Postby GrouseMan » Thu Sep 10, 2015 4:45 pm
My wife responded well to FolFox with Avastin as the initial treatment every other week. At the end of this the Oxy was removed and she did 5-FU, Leucovorin and Avastin every other week. No break in between the initial treatment and this maintenance treatment. She tolerated it very well. After about 3 months of this her oncologist move the schedule to once every three weeks. Still no breaks between. She has been on this schedule now for about 18 months now. Is Stable by CT scan run every three months (Will have another next week). The three week schedule works very well for her. She tolerates it very well. She will typically schedule a treatment early sometimes if the treatment schedule might interfere with a trip or something else she might want to do. She maintains that three week interval never letting it get further out there. Works well for her. I was a former anti cancer researcher. I am not a big believer in breaks as you let the pressure off the tumors and they bounce back, and might be harder to treat when that happens. Her oncologist thinks very similarly. Additionally she take 800 mg of Tagamet a day (400 mg in the morning and 400 mg in the evening). No one knows if this helps or not but it doesn't hurt. I wish I could talk her into adding a daily Aspirin as well.
We can't really say what might work for you however. Its up to your Oncologist to put together your treatment plan with your help. My wife's treatment and schedule might not work for you. Still its good to know what other people are experiencing.
Good luck
GrouseMan
DW 53 dx Jun 2013
CT mets Liver Spleen lung. IVb CEA~110
Jul 2013 Sig Resct
8/13 FolFox,Avastin 12Tx mild sfx, Ongoing 5-FU Avastin every 3 wks.
CEA: good marker
7/7/14 CT Can't see the spleen Mets.
8/16/15 CEA Up, CT new abdominal mets. Iri, 5-FU, Avastin every 2 wks.
1/16 Iri, Erbitux and likely Avastin (Trial) CEA going >.
1/17 CEA up again dropped from Trial, Mets growth 4-6 mm in abdomen
5/2/17 Failed second trial, Hospitalized 15 days 5/11. Home Hospice 5/26, at peace 6/4/2017