chemotherapy side effects

colonca · New User Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 1

question for a family member with Stage III (9/12 lymph) colon cancer after surgical resection, no liver spread, now on first round of FOLFOX (5FU+oxaliplatin)

diarrhea has been every day ~3 times/d no matter what diet since 1st infusion 1 wk ago, is this typical?
also pain in fingertips started immediately after infusion...should it be all gone before next infusion?
what nausea and other meds were you prescribed to take at home?
any particular diets to recommend to create "normal" bowel movements?

thank you

brainman · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 3:27 pm Post subject: Re: chemotherapy side effects

I am not sure but the 5FU may be causing some peripheral neuropathy to your fingers. Ask his medical team about this possibility.
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Darwin · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:48 am Post subject: Re: chemotherapy side effects

try drinking fibrogel. a few times a day. My ex found that seems to help by adding fibre to his diet. The dr gave him a range of medications but it is a balancing act to keep between living in the loo and constipation.
_________________
Ex husband's diagnosis was January 2006, stage IV bowel cancer with met to liver and lungs. Current chemo treatment 5FU + Avastin 24/7 pump plus radiation to pelvic area and planning radiation spheres injected directly into the liver tumours.

bendamron · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject: Re: chemotherapy side effects

everyone reacts differently to folfox, and of different degrees. my wife experienced the cold & numbness sensation (neuropathy) from oxaliplatin. she was on the folfox for only three cycles, but experienced this after her first treatment. she couldn't drink or touch cold things which lasted about four days after treatment.
my wife has compazine and ativan for her nausea, but fortunately she hasn't had to take many.

she also takes senna (you can buy these over the counter at whole foods) everyday since pain meds cause constipation.

and of course, talk to your doctor first if this is new to you, and be sure to tell your doctor everything, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you. i hope this helps.

keep on fighting!
_________________
my wife (30 yrs old) diagnosed nov 10, 2007 with stage IV colon cancer with met to liver and lungs. current treatment of folfiri + 5fu + avastin, and weekly infusions of erbitux (cetuximab).
did not respond to folfox.

Darwin · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:15 am Post subject: blurred vision

Has anyone experienced blurred vision? My ex has blurred vision in one eye and the dr said there is a milky film covering the eye that eyedrops hasn't been able to clear. He will see an eye specialist tomorrow. I wondered if it was a side effect of the chemo.
_________________
Ex husband's diagnosis was January 2006, stage IV bowel cancer with met to liver and lungs. Current chemo treatment 5FU + Avastin 24/7 pump plus radiation to pelvic area and planning radiation spheres injected directly into the liver tumours.

bendamron · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:16 am Post subject: Re: blurred vision

my wife has been experiencing blurred vision, or as she explain, it's more like double vision (difficulty reading) she is having an MRI on her brain to make sure (although very rare) cancer hasn't met to her brain, or anything else that might be at fault other than the folfiri + avastin or cetuximab she is having. which from her doctor, this seems the regular. we just want to rule out anything with the brain and hope it is only from the chemo + medicine regimen. hope this helps.
_________________
my wife (30 yrs old) diagnosed nov 10, 2007 with stage IV colon cancer with met to liver and lungs. current treatment of folfiri + 5fu + avastin, and weekly infusions of erbitux (cetuximab).
did not respond to folfox.

REB · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:45 am Post subject: Re: chemotherapy side effects

I get the cold & numbness sensation. It is really bad right after the treatment and it fades over the next two weeks until the next treatment, but never goes away.

I also have experienced the blurred vision.

Does anyone else's muscles get sore? My muscles get sore and fatigued right after a treatment (May be related to the blurred vision). This, like the cold & numbness sensation, has gotten worse with each treatment, but the doctor said they would.

I just did my 10th treatment, and I could barley walk up the stairs that same day. I just didn't have the strength. I was fine the next day.
_________________
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

bendamron · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: chemotherapy side effects

hi REB,
my wife was experiencing blurred vision and requested an MRI last monday and had it performed yesterday. well, today we got the results, it showed an appearance of a blood clot, and luckily it was not more met cancer. she had a minor stroke around a month ago and never knew it. but in hindsight, her chemo brain might be more than just that. she also has a lot of clotting, and i don't know your situation with that, but if it's a factor in your survival, get it checked out! tell your doc about this and see what he thinks. again, we are not here as doctors, only sharing personal experiences. keep us posted on your development on your blurred vision, it could quite possibly help someone else on this forum.
_________________
my wife (30 yrs old) diagnosed nov 10, 2007 with stage IV colon cancer with met to liver and lungs. current treatment of folfiri + 5fu + avastin, and weekly infusions of erbitux (cetuximab).
did not respond to folfox.

REB · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:51 am Post subject: Re: chemotherapy side effects

I did have a blood clot in my lungs from the surgery that removed the tumor. Because of that, I took Lovenox shots for 5 months. I just finished those up.

If your wife has to do blood thinner for clots, I recommend Lovenox. It is a pain giving yourself shots, but it is much safer than that other drug they give in pill form.
_________________
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

bendamron · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:03 am Post subject: Re: chemotherapy side effects

my wife (angel) is on a blood thinner named fondaparinux (arixstra). coumadin was too hard on her liver, and she has an allergic reaction to lovenox and heparin. her shots cost $150 per shot/per day, so it wipes out her prescription cap within three months. we contacted the manufacturer of this drug and now get them free until the new year when the prescription cap starts again. we do have 30 shots of unused lovenox right now, and wish i could give them to someone that could really use them, but it's probably against fda regulations, still need to look around though.
_________________
my wife (30 yrs old) diagnosed nov 10, 2007 with stage IV colon cancer with met to liver and lungs. current treatment of folfiri + 5fu + avastin, and weekly infusions of erbitux (cetuximab).
did not respond to folfox.

bendamron · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:04 am Post subject: Re: chemotherapy side effects

my wife (angel) is on a blood thinner named fondaparinux (arixstra). coumadin was too hard on her liver, and she has an allergic reaction to lovenox and heparin. her shots cost $150 per shot/per day, so it wipes out her prescription cap within three months. we contacted the manufacturer of this drug and now get them free until the new year when the prescription cap starts again. we do have 30 shots of unused lovenox right now, and wish i could give them to someone that could really use them, but it's probably against fda regulations, still need to look around though.
_________________
my wife (30 yrs old) diagnosed nov 10, 2007 with stage IV colon cancer with met to liver and lungs. current treatment of folfiri + 5fu + avastin, and weekly infusions of erbitux (cetuximab).
did not respond to folfox.

REB · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:52 am Post subject: Re: chemotherapy side effects

Under my insurance, Lovenox cost me, out of pocket, $50 for 30 shots. It was getting pricey.

I could have taken a pill (I think it was coumadin), but they had to check my blood each day to monitor its levels. It could cause bleeding of the brain if its levels went the wrong way. There wasn't that problem with Lovenox so I went with it. And I hate shots, but I learned to give myself shots. The first time I sat there for 30 minutes trying to make myself insert the needle. I got my wife to do it most of the time.

They said I'll probably have to take it again for a few months after my reconnect surgery.

I hope your wife is doing okay.
_________________
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

hachi · Regular Joined: 12 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

i've never experienced blurred vision, but i did have the cold/numbness of the finger tips for the longest time. I also had really bad drying of the skin on the palm of my hands and balls of my feet. Also the occasional nausea spell every now and again.....and because the port/cathetor was on my chest and ran past my throat food and water always tasted funny. But because it it did run pass my throat i would always taste the saline that they pumped to clean it out before/after chemo.

........saline tastes BAD Sad

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