Oxaliplatin desensitization questions

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
Laurettas
Posts: 1606
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:49 pm

Oxaliplatin desensitization questions

Postby Laurettas » Fri Aug 03, 2012 3:19 pm

I was curious about people's experiences with desensitization of oxaliplatin, particularly if it was found to be helpful in controlling the cancer, but also were there any significant side effects such as increased illness due to immune suppression, etc.
DH 58 4/11 st 4 SRC CC
Lymph, peri, lung
4/11 colon res
5-10/11 FLFX, Av, FLFRI, Erb
11/11 5FU Erb
1/12 PET 2.4 Max act.
1/12 Erb
5/12 CT ext. new mets
5/12 Xlri
7/12 bad CT
8/12 5FU solo
8/12 brain met
9/12 stop tx
11/4/12 finished race,at peace

User avatar
lepperl
Posts: 389
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2012 10:17 pm
Facebook Username: slep22@gmail.com
Location: ohio

Re: Oxaliplatin desensitization questions

Postby lepperl » Fri Aug 03, 2012 3:33 pm

When they desensatized me I was given the oxi over 12 hours. I was given 100mg of benadryl IV in two divided doses one at the start on one half way through. I also was given solumedrol and decadron. And one other thing I can't remember right now. Steroids like the solumedrol can affect the immune system but this did not happen to me. White count never fell below 3. By the time I left there I felt awful but it did shrink my tumor so it was worth it. Unfortunatly it did not help the nodes. I hope this works for you.
8/11CRC Stage 4 Nodes KRAS+ Signet Cells
10/11xelox
irinotecan
Folfiri,avastin
10/12 xeloda,avastin
"It will be said that she stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, and surely it had not, she ajusted her sails" Liz Edwards

User avatar
handicap18
Posts: 441
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:26 pm
Facebook Username: kyle.gendron
Location: Burlington, MA

Re: Oxaliplatin desensitization questions

Postby handicap18 » Fri Aug 03, 2012 6:47 pm

I haven't done any desensitization that I know of. Oxi does suck, but for me its working. After 6 FOLFOX treatments my tumors have shrunk more than 25%.

The side effects suck. First bite pain, cold sensitivity, overall yukky feeling for 4 or 5 days. That all sucks. But if this drug is doing its job and shrinking my tumors, I'l live with the side effects. Luckily I haven't gotten any numbness in my fingers or feet. I do get the pins and needles feeling for about 8-9 days now after treatment, but again I can live with that. I don't drink anything cold either.
Kyle. Male: 44
dx stage 4 RC w/mets to liver & lungs 3/29/12 - CEA 2937
1st of 15 FOLFOX 4/16/12
9/24 11 tx - CEA 12.9 10/4 CT scan - no lesions in lungs.
12/10 Rectal tumor removed
5/20/13 1st of 16 FOLFIRI
2/3/14 1st Cetuximab

User avatar
Kathryn in MN
Posts: 2970
Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2009 12:25 am
Facebook Username: Kathryn Finn-Blume
Location: Minnesota & Mexico
Contact:

Re: Oxaliplatin desensitization questions

Postby Kathryn in MN » Fri Aug 03, 2012 7:59 pm

The only two other people that did it other than me that I know are no longer with us, Tammy & Jess both did it after I did, but a bit differently - they both had to get every treatment in the hospital once they got to the desensitization point due to severe allergic reactions. They both had much more advanced disease than I did when they did the protocol. They had run out of options - nothing else was working, so they went back to FOLFOX, but had severe allergic reactions. The choice was to stop all treatments, or use the desensitization and try FOLFOX longer.

I had a rare syndrome, and medium allergic reactions at first. Slowing infusion time and getting decadron mostly kept it under control, but then I had a big allergic reaction and needed solumedrol. After another more severe reaction, they were too afraid to give me oxaliplatin for my next treatment. My colon cancer nurse navigator, my oncologist, and an oncology pharmacist researched to find what to do with me. For my next treatment I got it in the hospital. For 3 days prior I had to pre-med with decadron and Benadryl. They gave those both to me via IV before infusion. I was given 1/1000 of the drug over several hours. When that went ok, I was given 1/100 over several hours. Then I got 1/10. And finally they gave me the rest over several hours. It took about 18 hours total. I did ok - no allergic reactions.

My next cycles were done at the oncologist. I had to pre-med for 3 days with Benadryl and decadron, and they gave me IV pre-meds before infusion. I turned out to have trouble with 5-FU also - a trip to the ER for an allergic reaction while hooked up to the pump. So I had to continue Benadryl and decadron until after disconnect. My infusion rate for oxy had to be kept at 6 hours. With the labs & pre-appointment with my onc, and all my pre-meds, I was at the oncology center from open to close on my infusion days. I was almost always the very last person done.

I don't think there was any difference in my blood counts due to the allergy. FOLFOX always hit me hard and I got Neupogen shots every cycle.

If I ever get to the point that nothing else works, I might try FOLFOX again, but I doubt it. I had no quality of life dealing with 6 days of Benadryl and steriods, plus all the FOLFOX side effects (more severe than most for me). I didn't feel human until just one or two days before the next cycle, and even then I was very weak. But for someone that has tolerated FOLFOX well in the past, but had an allergic reaction, doing the protocol might take care of things and make it a good option. Rate of infusion is a HUGE factor to anyone with a sensitivity or allergy to that drug. It still angers me that they start everyone at 2 hours, and adjust if they have a problem. They should start everyone at 4 hours and adjust up or down from there if needed.
CRC AUG09 Age 47
Sig Res T4a N2a Mx, KRAS mut codon13
Mets bones & nodes
FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, Avastin, Radiation
Irinotecan, Zaltrap & STAR RFA
APR13 pleurisy & ascites - more chemo & draining
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kathrynblume

Fede

Re: Oxaliplatin desensitization questions

Postby Fede » Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:03 pm

Laurettas wrote:I was curious about people's experiences with desensitization of oxaliplatin, particularly if it was found to be helpful in controlling the cancer, but also were there any significant side effects such as increased illness due to immune suppression, etc.


Hi my friend Laurettas,

Interesting point, you are focusing, chemo works on immune suppression area, reducing the normal cell divided process, you can appreciate that during chemo treatments the oncs generally don t want to give you vitamins or supplements, so this weak immune suppression is looked for.
The target is destroy the f..cking tumors and after it, removed the cores, and then estimulate the immune system to come back at normal levels.

A hug for you.

Fede


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 126 guests