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Chemo Break

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 9:37 am
by Mercy110
HI. My mum is having chemo every 2 weeks started from August-2017 as her CEA did not go down after surgery. She is now undergoing Folfox with Avastin as her lung mets are inoperable. So far the result seems ok coz her CEA dropped back to normal.

We manage to travel with her in mid-Feb. The problem is she is too weak to travel in the week following chemo. Usually she takes a week to rest and a week to eat normal and do housework to gain back her strength, then she has to start next round of chemo. As we are planning for a trip, she is going to have one more chemo next week (she usually has 2 rounds per month), than the next chemo would properly in late-Feb.

On one hand, we want our mum to go travel by enjoying and forgetting the cancer thing for a while, on the other the break between Jan and Feb rely worried us. We have consult doctor and they said there is no problem, but we are rely worry abt the CEA will go up or anything happen just becoz we postpone the chemo.

This is the 7 time of her chemo already. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Re: Chemo Break

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:13 am
by Robino1
I had a period where I missed a full month without chemo due to holidays and travel. When CEA was checked, it had dropped 20 points during that break. If you look at my signature for my CEA numbers, you can see where that 70.7 is. After going back on chemo, it rose a bit but this last one brought it back down to 73.3.

Chemo stays in the system and keeps working for while. I've had several times where chemo has been pushed back for either white blood count too low, illness (cold one time, tonsillitis another), hurricane and a couple of times for vacation travel.

Sometimes a break from chemo is good for the soul to regroup.

Re: Chemo Break

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:25 am
by NHMike
We took off for six days after chemo (three week cycle with no chemo the third week) and got back early Tuesday morning. It was a nice break - I worked through the break but the change of scenery was nice. I got in more consistent walking than usual. I think that it was good mentally though there's the stuff that has to be taken care of when you get home. I was physically in good shape though but nowhere near pre-surgery levels.

It wasn't the best time to go because the weather was so harsh but it's difficult to plan around the weather.

We took Amtrak to avoid some of the issues related to planes.

If she's really weak, then maybe a break that's within an hour or two at home so a run home is possible.

Re: Chemo Break

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:02 am
by zephyr
Quality of life will improve her spirits, and THAT is almost as important as the chemo. My oncologist has encouraged me to take occasional breaks.

Re: Chemo Break

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 4:05 pm
by mhf1986
Agree with the above breaks. DH skipped his early November treatment when we were switching regimes, so he was 4 weeks between infusions. He will probably need to skip a treatment in April as we are planning a vacation. Dr. said it's fine to do that. Dr. was willing to give him Christmas off too but we elected to go ahead with infusion as it was day after Christmas and everyone had left anyway. Dr. may push next week's infusion by a week due to high bilirubin count, we'll see.

M

Re: Chemo Break

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:50 pm
by rachel2017
Mercy110 wrote:HI. My mum is having chemo every 2 weeks started from August-2017 as her CEA did not go down after surgery. She is now undergoing Folfox with Avastin as her lung mets are inoperable. So far the result seems ok coz her CEA dropped back to normal.

We manage to travel with her in mid-Feb. The problem is she is too weak to travel in the week following chemo. Usually she takes a week to rest and a week to eat normal and do housework to gain back her strength, then she has to start next round of chemo. As we are planning for a trip, she is going to have one more chemo next week (she usually has 2 rounds per month), than the next chemo would properly in late-Feb.

On one hand, we want our mum to go travel by enjoying and forgetting the cancer thing for a while, on the other the break between Jan and Feb rely worried us. We have consult doctor and they said there is no problem, but we are rely worry abt the CEA will go up or anything happen just becoz we postpone the chemo.

This is the 7 time of her chemo already. Any thoughts? Thanks.


Mom started FOLFOX on 8/16/2017. Now she is on FOLFOX and Avastin. Finished 10th round last Friday and will get evaluation tomorrow. We are going into 7 days cruise on 2/4/2018. Mum is supposed to have 11th chemo on 1/19/2018 and 12th on 2/2/2018. It looks like we should ask the doctor to re-arrange the following chemo too. Not sure what she will suggest tomorrow. Going into get another consul in two weeks and may be mention to the doctor?

Re: Chemo Break

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:02 pm
by Robino1
rachel2017 wrote:
Mercy110 wrote:HI. My mum is having chemo every 2 weeks started from August-2017 as her CEA did not go down after surgery. She is now undergoing Folfox with Avastin as her lung mets are inoperable. So far the result seems ok coz her CEA dropped back to normal.

We manage to travel with her in mid-Feb. The problem is she is too weak to travel in the week following chemo. Usually she takes a week to rest and a week to eat normal and do housework to gain back her strength, then she has to start next round of chemo. As we are planning for a trip, she is going to have one more chemo next week (she usually has 2 rounds per month), than the next chemo would properly in late-Feb.

On one hand, we want our mum to go travel by enjoying and forgetting the cancer thing for a while, on the other the break between Jan and Feb rely worried us. We have consult doctor and they said there is no problem, but we are rely worry abt the CEA will go up or anything happen just becoz we postpone the chemo.

This is the 7 time of her chemo already. Any thoughts? Thanks.


Mom started FOLFOX on 8/16/2017. Now she is on FOLFOX and Avastin. Finished 10th round last Friday and will get evaluation tomorrow. We are going into 7 days cruise on 2/4/2018. Mum is supposed to have 11th chemo on 1/19/2018 and 12th on 2/2/2018. It looks like we should ask the doctor to re-arrange the following chemo too. Not sure what she will suggest tomorrow. Going into get another consul in two weeks and may be mention to the doctor?



Absolutely mention to the doctor of your vacation plans. She can help with scheduling the appointments around them. Mom should be good for the next scheduled treatment. Maybe talk to the doctor about dropping the Oxaliplatin on the 2/2 appointment since that seems to be the one drug that causes the most issues.

For one of my vacations, I just did a treatment with a push of Avastin instead of getting the pump and skipped the oxaliplatin for that treatment. At least it was getting something in me. That was definitely doable.

Re: Chemo Break

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:26 pm
by Lee
My understanding, chemo stays in your body for about 7 weeks, so it should be okay to miss or extend a cycle here and there. I was like your mom, that week with chemo was always rough. One day it was a chore just to get off the sofa, go to freezer, then to microwave to put dinner on the table. I usually started chemo on Tuesday, so that I could get errands done on Monday for the week.

As other have said, a vacation is a good idea, especially for lifting her spirits and feeling like a normal person. When I was on chemo, the week that I had off from chemo, I would get together with a friend on Friday for shopping, lunch, etc. It was one day I would not see Dr.(s), or think about cancer. It was one day I could live a normal life. It sure got me through.

Enjoy the vacation,

Lee

Re: Chemo Break

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 6:13 pm
by rachel2017
Absolutely mention to the doctor of your vacation plans. She can help with scheduling the appointments around them. Mom should be good for the next scheduled treatment. Maybe talk to the doctor about dropping the Oxaliplatin on the 2/2 appointment since that seems to be the one drug that causes the most issues.

For one of my vacations, I just did a treatment with a push of Avastin instead of getting the pump and skipped the oxaliplatin for that treatment. At least it was getting something in me. That was definitely doable.[/quote]

Today's CT reviewed the progression. I was too sad to mention the trip. Would like to change doctor soon. Not sure should cancel the trip or not. This is 1st time we take cruise and may be is last time go with mum.