Transitioning from Maintenance chemo to observation

[SoConfused]

Hi there - I am currently NED and receiving maintenance chemo for stage IV colon cancer with a single met to the liver.

My question is: are there any members on this forum who had maintenance chemo and eventually transitioned off of treatment altogether after a while ... and are doing close-surveillance/obvservational management? I am interested in your experiences.

Thank you.

[Terry]

Can we get a little more information? How long have you been on maintenance and with what drug/s?

I know someone that's been on maintenance for 2 yrs. with Xeloda and Avastin and has thoughts occasionally about going off or having it surgically removed. Nothing has changed at all for her on maintenance and surgically after what I've been through I think she should just stay on maintenance. We're each different and have to make our own decisions.

[RixInPhx]

Who is suggesting discontinuance of maintenance? You, onc, insurance, other?

Personally, if I had even one small tumor remaining, I would at least maintain the Xeloda and Avastin to prevent further growth and spread.
Forever.

HTH, Rick

[SoConfused]

Terry - more about my situation ... I have been on Xeloda (3000 mg/day - every other week) and Avastin (5mg every other week) since February. The regimen, if I am being honest, is completely doable. I haven't experienced much discomfort with Xeloda and Avastin really doesn't induce any chemo-like side effects. My quality of life is good and I am starting to gain my strength back.

Nobody has suggested that I go off maintenance ... and honestly, if it means that possible rogue cells are kept in check, I'm willing to stay on for as long as - well, forever; however, my question was for those who have had maintenance, has the maintenance regimen stayed effective for long? should the patient at some point consider coming off all treatment in the absence of detectable disease?

[pollo65]

I have been on maintenance chemo (5fu+Avastin) for almost two years, I have been NED for about a year. Last time I took a long chemo break the little bugger(lymph node) lit up again. Sometimes I feel like crap but I am on an every three week schedule so it is doable. I have taken a couple six week breaks but it is all I plan on doing for now. If the buggers pop up on chemo I will look for plan B.
pollo 65

[SoConfused]

thanks Pollo for responding to my post ... very glad to hear you're one year NED. I hope that maintenance chemo buys more a lot more NED time as well.

Did your lymph node pop back out after you had taken a complete break from chemo? how soon after the break was the darn C back?