How risky is it to take a chemo break?

[vincent33]

I am stage 3c and had a right hemicolectomy. I have taken 3 rounds of folfox every 2 weeks, and I really would like to take a break and skip my next infusion date so that if/when I do my next infusion it will be 4 weeks since the previous infusion. Would that have much of an effect on the efficacy of my treatment?

I feel very worn out by chemo and would like to let my body recover. Last year at this time I caught a flu and I want to be strong again to either fight off another one or be able to withstand it.

Also I was wondering if folfox could be given every 3 weeks instead. I have very few "good days" during the two weeks. Probably just 3.

[beach sunrise]

Hi Vincent, I noticed your sig reads you apply ice to hand feet during infusions. I have never heard of that as the oxaliplatin part of folfox causes cold sensitivity in up to 80% of patients. For myself being on folfox I go for IV vit C infusions, 25 grams, once a week then alternate the next week with a myers cocktail which consists of 10 g vitamin c, 5 g vit B complex, 5 g magnesium. It really combats the side effects of folfox. I have read from posters that MSK has suggested to them to take 400 mg magnesium each day, a vit B complex and vit D supplement to help with side effects.

[claudine]

Hi Vincent,
My husband’s oncologist always said that a break was fine, especially such a short one; my husband took several last year and they never affected the efficacy of the treatment.

[stu]

Hi ,
My mum always had a wee week off during chemo .
It recharged her batteries and was very helpful on many fronts . She had chemo two years in a row and did the same the second year .
Take care ,
Stu

[vincent33]

Claudine, can you tell me how long of a break he would take or how long the oncologist said was ok? What I would like to do is skip over one infusion so there would be 4 weeks instead of two when/if I get my next infusion.

[vincent33]

Hi Vincent, I noticed your sig reads you apply ice to hand feet during infusions. I have never heard of that as the oxaliplatin part of folfox causes cold sensitivity in up to 80% of patients. For myself being on folfox I go for IV vit C infusions, 25 grams, once a week then alternate the next week with a myers cocktail which consists of 10 g vitamin c, 5 g vit B complex, 5 g magnesium. It really combats the side effects of folfox. I have read from posters that MSK has suggested to them to take 400 mg magnesium each day, a vit B complex and vit D supplement to help with side effects.

If you apply the ice before and during infusion it doesn't cause cold sensitivity. My second infusion I did not ice and had numbness in my hands and feet. My third infusion I iced my hands and feet and had no numbness.

There is much about icing on youtube and on the colontown group on facebook.

[beach sunrise]

Wow! Thank you for that info. I had no idea. I love the sharing info here. I will have to check into it. I had cold sensitivity after infusion on thurs and it wasn't pretty, ha.

[claudine]

Claudine, can you tell me how long of a break he would take or how long the oncologist said was ok? What I would like to do is skip over one infusion so there would be 4 weeks instead of two when/if I get my next infusion.

He had 4 weeks between two cycles when we traveled last July, and twice his infusion got postponed by a week because of low neutrophils. He stopped chemo early December to let his body recover prior to surgery, but when we learned he wouldn’t get it until mid February, his onc scheduled one last infusion late January. After such a long break my husband said it was a breeze, compared to the two week intervals! Like you (and everybody else I’m sure), he said the hard part is that as soon as you start to feel better, wham! You’re hit again...

In general, his onc said that postponing treatment a week or two shouldn’t make a difference on the overall success of the treatment.

[Rock_Robster]

I’ve taken a week or two here and there for various reasons and my oncologist hasn’t been concerned by it. My only caution would be to use it reservedly, as you don’t know when later you might not get a choice (eg low neutrophils, flu, etc.).

Moving to a 3-week cycle is quite a different question, as this would be a change in protocol that I’m not sure there would be good efficacy data for. Hence it may be difficult for your oncologist to support on ethical grounds unless you were truly unable to tolerable a 2-week cycle (and therefore it would be better than nothing). If the treatment is intolerable then the first response is usually to reduce the dosage rather than to extend the cycle (I’ve reduced my dose a couple of times - helped a lot!).

Good luck,
Rob

[Siti]

My husband had 1 week break for 2 infusions out of 6. Once he was hospitalised for fever and another terrible cramps. His treatment was CAPOX so it’s once every 3 weeks.

Our oncologist said that 1 week break between infusions are ok and doesn’t make a difference if the body needs to recover. In his opinion, stage 4 patients should aim for the long run. However in your case, it’s for curative intent, I would personally stick to the protocol if you can tolerate it.

[vincent33]

Maybe I should be more specific in that has anyone who is Stage II or Stage III who was receiving chemotherapy told by their oncologist that it was ok to take a break?