Chemo start date . . . still has drains/taking antibiotics

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jep
Posts: 260
Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2017 7:45 pm
Location: New England, USA

Chemo start date . . . still has drains/taking antibiotics

Postby jep » Tue Jun 20, 2017 11:05 am

Hi everyone . . . I'm reaching out with questions about my husband's chemo start date (July 17). So, his surgery (LAR) was on May 16, but we've been delayed in starting chemo after a VRE infection and a return stay in the hospital. He still has two surgical drains in, and a third drain at his incision. He will literally finish his antibiotics the day before chemo starts, and we kind of have no idea when these drains will come out. CT scan is scheduled for this Friday to check drains, but I'm wondering if anyone has any input regarding this chemo start date. Does it seem too soon? We're really happy to finally have a plan in place, but nervous too. Thank you!
jep
Stage IV CC 5/16/17
Loc: recto-sig
Type: Adenocarcinoma
Size: 7.4 cm
Grade: G3
TNM: T3N2M1
LNs: 8/20
BL CEA: .9
LVI: present
Perineural invasion: present
LAR margins: clear (w/in microns)
Folfox (8/17-1/18)
Scope 6/18 - CLEAR! - 2 polyps
PET 10/17/18: 3 pos LNs
Irino + Vecti (11/18)
CEA: 1.7 (2/19)
Xel + rad (5/19)
Surgery: 8/21/19 (aborted)
P1 Trial 10/19 - 12/19
Bypass 12/6/19
Folfox + vecti 1/2/19 - 4/3/20
Kid Fail 5/1/20
Folfiri + Avastin 5/20 - 6/20
bypass 6/29/20
Stivarga 7/18/20 -
Home 9/10/20

JudiB
Posts: 71
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 5:30 am

Re: Chemo start date . . . still has drains/taking antibiotics

Postby JudiB » Wed Jun 21, 2017 5:59 am

I was told by my oncologist that it's best to start chemo at around a month to 6 weeks following resection and definitely within 2 months, for it to be at its most effective.
Sending love and hugs your way and we hoping all goes well with the chemo.
Xxxx
May 2004 Breast cancer lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy, Tamoxifen 5 years, then Femara 2 years.

Jan 2017 resection around colo-rectal junction
T2bN1 M0
March 2017 Chemo Folfox started. Oxaliplatin for 4 treatments, then just 5 FU and Leucovorin for remaining 8 treatments.
June 2017 clear scan
Last chemo August 2017
August 2017 clear scan
February 2018 clear scan

jep
Posts: 260
Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2017 7:45 pm
Location: New England, USA

Re: Chemo start date . . . still has drains/taking antibiotics

Postby jep » Wed Jun 21, 2017 1:25 pm

Thanks for your response Judyb... yes, I've also read about starting chemo 4-6 weeks after surgery...his operation started robotic but the surgeon had to switch to a manual surgery once they got in and realized the size of the tumor. Recovery has been longer and harder than we all expected, but he's getting stronger every day! Will update after Friday's CT scan....hoping the drains will finally be removed!
Thank you,
jep
Stage IV CC 5/16/17
Loc: recto-sig
Type: Adenocarcinoma
Size: 7.4 cm
Grade: G3
TNM: T3N2M1
LNs: 8/20
BL CEA: .9
LVI: present
Perineural invasion: present
LAR margins: clear (w/in microns)
Folfox (8/17-1/18)
Scope 6/18 - CLEAR! - 2 polyps
PET 10/17/18: 3 pos LNs
Irino + Vecti (11/18)
CEA: 1.7 (2/19)
Xel + rad (5/19)
Surgery: 8/21/19 (aborted)
P1 Trial 10/19 - 12/19
Bypass 12/6/19
Folfox + vecti 1/2/19 - 4/3/20
Kid Fail 5/1/20
Folfiri + Avastin 5/20 - 6/20
bypass 6/29/20
Stivarga 7/18/20 -
Home 9/10/20

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Chemo start date . . . still has drains/taking antibiotics

Postby Lee » Wed Jun 21, 2017 4:51 pm

If your DH still has tubes on July 17, they might want to hold off chemo, as chemo makes it harder for the body to heal.

I'm going to throw this out there, it really helped me. Walking is probably one of the best things he can do to help with the healing process. I found even after I was home from the hospital following my surgery, walking just made me feel better.

Following my hernia repair in 2014, I was encouraged to walk, butt was not allowed to power walk for 3 month, that was rough.

Good luck with scans this Friday. Hope it's good news and those tubes come out.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

jep
Posts: 260
Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2017 7:45 pm
Location: New England, USA

Re: Chemo start date . . . still has drains/taking antibiotics

Postby jep » Wed Jun 21, 2017 8:39 pm

Thank you Lee! Walking has helped him so much (physically and mentally)...especially now that he's home and can be outside in the fresh air....my husband's a runner and swimmer, so he loves to be in motion.
Thanks and hope to have news soon,
jep
Stage IV CC 5/16/17
Loc: recto-sig
Type: Adenocarcinoma
Size: 7.4 cm
Grade: G3
TNM: T3N2M1
LNs: 8/20
BL CEA: .9
LVI: present
Perineural invasion: present
LAR margins: clear (w/in microns)
Folfox (8/17-1/18)
Scope 6/18 - CLEAR! - 2 polyps
PET 10/17/18: 3 pos LNs
Irino + Vecti (11/18)
CEA: 1.7 (2/19)
Xel + rad (5/19)
Surgery: 8/21/19 (aborted)
P1 Trial 10/19 - 12/19
Bypass 12/6/19
Folfox + vecti 1/2/19 - 4/3/20
Kid Fail 5/1/20
Folfiri + Avastin 5/20 - 6/20
bypass 6/29/20
Stivarga 7/18/20 -
Home 9/10/20

User avatar
LPL
Posts: 651
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2016 12:49 am
Location: Europe

Re: Chemo start date . . . still has drains/taking antibiotics

Postby LPL » Thu Jun 22, 2017 2:45 pm

Hi jep,
Lee wrote:
Walking is probably one of the best things he can do to help with the healing process.

I agree with that and also I have read that the body needs a LOT of protein for healing. I bought some high protein drinks for my DH after his surgeries, he for sure did not like the tast :( but he did take it, regarded it as 'medicine'..
DH @ 65 DX 4/11/16 CC recto-sigmoid junction
Adenocarcenoma 35x15x9mm G3(biopsi) G1(surgical)
Mets 3 Liver resectable
T4aN1bM1a IVa 2/9 LN
MSS, KRAS-mut G13D
CEA & CA19-9: 5/18 2.5 78 8/17 1.4 48 2/14/17 1.8 29
4 Folfox 6/15-7/30 (b4 liver surgery) 8 after
CT: 8/8 no change 3/27/17 NED->Jan-19 mets to lung NED again Oct-19 :)
:!: Steroid induced hyperglycemia dx after 3chemo
Surgeries 2016: 3/18 Emergency colostomy
5/23 Primary+gallbl+stoma reversal+port 9/1 Liver mets
RFA 2019: Feb & Oct lung mets

jep
Posts: 260
Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2017 7:45 pm
Location: New England, USA

Re: Chemo start date . . . still has drains/taking antibiotics

Postby jep » Fri Jun 23, 2017 3:21 pm

Thank you everyone! 1 drain was removed today!!!! So happy that he can at least sleep on one side if he wants to. It was also a psychological win, as my hubby feels like there's been very little progress... we did buy some protein powder to add the his low fiber smoothies....he's still nervous to eat food food while this fistula is healing. TPN seems to be doing its job....
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and advice!
jep
Stage IV CC 5/16/17
Loc: recto-sig
Type: Adenocarcinoma
Size: 7.4 cm
Grade: G3
TNM: T3N2M1
LNs: 8/20
BL CEA: .9
LVI: present
Perineural invasion: present
LAR margins: clear (w/in microns)
Folfox (8/17-1/18)
Scope 6/18 - CLEAR! - 2 polyps
PET 10/17/18: 3 pos LNs
Irino + Vecti (11/18)
CEA: 1.7 (2/19)
Xel + rad (5/19)
Surgery: 8/21/19 (aborted)
P1 Trial 10/19 - 12/19
Bypass 12/6/19
Folfox + vecti 1/2/19 - 4/3/20
Kid Fail 5/1/20
Folfiri + Avastin 5/20 - 6/20
bypass 6/29/20
Stivarga 7/18/20 -
Home 9/10/20


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