Ok, so after 24 largely uneventful rounds (first twelve were rough, second twelve were good with very manageable side effects), mom is on a chemo break again. Her first chemo break in 2010 lasted 5 months before her CEA began to rise (from 3.something to 19) and they put her back on Folfiri. Second set of twelve ended in March and her CEA was 4.1. It has risen to 8.6 and the onc today told her he is not happy with the outcome and wants to switch protocols to erbitux/xeloda. This has us both confused and alarmed.
At the outset, he made it clear that Folfiri or Folfox were the two front line courses of treatment and that everything else would be second line when the first two did not work. We are not clear why he wants to switch as she is tolerating Folfiri well with minimal side effects. CT scan showed that the spots on liver and lung are still there, same size. No new mets that showed on the CT scan.
Based on a review of literature for these two drugs, I am concerned that the side effects may be more than she can handle.
Has anyone experienced this type of switch in the absence of an inability to tolerate Folfiri?
My mom is 74 dx;d 7/09 stage 4 cc with mets to liver and lung. She is not a surgical candidate for either mets location.
thanks for any input!
Anne-Marie