It's such a crap (literally and figuratively)process from diagnosis onward. There are millions of questions nobody can answer, truly. I don't think there are absolutes for anything, anyone, anymore.
I hope you and your husband weather his next surgery well.
I research some. I sometimes close my eyes to it all and just have "normal" days where I don't try to figure anything out...don't read any stats, ponder the future, look at med info. Then some days I am consumed by it.
I don't think the article I am going to post is scientific enough for you, but it seems it has some decent information on oxi and its effectiveness. It's def written for people who glance at the surface, I get it.
My neuropathy was pretty bad, but it fades more each day. Although we all have different levels of concern about different aspects of treatment, I can say for myself, I was going to give full recommended chemo a go from the moment I was diagnosed.
Props to those that go above and beyond researching and doing all the extras I don't think I'd ever do. Sometimes I wish I had the gumption to do so. Sometimes I just don't care. I just want to live a little while and be happy and go about my day humming a jaunty tune and smelling the roses.
Anyway, you are still in the thick of it right now, so of course no jauntiness is to be had. I am sorry. It's awful.
Even if it's not super science research that gives you any info you want...I will still post it. It may help someone.
Efficacy of Oxaliplatin in the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer
Review Article | December 01, 2000 | Gastrointestinal Cancer
By Mace L. Rothenberg, MD
ABSTRACT: Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death. The mainstay of chemotherapy in colorectal cancer patients for the past 40 years has been fluorouracil (5-FU). Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) is a novel platinum compound with promising activity in colorectal cancer. As a single agent, oxaliplatin has produced response rates of 12% to 24% in patients with previously untreated advanced colorectal cancer, and 10% to 11% in patients with relapsed or refractory advanced colorectal cancer. In phase II trials, oxaliplatin combined with 5-FU, with or without leucovorin, was associated with response rates of 60% and higher when used as front-line therapy, and when used in patients with relapsed or refractory advanced colorectal cancer, response rates ranged from 25% to 50%. In the front-line setting, two randomized trials of 5-FU and leucovorin, with or without oxaliplatin, demonstrated that the addition of oxaliplatin significantly increases response rate and time to tumor progression, but not survival, over 5-FU plus leucovorin alone. The reasons for this discrepancy are unclear, and several possibilities are being considered. Additional phase III trials are underway to clarify the contribution of oxaliplatin in the treatment of patients with locally advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer. [ONCOLOGY 14(Suppl 11):9-14, 2000]
http://www.cancernetwork.com/review-art ... tal-cancer(Full article at link)
Good luck and best wishes.