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I heart FOLFOX

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 4:49 pm
by Basil
Yes, I know this may be a fleeting romance and I may be cursing its name in the future but for now we're besties.

I had six rounds FOLFOX pre-op instead of chemorad. This week was time to see how well it worked. Had chest cat scan, pelvic MRI and flex sig. lungs and liver remain clear. At the primary site, surgeon's note state I had an "excellent response to treatment with only minimal residual disease present." The 4cm semi-circumference tumor was mostly gone. Doc had to point out the remainder on the flex sig because all I saw was healthy tissue. Doc says there's a very good chance I will not need a temp ostomy and might not even need further chemo. I don't understand it all but the guy telling me all this is the chief of colorectal surgery at MDAnderson so I'm deferring to his expertise.

This was my first scan since my diagnosis when I learned I had cancer and spent two days waiting to see if spot on my lung was a met or a harmless something or another. It was the latter but that level of anxiety returned and this round of scans had my stomach in knots for the last week. I know there's a lot more mountain to climb and years of anxious waiting before scans but I'll be taking and celebrating my victories where ever I find them. So for now I offer a teary-eyed pat on the back to my good friend FOLFOX. Cheers.

Re: I heart FOLFOX

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:09 pm
by jep
Excellent! So happy to hear this news....my DH starts Folfox at the end of this month....glad to hear you're having so much success!
jep

Re: I heart FOLFOX

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 8:29 pm
by Lee
AWESOME news. So very happy for you. Hopefully this could replace radiation.

To your continued success,

Lee

Re: I heart FOLFOX

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 12:05 pm
by Tdubz
Great to hear basil! Hope your journey continues to be as positive.

Re: I heart FOLFOX

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 12:43 pm
by mozart13
Thats great news, it looks like folfox is eqivalent to xeloda/radiation treatment.
What is the plan after the surgery?

Re: I heart FOLFOX

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:26 pm
by Maia
Basil, that is so good to hear!!
I think this is exactly what chemotherapy is for, to achieve this kind of response. So happy to hear the lung thing is just that, one of those lung things that we have here and there, popping up in images : )
Here, to a great resection, soon!

Re: I heart FOLFOX

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 4:39 am
by LeonW
sorry, double post

Re: I heart FOLFOX

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 4:44 am
by LeonW
Basil wrote: I'll be taking and celebrating my victories where ever I find them. So for now I offer a teary-eyed pat on the back to my good friend FOLFOX. Cheers..

Wow. Great. Congrats for recognizing that chemo is your ally.
That you may find plenty occasions for celebrating your friend Folfox's assistance.

Best wishes / keep up the spirit.
L

Re: I heart FOLFOX

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 8:39 am
by Basil
mozart13 wrote:Thats great news, it looks like folfox is eqivalent to xeloda/radiation treatment.
What is the plan after the surgery?


Plan after surgery was originally six-eight more rounds adjuvant FOLFOX. Surgeon said I might not need that depending on what they find. I don't understand the logic of that, exactly, but the guy knows what he's talking about. No more chemo would be wonderful, obviously, but I'll take it either way. Whatever gives me th best chance of killing this thing off 100%

Re: I heart FOLFOX

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:44 am
by benben
Good to hear you are having such good results with the Folfox.
I know you started disliking the chemo around round 3 from other posts.
Glad the struggle is yielding benefits.

As much as I dislike the first week of the chemo treatments, I'd probably opt for post-op chemo.
I'd be too concerned with any spillage of any cancer cells during the removal of the tumor.

May your resection go well and to a speedy recovery.
Personally I find the chemo treatment regime harder than surgery, but I know everyone is different.

Re: I heart FOLFOX

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 12:53 pm
by Basil
Surgery is minimally invasive robotic and if all goes according to plan hospital stay will only be three days.

As awkward as it sounds, I am "glad" to hear you found chemo worse than the surgery because that's what I'm most concerned about. Never had surgery before but my wife has had two resections and they sucked.

I recall thinking sometime around cycle four that I couldn't handle a full 12 rounds but I know I can. Just have to suffer through it. So, yeah, if there's any question or grey area, I'll be opting for additional FOLFOX. After all, we're good buddies now.

Re: I heart FOLFOX

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 2:37 pm
by justin case
Basil wrote:Surgery is minimally invasive robotic and if all goes according to plan hospital stay will only be three days.

As awkward as it sounds, I am "glad" to hear you found chemo worse than the surgery because that's what I'm most concerned about. Never had surgery before but my wife has had two resections and they sucked.

I recall thinking sometime around cycle four that I couldn't handle a full 12 rounds but I know I can. Just have to suffer through it. So, yeah, if there's any question or grey area, I'll be opting for additional FOLFOX. After all, we're good buddies now.

I accidentally sent you an E-mail, instead of a private message. Folfox saved my life, I'm sure. I had 3 rounds, before chemorad, and because I had a tumor in the sigmoid, as well as the rectum, (low rectal tumor) I had folfox with chemorad. Surgery scared the heck out of me , as well as radiation. I saw an individual try to get ridof the problem with chemo only, as he didn't want radiation. He was getting around pretty good when I met him. 5 weeks later after intense chemo, I saw him being wheeled into the radiation department, as he could no longer walk by himself. Surgery, is what it is, they don't know until the pull your colon out on the table, and inspect it for tumors, whether you will need a illeostomy or not .Without surgery, you may progress, and run out of options. I had 9 rounds of Folfox, mind you I'm one of the few who it didn't bother much. The scheduled 28 rounds of Radiation, and 12 more rounds of 5FU only. My last treatment was about 5 years ago. I'm doing fine.
Regards,
Michael

Re: I ♡ FOLFOX

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 2:34 pm
by Jacques
.
"I FOLFOX"

Basil - Congratulations on your success so far with the Prospect Trial... and remember ... in this world nothing is impossible. If at first you don't succeed, then try again. You may he surprised to find that there is a way for you to reach your goal no matter how difficult this may seem at first.

Re: I heart FOLFOX

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 2:39 pm
by horizon
I know the feeling! I hated it while I was in the middle of it but at the same time I knew it was what I needed to do to maximize my chances of success. Hope you keep getting the results you want.

Re: I heart FOLFOX

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 7:54 pm
by Brearmstrong
Hi Basil, can I ask how they ruled out the spot on your lung as harmless? I ask because I am 1/2 through my 12 rounds of folfox and the CT scan I just had shows a 4mm lung nodule in my upper quadrant. I have never had a full chest scan until now so not sure how long it has been there. My oncologist said he is not concerned but we will watch to see if it grows over the next two years. I, of course, am worried about it so wondering how they can tell it's nothing without a biopsy. I read it can be more common to have benign nodules if you are over 50, smoker, drink coffee, had past lung infections or fungal infections. I have no history of any of these things which has me more worried that it is a met. Others who know, please chime in!! Thanks to all and happy to see you doing well.