Folfiri every 2 weeks vs 3 weeks

[stevieb]

I am considering doing Folfiri every 3 weeks vs every 2 weeks. What are your experiences? Effectiveness?

TIA

Stephen

[betsydoglover]

I don't know about folfiri, but when you do Xeloda/oxaliplatin, the oxy dose is every 3 weeks but the dose is half again as much as when you do it every 2 weeks, so the effectiveness is the same.

[midlifemom]

Stephen,
Why are you considering that?
I have been doing folfiri, every two weeks, for 15 months. I'm wiped out.
Oncologists suggestion was to just stop irinotecan, continuing with 5fu, for a two month break. I don't know that it's better or worse than going to a three week schedule, just an option I'm throwing out there.
Good luck, whatever you decide.

[stevieb]

I had a new lung nodule pop up while on xeloda/avastin for several months. So I had to go back on Folfiri in April and it just wipes me out so much. Just looking for a more tolerable regimen. I have three young children and want to be active in their lives.

Thanks for your replies!

[midlifemom]

Being able to be active in kids lives is a big QOL item for me too.
Talk to your onc about your options.

[jimc]

My wife has been on Folfori plus Avastin then Irinotecan plus Avastin every 3 weeks for almost 2 years now (minus a 5 month period in the middle). It has kept the many small nodules in her lungs stable. A couple of new nodules in the lungs and a small lesion in the liver appeared at the end of the 5 month hiatus but things have been stable since resuming the combo 1 year ago.

We asked for a 3 week interval for quality of life and its definitely made a big difference!

After reading this article http://www.cancernetwork.com/oncology-j ... tal-cancer by Leonard Saltz, chief of GI Oncology at Sloan Kettering, we also asked to drop the 5-fu from Folfiri. We guessed she was fluoropyrimidine-resistant (5-fu, xeloda) after 9 rounds of Folfox (after initial diagnosis) and then a full year of low-dose daily xeloda (which worked initially and then didn't).

Nixing the 5-fu made chemo less toxic and also increased quality of life.

[stevieb]

bump

[BrownBagger]

No idea of the doses, but when I was on Irinotecan, Erbitux and Xeloda, it was two-week cycles (one week of Xeloda).

Now I'm on Xelox and Erbitux, and it's still two-week cycles. That contrasts with my first 4 rounds of Xelox back in late '09. They were in three-week cycles (mop-up chemo). If the Oxi is working (I'll know next week), then at some point I may lobby for a three-week cycle. But if it's working, on the other hand, I may not want to change anything. As it is, the oxi this time around (after more than 100 rounds of other stuff over the years), than my first experience with it. Of course, that was my first experience with chemo, other than Xeloda during radiation. The dose may be different this time, the drug may have improved over the past 7 years, or I've learned how to cope with chemo. Probably some combination therein.

[coolzan71]

Stevieb
I have been on Fofiri with Cetuximab for a total of 7 years next month. I cut back to every 3 week, 2 week, 3 week, 2 week etc. schedule when my cancer was stable. I did it for about a year and the 3 week interval were GREAT! Had to go back to every 2 weeks when little things "pop up" but would definitely go back to my 3 week schedule if things stay stable. And please be your own advocate, I think too many people let their Drs steer their treatment completely. My Dr told me day one, I work for you. So if you want to go on a 3 week schedule go for it!

Best of luck,
Suzanne