In need of some serious replies.

[Guest guest]

Hey all,

First I would like to say thank you to anyone who sends there

heart/love in replies to posts.

I am getting a little worried. I have had such good results with my

chemo and now I am not so sure. I will be going out to see Dr. Lowy

at the Barrett Cancer Center on June 20th. Last Monday I had my

regular regimen of chemo (FOLFOX). I went into Anaphalactic shock.

My hands face and neck became beet red and I started to have trouble

breathing. They immediatley pumped me full of steroids and added a

drip of Tagament for my stomach. I was observed for a 1/2 hr and

they began my chemo drip again. The Dr. said I built up a reaction

to the Oxaliplatin and they would pre-med me stronger for the next

treatment. On Thursday I started having severe abdominal gas/pain

and such Vomitting/Diarrhea. I was in bed from Friday till Monday

with those symptoms. I did try the On-Call Oncologist. The only

thing they wanted was me to go to the emergency room. I said if I

ran a fever I would. I believe I am a high tolerance pain person but

I needed and Oxiconton for pain. I call my oncologist on Monday and

they said it was a stomach virus or the stomach flu and prescribed

Bentyl. I am feeling much better but not great. Dizzy a lot and very

tired. Do any of the things I am going through sound farmiliar? I am

so putting all of my eggs in one basket with possible surgery and

Heated Intrperitoneal Chemo, that I am panicking.

Please let me know what you all think and again thanks for sending

your hearts in your replies.

Jennie

Dx Stage III colon cancer 4/02

Right Hemicolectomy and six months of 5Fu/Leucovorin and CPT-11

Recurrence 3 liver mets one possible adrenal met and one para-arotic

lymph node 1/04

currently on Folfox and PTK787

[Guest guest]

All I can say is I'd get off Oxilaplatin. You must have some type of allergy

to it and probably other platinum based drugs. I would not entertain it again.

Perhaps Camptosar or one of the newer drugs Erbitux or Avastin are a better

choice.

Sorry you've had such problems. Hope you feel better.

Narice

[Guest guest]

Jennie,

I did only four treatments with FOLFOX and switched to Camptosar

and Avastin. Part of the reason was the way the cancer was reacting,

but some of the reason also was likely due to side effects, as they

got worse (especially GI stuff) with each succeeding treatment, to

the point where I was losing 7 lbs a week by treatment 4. Although I

never went into shock, I got a rash from the get go. Eventually I

ended up in the hospital with a fever.

From what I've read and what my oncologist and a GI guy told me,

its really not as simple as oxaliplatin, per se. Both suspected that

the root of my GI problems had to do with 5FU versus oxaliplatin.

But here's the kicker that convolutes everything - both oxaliplatin

and irinotecan alter the way 5FU affects the body, so while 5FU may

cause GI troubles with oxaliplatin, it may not when used alone or

with irinotecan.

I was told that my rash was due a support drug, not the chemo -

specifically, I was getting decadron before my first day of chemo -

they eliminated it from my regimen based on the rash (they also said

that any grumpiness that I had was due to it as well). Might want to

ask if any of the supporting stuff could be intensifying the side

effects.

Best of Luck - Joe

> Hey all,

> First I would like to say thank you to anyone who sends there

> heart/love in replies to posts.

>

> I am getting a little worried. I have had such good results with my

> chemo and now I am not so sure. I will be going out to see Dr. Lowy

> at the Barrett Cancer Center on June 20th. Last Monday I had my

> regular regimen of chemo (FOLFOX). I went into Anaphalactic shock.

> My hands face and neck became beet red and I started to have

trouble

> breathing. They immediatley pumped me full of steroids and added a

> drip of Tagament for my stomach. I was observed for a 1/2 hr and

> they began my chemo drip again. The Dr. said I built up a reaction

> to the Oxaliplatin and they would pre-med me stronger for the next

> treatment. On Thursday I started having severe abdominal gas/pain

> and such Vomitting/Diarrhea. I was in bed from Friday till Monday

> with those symptoms. I did try the On-Call Oncologist. The only

> thing they wanted was me to go to the emergency room. I said if I

> ran a fever I would. I believe I am a high tolerance pain person

but

> I needed and Oxiconton for pain. I call my oncologist on Monday and

> they said it was a stomach virus or the stomach flu and prescribed

> Bentyl. I am feeling much better but not great. Dizzy a lot and

very

> tired. Do any of the things I am going through sound farmiliar? I

am

> so putting all of my eggs in one basket with possible surgery and

> Heated Intrperitoneal Chemo, that I am panicking.

>

> Please let me know what you all think and again thanks for sending

> your hearts in your replies.

>

> Jennie

>

> Dx Stage III colon cancer 4/02

> Right Hemicolectomy and six months of 5Fu/Leucovorin and CPT-11

> Recurrence 3 liver mets one possible adrenal met and one para-

arotic

> lymph node 1/04

> currently on Folfox and PTK787

[Guest guest]

Jennie: We have not gone through this,we did discuss that procedure (surgery

and heated etc) but were told not right for us. It's so hard to say why that

happens,my sister in Mass. had the same kind of reaction and didn't tell us

until after a week in the hopsital(she didn't want to alarm Nick any more) They

changed her meds,and her last scan was better. I can only send you love,hugs

and prayers. Others will write

and share their experience..Just hang tough and don't give up. You have been

through so much keep the faith Nick & Jane