Chemo Break

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Mercy110
Posts: 118
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 12:13 am

Chemo Break

Postby Mercy110 » Wed Jan 10, 2018 9:37 am

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.
My Mum (age 56), NRAS-mutate Q61R (from HK)
2017-05: Surgery with stoma. T4N1M0. Stage3C. Xeloda Only. Increasing CEA. CT: Multiple lung nodules. Stage4.
2017-09: 85% FOLFOX + Avastin, stable CT
2018-03 to 05: Folfox Allergy, Folfiri (with Avastin since Oct)
2019: CEA:178, started Irinotecan+Zaltrip+TS-1, 25 times radio with xeloda
2020: CEA up, Stivarga for 6 months
2021: CEA up, 7L O2 and 24-hour morphine, on pc care
At peace 2021.4.14

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Robino1
Posts: 463
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 12:09 pm
Facebook Username: Robin.lawthers
Location: Florida

Re: Chemo Break

Postby Robino1 » Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:13 am

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.
At 54 2014 1st colonoscopy colon cancer detect
Colon resect margins clear. No chemo Stage II
2017
Distend abd, pain in intestines.
CT scan seeding & Ascites
Lap diag - cancer on the omentum
CEA 217; 219
FOLFOX started 6/17
CEA 202
8/29/17 CT melting of tumor.
Latest CT scan shows 2 new tumors and return of ascites.
CEA: (2017)9/30 -109; 10/12 -99.1; 11/4 -90.7; 11/30 -70.7; 12/14 -83.4; (2018)1/4 -73.3; 2/1-84.2; 89.2; 89.8; 88.5; 81.8: 93.5; 107; 119
BRAF V600e

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Chemo Break

Postby NHMike » Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:25 am

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.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

zephyr
Posts: 363
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:31 am

Re: Chemo Break

Postby zephyr » Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:02 am

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.
Nov-2009 Early stage CRC, routine colonoscopy
2010-2014 F/U colonoscopies, all clear
Jun-2016 CRC during F/U colonoscopy, surgery, Stage 4, KRAS, MSS
Aug-2016-May-2018 Folfox, 5FU, Folfiri & Avastin
Aug/Sep-2018 YAG laser surgeries (Germany), 11 nodules removed
Nov-2018 clean CT scan
Mar-2019 New lung nodules
Apr-2019 Dec-2020 Xeloda/Avastin, SBRT, cont. Xeloda/Avastin
Mar-2021 Forfiri/Avastin
Mar-2022 Ablation & Thoracotomy
Feb-2023 Folfiri & Avastin
Nov-2023 Xeloda & Avastin

mhf1986
Posts: 158
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2017 8:30 pm
Location: near DC

Re: Chemo Break

Postby mhf1986 » Wed Jan 10, 2018 4:05 pm

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
Caregiver to DH, dx @ 50, mets to liver/lungs, MSS, wild
9/16 CEA 114, blockage, left hemi, perm. colostomy
11/16 port in, FOLFOX + Avastin
6/17 CEA 15, 5FU + A only due to neuropathy
11/17 CEA 38, CAPOX + A
1/18 CAPOX = hi bilirubin/bad hfs, back to FOLFOX + A
5/18 growth; Vectibex + 75% Irinotecan
7/18 CEA 23, shrinkage
10/18 CEA 28, growth of 2 liver tumors/shrinkage of few and lung nodes
11/18 Lonsurf, looking at spheres, proton, trials
11/19/18 Peace

rachel2017
Posts: 33
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:17 pm

Re: Chemo Break

Postby rachel2017 » Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:50 pm

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?
DM 63. 11/16 colonoscopy (high dysplasia)
1/17 laparoscopic,6.5X4X3cm. Stage II. No chemo.
6/17 abdo pain. CEA 52. CT paracolic nodule 1.4X1.9cm
7/17 pet CT. Ascending colon 1.4X1.1cm SUV 2.4; midline scar 0.9cm SUV3.1
KRAS G12D
8/16/-9/26/17 Folfox 4 rounds
10/6/17 CT numorous perio seedings. ascending one 7cm; midline one 5.7cm.
10/16-1/5/2018 Folfox/avastin; 1/12/18 CT reviewed Slight progression
Stop chemo

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Robino1
Posts: 463
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 12:09 pm
Facebook Username: Robin.lawthers
Location: Florida

Re: Chemo Break

Postby Robino1 » Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:02 pm

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.
At 54 2014 1st colonoscopy colon cancer detect
Colon resect margins clear. No chemo Stage II
2017
Distend abd, pain in intestines.
CT scan seeding & Ascites
Lap diag - cancer on the omentum
CEA 217; 219
FOLFOX started 6/17
CEA 202
8/29/17 CT melting of tumor.
Latest CT scan shows 2 new tumors and return of ascites.
CEA: (2017)9/30 -109; 10/12 -99.1; 11/4 -90.7; 11/30 -70.7; 12/14 -83.4; (2018)1/4 -73.3; 2/1-84.2; 89.2; 89.8; 88.5; 81.8: 93.5; 107; 119
BRAF V600e

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Chemo Break

Postby Lee » Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:26 pm

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
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

rachel2017
Posts: 33
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:17 pm

Re: Chemo Break

Postby rachel2017 » Fri Jan 12, 2018 6:13 pm

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.
DM 63. 11/16 colonoscopy (high dysplasia)
1/17 laparoscopic,6.5X4X3cm. Stage II. No chemo.
6/17 abdo pain. CEA 52. CT paracolic nodule 1.4X1.9cm
7/17 pet CT. Ascending colon 1.4X1.1cm SUV 2.4; midline scar 0.9cm SUV3.1
KRAS G12D
8/16/-9/26/17 Folfox 4 rounds
10/6/17 CT numorous perio seedings. ascending one 7cm; midline one 5.7cm.
10/16-1/5/2018 Folfox/avastin; 1/12/18 CT reviewed Slight progression
Stop chemo


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