Re: Has anyone experienced this...

[Guest guest]

This sounds kind of odd. I would think the doctor would give her

procrit or one of the other red blood cell stimulators rather than

just waiting for her bloodwork to come back up. In my own experience

with oxaliplatin, that took a loooooonnng time. (I was on both procrit

and neupogen during my treatment). Also, I wonder why the doctor

didn't give your mother this to begin with to make her feel better

because at that level she's anemic I think. I would ask for it! It's

really, really expensive, but most insurances cover it if it's a

required med.

good luck.

> My mother, stg4 with mets to the lymphatic system, was on

> Folfox from January until the first week in April when her Ocn took

> her off due to the neuropathy. He told her he wanted her off

> chemo until June but to come and see him once a month until

> then. Well, she went to the doc today who told her that her RBC

> was not coming up high enough and that he was going to keep

> her off chemo until July! He ordered a CAT/PET scan for mid

> June and sent her home!

>

> Now, call me crazy but when she was first diagnosed there was

> no time to waste. Now, she can take 3 months off? Guy's help

> me out here! Should I be completely freaked out about this?

> What if the cancer is running amuck in her system and we're

> sitting here waiting for her RBD which is 9.6 to hit 11!

>

> Has anyone experienced this? Is it 'normal' ( I know that word is

> relative) to take such a long break in the middle of therapy with a

> person in my mothers condition?

>

> Also, FYI, I'm the one with 3 family members diagnosed with CC.

> I'm happy to report that all are doing well, including my mother

> who says she's got the 'kick back in her getaway' being off

> chemo for so long. One cousin is doing very well on chemo and

> my other counsin's cancer, fortunately, was completely removed

> with surgery.

>

> Anyway, any impressions you could share with me regarding this

> break in the chemo schedule would be helpful...

>

> As ever, I am gratful for this group and thanks.

>

>

[Guest guest]

This sounds kind of odd. I would think the doctor would give her

procrit or one of the other red blood cell stimulators rather than

just waiting for her bloodwork to come back up. In my own experience

with oxaliplatin, that took a loooooonnng time. (I was on both procrit

and neupogen during my treatment). Also, I wonder why the doctor

didn't give your mother this to begin with to make her feel better

because at that level she's anemic I think. I would ask for it! It's

really, really expensive, but most insurances cover it if it's a

required med.

good luck.

> My mother, stg4 with mets to the lymphatic system, was on

> Folfox from January until the first week in April when her Ocn took

> her off due to the neuropathy. He told her he wanted her off

> chemo until June but to come and see him once a month until

> then. Well, she went to the doc today who told her that her RBC

> was not coming up high enough and that he was going to keep

> her off chemo until July! He ordered a CAT/PET scan for mid

> June and sent her home!

>

> Now, call me crazy but when she was first diagnosed there was

> no time to waste. Now, she can take 3 months off? Guy's help

> me out here! Should I be completely freaked out about this?

> What if the cancer is running amuck in her system and we're

> sitting here waiting for her RBD which is 9.6 to hit 11!

>

> Has anyone experienced this? Is it 'normal' ( I know that word is

> relative) to take such a long break in the middle of therapy with a

> person in my mothers condition?

>

> Also, FYI, I'm the one with 3 family members diagnosed with CC.

> I'm happy to report that all are doing well, including my mother

> who says she's got the 'kick back in her getaway' being off

> chemo for so long. One cousin is doing very well on chemo and

> my other counsin's cancer, fortunately, was completely removed

> with surgery.

>

> Anyway, any impressions you could share with me regarding this

> break in the chemo schedule would be helpful...

>

> As ever, I am gratful for this group and thanks.

>

>

[Guest guest]

This sounds kind of odd. I would think the doctor would give her

procrit or one of the other red blood cell stimulators rather than

just waiting for her bloodwork to come back up. In my own experience

with oxaliplatin, that took a loooooonnng time. (I was on both procrit

and neupogen during my treatment). Also, I wonder why the doctor

didn't give your mother this to begin with to make her feel better

because at that level she's anemic I think. I would ask for it! It's

really, really expensive, but most insurances cover it if it's a

required med.

good luck.

> My mother, stg4 with mets to the lymphatic system, was on

> Folfox from January until the first week in April when her Ocn took

> her off due to the neuropathy. He told her he wanted her off

> chemo until June but to come and see him once a month until

> then. Well, she went to the doc today who told her that her RBC

> was not coming up high enough and that he was going to keep

> her off chemo until July! He ordered a CAT/PET scan for mid

> June and sent her home!

>

> Now, call me crazy but when she was first diagnosed there was

> no time to waste. Now, she can take 3 months off? Guy's help

> me out here! Should I be completely freaked out about this?

> What if the cancer is running amuck in her system and we're

> sitting here waiting for her RBD which is 9.6 to hit 11!

>

> Has anyone experienced this? Is it 'normal' ( I know that word is

> relative) to take such a long break in the middle of therapy with a

> person in my mothers condition?

>

> Also, FYI, I'm the one with 3 family members diagnosed with CC.

> I'm happy to report that all are doing well, including my mother

> who says she's got the 'kick back in her getaway' being off

> chemo for so long. One cousin is doing very well on chemo and

> my other counsin's cancer, fortunately, was completely removed

> with surgery.

>

> Anyway, any impressions you could share with me regarding this

> break in the chemo schedule would be helpful...

>

> As ever, I am gratful for this group and thanks.

>

>

[Guest guest]

- I know how scary this sounds. I also have stage 4 disease,

and am wrestling with the plan to stop my oxaliplatin.

My oncologist is anxious to get me off of oxaliplatin for a few

months due to progressive neuropathy. At this point the neuropathy

is not causing me any functional problems, but my onocologist says

whatever neurologic deficits I have now take an average 3-4 mths to

go away.

My oncologist is planning to switch me to Xeloda/Avastin for the

interim. Perhaps this would be a consideration for your Mother?

I have read about a summary of a study done in Europe that reported

that patients who recieved breaks in their oxaliplatin therapy did

almost as well as those on continuous therapy with fewer secondary

problems.

My tumor came back after a 4 mth break to get ready for a surgery and

for recuperation afterwards. It responded within 3-4 wks of

restarting oxaliplatin.

As you see I don't have easy answers, but I wish you and your mother

the best, and am crossing my fingers about how I will do with Avastin

and off of oxaliplatin.

Best wishes,

Kris

> My mother, stg4 with mets to the lymphatic system, was on

> Folfox from January until the first week in April when her Ocn took

> her off due to the neuropathy. He told her he wanted her off

> chemo until June but to come and see him once a month until

> then. Well, she went to the doc today who told her that her RBC

> was not coming up high enough and that he was going to keep

> her off chemo until July! He ordered a CAT/PET scan for mid

> June and sent her home!

>

> Now, call me crazy but when she was first diagnosed there was

> no time to waste. Now, she can take 3 months off? Guy's help

> me out here! Should I be completely freaked out about this?

> What if the cancer is running amuck in her system and we're

> sitting here waiting for her RBD which is 9.6 to hit 11!

>

> Has anyone experienced this? Is it 'normal' ( I know that word is

> relative) to take such a long break in the middle of therapy with a

> person in my mothers condition?

>

> Also, FYI, I'm the one with 3 family members diagnosed with CC.

> I'm happy to report that all are doing well, including my mother

> who says she's got the 'kick back in her getaway' being off

> chemo for so long. One cousin is doing very well on chemo and

> my other counsin's cancer, fortunately, was completely removed

> with surgery.

>

> Anyway, any impressions you could share with me regarding this

> break in the chemo schedule would be helpful...

>

> As ever, I am gratful for this group and thanks.

>

>