrahepatic hilar CC. I was told it was an early detection and I was eligible for the liver resection surgery. After getting a second opinion from Sloan I returned to Cincinnati and had my surgery at UC Medical on April 10th. The surgery was successful at getting the entire tumor along with 70% of my liver and 9 clear lymph nodes. Margins were also clear but some very slim (1mm). The cancer was stage 2 and the cells were graded “well differentiated”. I was also told the nerve was involved and that might be a good reason to get Chemotherapy treatments. Do any of you know what exactly the ramifications of nerve involvement are or could be? I did follow up with 6 Chemo treatments of cisplatin & gemcitabine and 6 of gemcitabine only. Took a 4 week break followed by 5 weeks/25 radiation therapy with 5FU treatments. I was able to take the 5FU for only half way through because of low platlettes. I figured since I was relatively young (57) with no other health problems and a strong desire to live I would leave it all on the field as they say. All treatments concluded mid December and my CT scans in January and April of 2015 were NED. I have since been doing just about every Integrative therapy I can find, definitely over the top. Next scan will be in October.
Thanks for listening and I pray you all have a long and happy life.
Greg

Sorry for the multiple topics, thought it might be easier than posting separate ones.

A brief history –
I had a resection of my tumor in February 2014 in addition to that –
right side of the liver removal
gall bladder removal
bile duct removal – re-routed to intestines
small section resection of small intestine
Gemzar/Oxaliplatin for two months
After that – Radiation Monday through Friday for six weeks, 5FU for first and last week of Radiation
Gemzar/Oxaliplatin for 1 month after Radiation

more detailed history here – http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=12625

Since then –

Final chemo in September 2014. During my radiation treatment I developed an incisional hernia from the surgery in February 2014 (do not feel that radiation caused, just happened concurrently). Doctor said it looked like my bowels were pushing through my abdomen in the same place my incision was for tumor removal. Doctor would not operate until all of my treatments were complete and I had rested for at a minimum of 3 months. PET scans in October 2014 and January 2015 came back clear.

Surgery was performed on January 30th of this year and biological mesh was placed in the area where the hernia was. During the surgery, surgeon discovered three nodules, two of the nodules were intraperitoneal and one of them was adherent to the peritoneum. One of the nodules was biopsied and was found to be positive. Although not entirely surprised, it seemed a bit odd that all of my scans have been clean. My oncologist thinks this is a recurrence of the same cancer and not new.

My oncologist sent my specimen to Foundation One for genomic testing and I am waiting on my results (will probably be another week or so). My doctor has not provided any treatment options at this point and wants to wait until this test is returned before discussing further treatment.

I noticed and have posted on Matt Reidy’s thread the similarities of our journey’s but wanted to get input from others on the following:

Has anyone else had any specimens submitted to Foundation One and have they suggested alternative treatments and have you started any and with what results?

I have always had this abdominal fullness after eating and it never mattered how much I eat. It will last for hours and usually until the next time I eat. It doesn’t look like I’m bloated but feels similar. Sometimes the best relief is to lie flat on my back. It feels like when the organs drop and there is no pressure there is quite a bit of relief from the fullness. My doctor told me to eat smaller meals throughout the day, but the size of the meal never mattered. I’ve tried eliminating the usual bad stuff from my diet but it doesn’t seem to make any difference. I always thought it was in part because of the hernia, but now that that’s fixed, I still have the feeling. Is this the new “normal”? I certainly hope not. My doctor said that because of the surgery and re-routing it will take time for my body to re-sync and function the way it used to. Seems like a long time…. Have any of you experienced this or are you currently?

Thanks for any input/suggestions you have

~Kris