Chemotherapy side effects

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
gsmtftw
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2025 2:00 am
Facebook Username: namhoonkim82

Chemotherapy side effects

Postby gsmtftw » Fri Jan 17, 2025 3:09 am

Hi everyone.

First time posting on this forum.
I am 42 year old South Korean male.
I was diagnosed with colon cancer in the sigmoid colon last year in October and had surgery 3 weeks later.
Final biopsy showed that I was Stage 2.

Oncologist said that chemotherapy was optional at my stage, but I said that I wanted to do it.
I was only told the drug was 5-FU + Leucovorin, so I don't know if this qualifies as FOLFIRI or FOLFOX, or some other terminology.
I was supposed to get 6 rounds of 5 consecutive daily IV push shots, every 4 weeks.

After the first week of shots, I experienced an urge for bowel movements like every 30 minutes for a week, diarrhea, and a lot of canker sores.
Those side effects faded away after about 10 days since the last shot, but then I started experiencing hair loss.
The hair loss was a big surprise since the oncologist had mentioned that this shouldn't happen in most cases.

Before the second round of chemotherapy, oncologist said that my side effects were more severe than the average patient, but not enough to warrant a change in drugs or stopping altogether.
So we decided to reduce the dosage a bit and go on with the second phase.
The oncologist did prescribe me a mouth wash for the canker sores.
After about 4 days after the last shot, I started experiencing abdominal pain, along with the usual urge for bowel movements every 30 minutes and diarrhea.
I didn't get any canker sores.
The abdominal pain grew every day, and after a week since the last shot, my body temperature started exceeding 38 degrees Celcius, at which point the oncologist had warned that I needed to go to the ER to find why I had a fever.

At the ER, I was diagnosed with Ischemic Colitis, which to my best knowledge meant that I had an inflammation in my colon due to reduced blood flow to a certain area.
I was admitted into the hospital for a week, and was given antibiotics, after which I felt much better.

My next oncologist visit is next week on Tuesday, but at this point, I'm pretty scared.
I don't know whether I should be continuing this chemotherapy, which was optional from the beginning.
I don't know whether I have the courage or strength to go through the remaining four rounds.

I'm thinking of asking my oncologist whether I could change the chemo drug to something else that has less side effects, or maybe reduce the dosage even further down, or whether I should stop the chemotherapy altogether.

So I guess my question is, has anyone experienced side effects similar to me?
What did you do, or what would you do in my situation?

Thanks a lot to everyone who has read my story and thanks in advance for all of your opinions.
Male 42y/o
Diagnosed with colon cancer at sigmoid colon on Oct. 11, 2024 through colonoscopy
Surgery on Oct. 28, 2024
Biopsy result: Stage 2
Depth of invasion: invades into subserosa; depth of invasion beyond muscularis propria, 1mm to 5mm
Surgical margin: free from carcinoma
Number of examined lymph nodes: 23
Number of metastatic lymph nodes: 0
Pathological staging (AJCC 8th)
- pT category: pT3b
- pN category: pN0

Opted in for chemotherapy with 5-FU + Leucovorin

User avatar
beach sunrise
Posts: 1178
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:14 pm

Re: Chemotherapy side effects

Postby beach sunrise » Fri Jan 17, 2025 5:34 pm

FOLFOX is combo od 5FU and oxaliplatin
Not sure about FOLFIRI. Someone will come along on an answer on it.
So, are you carrying a bulb or bag on your shoulder/hip receiving the chemo or is it done at your clinic daily? Just trying to understand that part.
What does your bloodwork look like? Normal, abnormal? It might be they just want to make sure they can hopefully get any escapees while the gettings good. Yes, they can dial the chemo down to more tolerable to you. One thing I will say is avoid folic acid (synthetic for natural folate). Folic acid is toxic to YOU while on chemo. Research it. It is hidden in all kinds of things from vitamins, health drinks and powders to processed food, some baking flours, ect, ect...
New papers have revealed 6 rounds have a very comparable outcome. I was originally stage III and only did 7 rounds scheduled one day a week then carry around a chemo bag for two more days.
Last edited by beach sunrise on Fri Jan 17, 2025 5:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
8/19 RC CEA 82.6 T3N0M0
5FU/rad 6 wk
IVC 75g 1 1/2 wks before surgery. Continue 2x a week
Surg 1/20 -margins T4bN1a IIIC G2 MSI- 1/20 LN+ LVI+ PNI-
pre cea 24 post 5.9
FOLFOX
7 rds 6-10 CEA 11.4 No more
CEA
7/20 11.1 8.8
8/20 7.8
9/20 8.8, 9, 8.6
10/20 8.1
11/20 8s
12/20 8s-9s
ADAPT++++ chrono
CEA
10/23/22 26.x
12/23/22 22.x
2023
1/5 17.1
1/20 15.9
3/30 14.9
6/12 13.3
Nodule RML SUV 1.3 5mm
Rolles 3 of 4 lung nodules cancer
KRAS
Chem-sens test failed Not enough ca cells to test

User avatar
CRguy
Posts: 10510
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: Chemotherapy side effects

Postby CRguy » Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:51 pm

gsmtftw wrote:Hi everyone.

First time posting on this forum.
I am 42 year old South Korean male.
I was diagnosed with colon cancer in the sigmoid colon last year in October and had surgery 3 weeks later.
Final biopsy showed that I was Stage 2.

Thanks a lot to everyone who has read my story and thanks in advance for all of your opinions.

Welcome to the forum and sorry you are having so much of an issue with chemo.

This is just my opinion, BUTT … you can read my own history from the link in my signature below...
AND I base my comments on what I have learned here and from my own Journey.
gsmtftw wrote:I don't know whether I should be continuing this chemotherapy, which was optional from the beginning..

IF the chemo was optional anyway AND you are having unexpected severity of side effects …
IMO... I would consider stopping that chemo.
gsmtftw wrote:I don't know whether I have the courage or strength to go through the remaining four rounds.

Only YOU can answer that question my friend

BUTT ... whatever YOU decide is best for your own future
WE will all be here to support you along the way

Cheers and Harmony on the Journey
CRguy
Caregiver x 5
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
18 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

User avatar
CRguy
Posts: 10510
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: Chemotherapy side effects

Postby CRguy » Fri Jan 17, 2025 8:07 pm

Just by way of some follow up clarifications here ... :shock: :mrgreen:

beach sunrise wrote:FOLFOX is combo od 5FU and oxaliplatin
Not sure about FOLFIRI. Someone will come along on an answer on it.
It includes the drugs leucovorin calcium (folinic acid), fluorouracil, and irinotecan hydrochloride.

So, are you carrying a bulb or bag on your shoulder/hip receiving the chemo or is it done at your clinic daily? Just trying to understand that part.
I believe he has stated "push injections"
5 consecutive daily IV push shots
which are IV in clinic with no bag or pump as an out-patient

Folic acid is toxic to YOU while on chemo. Research it.
derivatives OF folic acid are actually used to enhance effectiveness .. aka "toxicity" of chemo to tumor cells
SO yes ... avoid extra "folates" BUTT ... understand that folates are actually part of some of our chemos

Best wishes to all on the Journey
CRguy
Caregiver x 5
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
18 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

gsmtftw
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2025 2:00 am
Facebook Username: namhoonkim82

Re: Chemotherapy side effects

Postby gsmtftw » Tue Jan 21, 2025 12:38 am

beach sunrise wrote:FOLFOX is combo od 5FU and oxaliplatin
Not sure about FOLFIRI. Someone will come along on an answer on it.
So, are you carrying a bulb or bag on your shoulder/hip receiving the chemo or is it done at your clinic daily? Just trying to understand that part.
What does your bloodwork look like? Normal, abnormal? It might be they just want to make sure they can hopefully get any escapees while the gettings good. Yes, they can dial the chemo down to more tolerable to you. One thing I will say is avoid folic acid (synthetic for natural folate). Folic acid is toxic to YOU while on chemo. Research it. It is hidden in all kinds of things from vitamins, health drinks and powders to processed food, some baking flours, ect, ect...
New papers have revealed 6 rounds have a very comparable outcome. I was originally stage III and only did 7 rounds scheduled one day a week then carry around a chemo bag for two more days.

Hi and thanks for the reply.
I also am not familiar with FOLFOX and FOLFIRI, but they were terms in the terminology post.
I couldn't find a separate terminology for what I was getting, so was curious what the difference was.
No, I don't carry a bulb nor a bag. I've been coming into the hospital daily for an IV push shot.
I think my bloodwork is normal, since I did get it done everytime before the chemo and they didn't say anything was wrong.
THanks for the advice on folic acid. I'll see if that's something that was causing the side effects.
Male 42y/o
Diagnosed with colon cancer at sigmoid colon on Oct. 11, 2024 through colonoscopy
Surgery on Oct. 28, 2024
Biopsy result: Stage 2
Depth of invasion: invades into subserosa; depth of invasion beyond muscularis propria, 1mm to 5mm
Surgical margin: free from carcinoma
Number of examined lymph nodes: 23
Number of metastatic lymph nodes: 0
Pathological staging (AJCC 8th)
- pT category: pT3b
- pN category: pN0

Opted in for chemotherapy with 5-FU + Leucovorin

gsmtftw
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2025 2:00 am
Facebook Username: namhoonkim82

Re: Chemotherapy side effects

Postby gsmtftw » Tue Jan 21, 2025 12:39 am

CRguy wrote:
gsmtftw wrote:Hi everyone.

First time posting on this forum.
I am 42 year old South Korean male.
I was diagnosed with colon cancer in the sigmoid colon last year in October and had surgery 3 weeks later.
Final biopsy showed that I was Stage 2.

Thanks a lot to everyone who has read my story and thanks in advance for all of your opinions.

Welcome to the forum and sorry you are having so much of an issue with chemo.

This is just my opinion, BUTT … you can read my own history from the link in my signature below...
AND I base my comments on what I have learned here and from my own Journey.
gsmtftw wrote:I don't know whether I should be continuing this chemotherapy, which was optional from the beginning..

IF the chemo was optional anyway AND you are having unexpected severity of side effects …
IMO... I would consider stopping that chemo.
gsmtftw wrote:I don't know whether I have the courage or strength to go through the remaining four rounds.

Only YOU can answer that question my friend

BUTT ... whatever YOU decide is best for your own future
WE will all be here to support you along the way

Cheers and Harmony on the Journey
CRguy


Thanks CRguy!
I actually met the oncologist today and he also recommended stopping the chemo so that's that!
Thank you for the cheers!
Male 42y/o
Diagnosed with colon cancer at sigmoid colon on Oct. 11, 2024 through colonoscopy
Surgery on Oct. 28, 2024
Biopsy result: Stage 2
Depth of invasion: invades into subserosa; depth of invasion beyond muscularis propria, 1mm to 5mm
Surgical margin: free from carcinoma
Number of examined lymph nodes: 23
Number of metastatic lymph nodes: 0
Pathological staging (AJCC 8th)
- pT category: pT3b
- pN category: pN0

Opted in for chemotherapy with 5-FU + Leucovorin

jpdalton
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2024 9:49 am

Re: Chemotherapy side effects

Postby jpdalton » Tue Jan 21, 2025 10:54 am

I recently completed 8 rounds of FOLFOX + panitumumab, the 5FU I carried around for a couple of days for that infusion, as many people do. The side effects I get from 5FU are mostly extreme fatigue and waking up super early in the morning for no particular reason. I know that side effects can vary wildly depending on dosage and just your own physiology, but that's my experience with it, so far.
55/M
Dx 7/24 Stage IV Malignant neoplasm of splenic flexure / mets to liver
DPYD normal metabolizer
MSS
KRAS Wildtype
Port placement 8/24
CEA 6.5 (8/24) 1.2 (12/24)
FOLFOX + Pmab 8x as of 12/24
Liver tumors shrunk > 85% 12/24
Colectomy scheduled 2/13/25
Future: liver resection + hepatic infusion pump placement


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



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 7 guests