The Colon Club

For those who have done folfiri and/or 5-FU, is it correct that the pump is connected for 48 hours and disconnect can take place after 48 hours have passed since the "start" time of treatment? I need to schedule the local cancer center appointment and don't know if it can be scheduled for 10:30 am on a Wednesday when the "folfiri" treatment has been scheduled for [to start at] 10:30 am on the previous Monday. My husband is indisposed every Wednesday afternoon with a work obligation, so information about disconnect time would be greatly appreciated.

Also, how long does a 5-FU infusion take? Thanks!

My husband's 5-FU infusion via pump runs 46 hours.

The nurses taught me how to disconnect the pump and then use a saline solution to flush the port. If this option is available to you then it might further save him time.

Hello Friend,

I had treatment today with Folfiri, the treament started around 10am the actually chemo but I was in the office at 8am. They did blood work, typical premeds, then chemo once all was clear. I have an appointment for Friday at 3pm for disconnect. So yes it is 48 hours typically with pump.

I hope this helps. Good Luck!!

We were told 46 hours, but both time my husband let it run a tiny bit more (closer to 48) to make sure the container was totally empty. He disconnects the pump himself, it's not that difficult, once shown and given the proper equipment (latex gloves, sterilizing wipes). This way no need to schedule an appointment to disconnect!

When I leave on chemo day the tell me to come back in about 46 hours. I leave work and head to the infusion center 30 minutes or so after it starts showing “low” on my pump.

46 hours here too - from the time the PUMP was connected.

My mom’s is exactly 46 hours as well. They did tell us that it is ok to leave it for a little while after it shuts off if we couldn’t make it in time but we never ran into that issue.

46 hours for me on FolFox. I was never given the option to disconnect myself but they did show me how to turn it off. That way I could turn it off and finish teaching then go to the infusion center and get disconnected when I had time.

It worked pretty slick. It was a pretty good teachable moment for the kids too.

Dave

Also it was 46 from starting the pump. The infusions for FolFox took about 4 hours for me not sure about your husbands chemo.

Dave

I usually got out of the ONC office after doing FOLFIRI about 2, which made my disconnect about 1200, 46 hours later.

Definitely should just disconnect yourself. When I was getting TPN my girlfriend was even accessing my port so I could swim during the day- it’s not so difficult.

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