Folfox, Oxi and ability to work

[behconsult]

Hello everyone, I am getting ready to have my port installed and will have two types of chemo for six months. I need to continue to work and have been since my surgery. I still have fatigue however am able to pull off work and excercise. I started back to work my second week after surgery and am fortunate.

I'm wondering how well does the work schedule go with the two chemos'. My doctor said most people can only handle about four months of the Oxi because of the side-effects. I expect some fatigue however have anxiety about being knocked down about not able to work. I'm sure the answer varies in that it is always very individualistic, however any pearls would be helpful for the next leg of the journey. Thanks Bob (age 51)

[Cherie]

This is so hard to answer. Everyone is different in their reactions and tolerance to chemo. I was hit hard and worked throughout only three days a week. There were days I should not have gone to work and was sick. Because of this I need time off now trying to deal with the emotional side of what I went through. Everyone s different and I would try working and see how you go.

Good luck.

[justin case]

I have answered this question many times. Let's start by explaining that FOLFOX is short for Flororocil, leukovorin and ,oxiloplatin,(spelling) it is inclusive of 2 chemos, and a folic acid derivative. I was not affected to the degree many are, so I was able to work a strenuous job during treatments. FOLFOX can be very hard on you. I will emphasize that I had FOLFOX and radiation at the same time, and was still able to work, after the time spent for treatments. I am in the printing industry, and spend a lot of my time lifting large amounts of paper(tons). I would suggest you try your hand at work, and if it becomes overwhelming, seek other options. Chemo is nothing like you see on TV or in the movies, and you can be completely mobile most of the time. A positive attitude is needed to overcome your initial fear, but I think you will be surprised at how much easier chemo is , than you suspect. Good luck and come back with questions you need answered. There are a lot of people around here that can be of help.
Regards,
Michael

[Lee]

I was one of those that did 12 cycles of Oxi. I will admit that last cycle did me in. Lost all hearing for several weeks and still see an ear specialist today. I do have some issues with neuropathy today, especially in my hands and feet.

As others have said, everyone is different. I was lucky, I did not have to work during chemo. For me, the side effect are cumulative, so report to your Dr small issues before they become big issues. In the beginning, it only took a few days to recover from the chemo. By the 12 cycle, 10 plus days. I remember a friend wanting to get together a week later, and I didn't have the energy.

Things that helped me, drink tons of liquid a day or two prior to each infusion, assume you will get hit with diarrhea it in the days that follow. You do not want to get dehydrated as this will bring on a host of new medical issues/problems.

I found eating several small meals in the day was better than 3 meals a day. Food in stomach kept nausea at bay. Food will take like cardboard at some point. So eat what sounds/feels good. I always hit Burger King on way to infusion and had breakfast egg sandwich. Really helped me on day of infusion.

Good luck, See how each infusion goes and take it from there.

Lee

[raym]

When I was on FOLFOX I would take off the day of infusion and then a 1/2 day (afternoon) on the unhook day. Unhook day was a Friday so I had the weekend to recover. I don't think I could have worked a day or two after after unhook, just very wiped out. Other than that I worked full time (desk job, software development).

[SkiFletch]

Getting on the right schedule is key if you want to work on folfox. MOST folks that work have a Wednesday infusion and typically there's no way around taking that day off from work. JUST the oxali takes a minimum of 2 hours. Add 5FU, Aloxi, and decadron at a minimum along with some time change in between bags, ad some stops for pinched lines, drive time to/from the chemo center, port access time, it adds up quick to be a 4-5 hour show at least.

Anyways, with a Wed infusion, MOST folks typically still feel pretty good on thursday and can put in a full day. The steroids (decadron usually) are typically still going and you'll feel pretty darned active actually. Friday is typically a downward spiraling day. Morning, not so bad, and most folks start getting wiped right around disconnect time. Your onc MIGHT be convinced to give you an IV bag of saline for hydration at this time, which helps most folks out. I disconnected myself at work (it's not rocket science), and my boss let me take a nice nap around lunch. Helped me get through the rest of the day. Friday night, WIPED THE HELL OUT. Saturday, I felt like a pile of goo that was run over by a freight train. Sunday, started feeling significantly better and more active. The chalk taste starts wearing off by then and things get a lot better especially by evening. Monday, felt pretty darn good and easily worked the day. Cold sensitivity was still stickin around but I could get around that.

You might have to adjust your schedule depending on how things work for you but that's a pretty typical response. I will say this. The #1 most important thing to do in those first 3-4 days especially... DRINK. All the damned time. Drinks will taste like crap and you can't have anything cold, but you need to do it. The two times I didn't hydrate well enough on infusion night, I was a complete wreck on Fri-Sat-Sun. Just have to do it, non way around it. Whatever you need to drink, do it. I ended up having to drink the sugariest things I could find cause nothing else tasted good. If I had to do it all over again, I'd wear one of those slim runners camelbak resevoirs under my shirt so that it stayed body temp, and just drink that all the time.

Anyways, good luck working through folfox. It can be done. Make sure you discuss with your onc at length your desire to work and manage the side effects. He/she can help you out.

[Coppercent]

You are correct in that it is different for everyone. While on FOLFOX, I had my infusion Wednesday mornings. My cancer center was great in that they always took me first so that I could get out of there around noon so I could make it to work in the afternoon. I would work the afternoon and stay a little late to make up some of the hours. I would go on my lunch hour on Friday and get disconnected. You have to take it one treatment at a time. Do what works best for you.

[bellavida]

I am fixing to do #5 on Saturday. I am okay the days I am being infused, with the exception of leg and hand cramps which sometimes makes walking and texting/typing difficult. Right now it is taking me 4-5 days to recover after disconnect. It started out being 3 day, then 4. Those days after disconnect all I do is sleep. Even when I don't think I can possibly sleep anymore, I fall into a deep 3-4 hour sleep. My husbands job allows me the luxury of staying home, but I don't think I'd be able to work if I had to.

[helen098]

except for the hospitalization and the first 2 chemo where i was afraid to go to work and on the subway with the pump i was able to work during chemo
i took wensday for for the infusion , worked on thu (with the steriods i thought i felt good...later i found out i was acting kind of weird and hyper.....what can you do) . i got unhooked friday arounf 1pm then the slow slide started and by friday night i was our, o would rest up during the weekend then so back to work on monday and work mon to sat.
I worked 8am to 2;30pnm then went home to nap before i made dinner and feel asleep on the couch
see how you feel, while it was hard working during chemo because i had diarreh , cold sensivity from the first chemo and eventlually neuropothy from the oxi it did make me feel more normal.
the worst was the first 2 chemo when i was too sick too scared to go to work so i just wonder around the house looking at the pump...i did go to the movies to take my mind off things...it didn't work


i just got a email from the Colon Cancer Alliance and chemo myths are one of the topics

http://ccalliance.org/blog/five-things- ... motherapy/

[horizon]

Everyone will have a different answer. I did XELOX. On the days I got my Oxi infusions I took the whole day off. I worked from home the following two days. By Monday I was back to work. I didn't miss any days except for those infusion days.

[nkoske]

I did Xelox. The one nice benefit to XelOx is the extended cycles 3 week cycle vs. 2 week Folfox cycles.

I had my Oxali infusion on Thursday, took that day off. Friday I felt OK so I worked. By Friday evening I faded (most likely due to the steroid wearing off). Recovered all weekend and went to work on Monday. Rinse and repeat.

I have a desk job. Had I been a plumber or something else it may not have been as easy.