Mom skipped a cycle of chemo, nervous (stage 3 rectal cancer)

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MassMike
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2017 11:04 am

Mom skipped a cycle of chemo, nervous (stage 3 rectal cancer)

Postby MassMike » Wed Mar 28, 2018 10:40 am

Hey all,

My mother is 4 cycles into her folfox regimen and she got a cold. Her onc decided to cancel her chemo this cycle until the next one because of the possibility of worsening infection and I'm wondering is this a bad thing? Will this effect anything if she skips a cycle? Does skipping a cycle have any negative effects in relation to survival? This is essentially mop up chemo as all the cancer was removed during her LAR and had negative lymph nodes and clear margins. Thanks :)
Mom DX Stage 2/3 Rectal Cancer 8/17
Chemoradiation 9/17-11/17
Surgery w/Temp Colostomy 12/12/17
yP Stage T2N0 0/20 nodes
8 cycles folfox begun 1/15/18
Folfox finished 5/18
Reversal 8/18

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: Mom skipped a cycle of chemo, nervous (stage 3 rectal cancer)

Postby Aqx99 » Wed Mar 28, 2018 3:53 pm

That is no different than having to put off chemo due to low blood counts. I had to put off cycle 5 for one week, and cycle 6 for two weeks due to my blood counts. It should not have a negative effect on her treatment.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

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

Re: Mom skipped a cycle of chemo, nervous (stage 3 rectal cancer)

Postby NHMike » Wed Mar 28, 2018 5:23 pm

I skipped a week after my third cycle. I dropped to 75% on the Oxaliplatin after the third cycle and 70% on the fourth. We skipped the Oxaliplatin completely for the fifth because of neuropathy issues. We cut back from 4000 to 3,500 Xeloda after the third cycle. The neuropathy has decreased but isn't completely gone. We will probably resume the Oxaliplatin for the sixth round. Things aren't written in stone.

Folks that have severe weather problems like Houston last year had no choice - MD Anderson was closed because of flooding issues for several days so patients were delayed. Some people also have trips planned, graduations, weddings, etc. and the doctor can say sure, go ahead. I've seen it happen a lot.
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

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juliej
Posts: 3114
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 12:59 pm

Re: Mom skipped a cycle of chemo, nervous (stage 3 rectal cancer)

Postby juliej » Wed Mar 28, 2018 6:08 pm

I wouldn't worry a bit about it if I were you. Chemo builds up in the body, so skipping one cycle doesn't affect the outcome that much. I'd worry more about her cold turning into something serious if she didn't skip a round, especially since this is mop-op chemo.

Take a deep breath. It's going to be fine!

Juliej
Stage IVb, liver/lung mets 8/4/2010
Xelox+Avastin 8/18/10 to 10/21/2011
LAR, liver resec, HAI pump 11/2011
Adjuvant Irinotecan + FUDR
Double lung surgery + ileo reversal 2/2012
Adjuvant FUDR + Xeloda
VATS rt. lung 12/2012 - benign granuloma!
VATS left lung 11/2013
NED 11/22/13 to 12/18/2019, CEA<1

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

Re: Mom skipped a cycle of chemo, nervous (stage 3 rectal cancer)

Postby Robino1 » Thu Mar 29, 2018 8:17 am

I'm currently on my fourth week skipping a cycle due to 5FU causing some toxic issues in my hands. I'll be getting chemo again in my 5 week.

A couple of times I have gone a month. Each time my CEA still dropped in points. I am very curious about what my number will be after this latest break.

The rise in CEA has not happened during any breaks.
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

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

Re: Mom skipped a cycle of chemo, nervous (stage 3 rectal cancer)

Postby Mercy110 » Thu Mar 29, 2018 8:43 am

I have similar concerns with you before, but my mum take a month rest in Feb for traveling and her CEA was within the normal range still. Now she is having her 2 month break due to Folfox Allergy.
Skipping one or two cycles won't hurt.
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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