90 year old MIL and Folfox side effects

[fordodo]

My 90 year old mother in law bravely received her first infusion last Monday. Saturday night she went to the ER with blood in her stool. Later that night she vomited once. Doctors are saying the blood may have been from previous constipation and that the vomiting could have been from emotional stress. I'm LIVID that any medical team would be so dismissive!!! Shouldn't they be examining if she should/can continue on the Folfox? If you are a Folfox recipient did you ever experience either of these? Is there a chance that the treatment will not become harder as she continues on it if she does? So frustrated and stressed for her. Thanks for being the place I can vent (even if my last post was eaten)

[cbsmith]

If the bleeding has stopped and the vomiting has stopped and she is otherwise medically fine then the decision to continue FOLFOX would up to her and her oncologist. Hopefully she will be seeing the oncologist before her next treatment.

Everyone responds differently to chemo but for the most part the side effects build up and get worse as treatment goes on.

I did 12 rounds of FOLFOX and never had any bleeding issues and didn't vomit. The vomiting issue wouldn't concern me as much, many people end up sick after a chemo treatment.

It's really going to be up to your husbands family and your mother in law what they want to do, FOLFOX is going to be hard on a 90 year old person no matter what the oncologist does as far as dosage goes.

[Lee]

I once vomited "during" an infusion, we assumed it was due to the orange juice I drank while getting chemo. Never had any other issues. When you say blood in stools, a little blood or a lot of blood? By the fact she has colon cancer, there is bound to be some blood in stools.

Because of her age, I can only "assume" there could be a connection. As others have said in prior thread, giving this type of chemo to a 90 year old person is not the best. May be time to reconsider this type of chemo. What is the Onc saying?

Hope she's doing better soon.

Lee

[jhocno197]

Many people experience nausea & vomiting while on Folfox.

[bitchslapped]

Shouldn't they be examining if she should/can continue on the Folfox?

The docs will check her bloodwork on her next infusion day before delivering chemo. They'll probably try different anti nausea meds @ infusion if this continues.
What some swear by on here is drinking lots of water a couple of days before & including infusion day for nausea = good hydration.

Want to mention we also have an ongoing thread "Wives of husbands with Stage IV Colon Freaking Cancer" in addition to the main forum. You might find it helpful just for posting if you don't want to necessarily start a new topic/thread...or is good for extra support. It is not just for wives.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18704&p=451237&hilit=wives+of+husbands#p451237

If the docs think emotional stress could have caused her vomiting, & she is that anxious, then that needs to be addressed too, whether through additional support from family or friends or other means (meds). Agree it does sound somewhat dismissive.

Try to trust her doctors for now & be a source of comfort for your mil. I'm not @ all surprised she had a trip to the ER, but is unsettling to be sure. Let us know how she is doing.

Best Wishes
BS