Well, I got away with mild side effects from folfiri for months, but now they're here!
Chemo was Wednesday. I was ok till Friday evening when the diarrhea began and a few hours later the abdominal pain. Stayed up till 4am, in tears, waiting for pain to subside. Pain is gone this morning but diarrhea is back. Taking Imodium, never got the lomotil experience filled but will asap.
Any suggestions to minimize these side effects? This makes me wonder if the treatment is worth it.
Folfiri abdominal spasms
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midlifemom
- Posts: 1358
- Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:58 am
- Location: NJ
Folfiri abdominal spasms
Stage 3 cc - dx Jan '14 age 53, cea 2.9
t2n2m0, KRAS mutant, MSS
Folfox Feb - Aug '14
Nov '14 cea 27.7 -2 liver masses
Dec '14 left lobectomy and HAI
Jan '15 FUDR and FOLFIRI
Aug '15 fudr done, liver clear, add avastin for lungs. Cea 4.3
Feb '16 CEA rising
May '16 2 wk break then drop Iri for 6 weeks.
Jul '16 cancer grew, constricted main bile duct. Stent inserted. On break till jaundice clears. CEA climbing. Doing reduced Folfox. Allergic to Oxali.
Sep'16 chemo failed. Trial or hospice?
t2n2m0, KRAS mutant, MSS
Folfox Feb - Aug '14
Nov '14 cea 27.7 -2 liver masses
Dec '14 left lobectomy and HAI
Jan '15 FUDR and FOLFIRI
Aug '15 fudr done, liver clear, add avastin for lungs. Cea 4.3
Feb '16 CEA rising
May '16 2 wk break then drop Iri for 6 weeks.
Jul '16 cancer grew, constricted main bile duct. Stent inserted. On break till jaundice clears. CEA climbing. Doing reduced Folfox. Allergic to Oxali.
Sep'16 chemo failed. Trial or hospice?
Re: Folfiri abdominal spasms
I never got the diarrhea, but I did get horrific stomach pains. I called my doc about it and was told to take gas x. Did not help one iota.
Only relief I got was next infusion I had them reduce the dose to 50%.
Only relief I got was next infusion I had them reduce the dose to 50%.
Age 58
DX Jul 2014 Stage IVb CRC metastatic, unknown primary, CEA 1826
Inoperable, Chemo for life
KRASwt
MSI: not tested
29 Jul 14 Port
30 Jul - 19 Jan 2015 Folfox (12 cycles) CEA 164.5
9 Feb 15 - 20 May Flofiri failed (6 cycles) CEA 417.0
17 Jul 15 - Initiated Vectibix CEA 555.5
17 Jul 2015 - 14 Jan 2016 Vectibix
8 Feb 2016 - 11 Apr 2016 Xeloda
26 Apr 2016 Hospice
DX Jul 2014 Stage IVb CRC metastatic, unknown primary, CEA 1826
Inoperable, Chemo for life
KRASwt
MSI: not tested
29 Jul 14 Port
30 Jul - 19 Jan 2015 Folfox (12 cycles) CEA 164.5
9 Feb 15 - 20 May Flofiri failed (6 cycles) CEA 417.0
17 Jul 15 - Initiated Vectibix CEA 555.5
17 Jul 2015 - 14 Jan 2016 Vectibix
8 Feb 2016 - 11 Apr 2016 Xeloda
26 Apr 2016 Hospice
-
midlifemom
- Posts: 1358
- Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:58 am
- Location: NJ
Re: Folfiri abdominal spasms
[quote] Only relief I got was next infusion I had them reduce the dose to 50%./quote]
Thanks Crystal. Planning on calling onc tomorrow. Still have diarrhea but the pains are minimal now. Considering asking for dose reduction - this is no way to live.
Thanks Crystal. Planning on calling onc tomorrow. Still have diarrhea but the pains are minimal now. Considering asking for dose reduction - this is no way to live.
Stage 3 cc - dx Jan '14 age 53, cea 2.9
t2n2m0, KRAS mutant, MSS
Folfox Feb - Aug '14
Nov '14 cea 27.7 -2 liver masses
Dec '14 left lobectomy and HAI
Jan '15 FUDR and FOLFIRI
Aug '15 fudr done, liver clear, add avastin for lungs. Cea 4.3
Feb '16 CEA rising
May '16 2 wk break then drop Iri for 6 weeks.
Jul '16 cancer grew, constricted main bile duct. Stent inserted. On break till jaundice clears. CEA climbing. Doing reduced Folfox. Allergic to Oxali.
Sep'16 chemo failed. Trial or hospice?
t2n2m0, KRAS mutant, MSS
Folfox Feb - Aug '14
Nov '14 cea 27.7 -2 liver masses
Dec '14 left lobectomy and HAI
Jan '15 FUDR and FOLFIRI
Aug '15 fudr done, liver clear, add avastin for lungs. Cea 4.3
Feb '16 CEA rising
May '16 2 wk break then drop Iri for 6 weeks.
Jul '16 cancer grew, constricted main bile duct. Stent inserted. On break till jaundice clears. CEA climbing. Doing reduced Folfox. Allergic to Oxali.
Sep'16 chemo failed. Trial or hospice?
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Nik Colon
Re: Folfiri abdominal spasms
I get cramping also. My iri has been cut down by 20% and has helped, also I take pain meds, oxy, which help and also should help with diarrhea as they are known to cause constipation. I have not had diarrhea and only slight constipation but take miralax. Best wishes
Re: Folfiri abdominal spasms
Midlifemom, sorry to hear Folfiri is giving you so much trouble. Are you getting Atropine with your infusion? It helps with both the diarrhea and cramping. Try using a heating pad and ask your onc if you can pop an oxycodone if it gets really bad. Also, get a script for Lomotil (it has Atropine in it) -- and make sure you hydrate well. Hope you feel better soon!
Stage IVb, liver/lung mets 8/4/2010
Xelox+Avastin 8/18/10 to 10/21/2011
LAR, liver resec, HAI pump 11/2011
Adjuvant Irinotecan + FUDR
Double lung surgery + ileo reversal 2/2012
Adjuvant FUDR + Xeloda
VATS rt. lung 12/2012 - benign granuloma!
VATS left lung 11/2013
NED 11/22/13 to 12/18/2019, CEA<1
Xelox+Avastin 8/18/10 to 10/21/2011
LAR, liver resec, HAI pump 11/2011
Adjuvant Irinotecan + FUDR
Double lung surgery + ileo reversal 2/2012
Adjuvant FUDR + Xeloda
VATS rt. lung 12/2012 - benign granuloma!
VATS left lung 11/2013
NED 11/22/13 to 12/18/2019, CEA<1
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midlifemom
- Posts: 1358
- Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:58 am
- Location: NJ
Re: Folfiri abdominal spasms
Thanks all.
Julie, yes, I get the atropine shot. Seems that only lasts about 36 hours. I will ask about the oxy.
Since posting, I've lost 6 pounds! (Trying to look at the bright side here
).
All due to diarrhea. Got the lomotil, think it finally worked, took about 24 hours. Went in for iv hydration. Feeling quite a bit better.
I see the lomotil has atropine in it, so if that can reduce the cramps, I'm good.
Sandy from MSK has been wonderful about staying in touch to see how I'm doing, since the blood work and ivs were done locally.
I hope everyone is having some good today.
Julie, yes, I get the atropine shot. Seems that only lasts about 36 hours. I will ask about the oxy.
Since posting, I've lost 6 pounds! (Trying to look at the bright side here
).All due to diarrhea. Got the lomotil, think it finally worked, took about 24 hours. Went in for iv hydration. Feeling quite a bit better.
I see the lomotil has atropine in it, so if that can reduce the cramps, I'm good.
Sandy from MSK has been wonderful about staying in touch to see how I'm doing, since the blood work and ivs were done locally.
I hope everyone is having some good today.
Stage 3 cc - dx Jan '14 age 53, cea 2.9
t2n2m0, KRAS mutant, MSS
Folfox Feb - Aug '14
Nov '14 cea 27.7 -2 liver masses
Dec '14 left lobectomy and HAI
Jan '15 FUDR and FOLFIRI
Aug '15 fudr done, liver clear, add avastin for lungs. Cea 4.3
Feb '16 CEA rising
May '16 2 wk break then drop Iri for 6 weeks.
Jul '16 cancer grew, constricted main bile duct. Stent inserted. On break till jaundice clears. CEA climbing. Doing reduced Folfox. Allergic to Oxali.
Sep'16 chemo failed. Trial or hospice?
t2n2m0, KRAS mutant, MSS
Folfox Feb - Aug '14
Nov '14 cea 27.7 -2 liver masses
Dec '14 left lobectomy and HAI
Jan '15 FUDR and FOLFIRI
Aug '15 fudr done, liver clear, add avastin for lungs. Cea 4.3
Feb '16 CEA rising
May '16 2 wk break then drop Iri for 6 weeks.
Jul '16 cancer grew, constricted main bile duct. Stent inserted. On break till jaundice clears. CEA climbing. Doing reduced Folfox. Allergic to Oxali.
Sep'16 chemo failed. Trial or hospice?
Re: Folfiri abdominal spasms
Sandy is a sweetheart, but she hides it well behind her brusque NY manner. 
I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better! Dehydration from diarrhea can really wipe you out.
I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better! Dehydration from diarrhea can really wipe you out.
Stage IVb, liver/lung mets 8/4/2010
Xelox+Avastin 8/18/10 to 10/21/2011
LAR, liver resec, HAI pump 11/2011
Adjuvant Irinotecan + FUDR
Double lung surgery + ileo reversal 2/2012
Adjuvant FUDR + Xeloda
VATS rt. lung 12/2012 - benign granuloma!
VATS left lung 11/2013
NED 11/22/13 to 12/18/2019, CEA<1
Xelox+Avastin 8/18/10 to 10/21/2011
LAR, liver resec, HAI pump 11/2011
Adjuvant Irinotecan + FUDR
Double lung surgery + ileo reversal 2/2012
Adjuvant FUDR + Xeloda
VATS rt. lung 12/2012 - benign granuloma!
VATS left lung 11/2013
NED 11/22/13 to 12/18/2019, CEA<1
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