1. < Esophageal Cancer

FLOT chemotherapy? How many rounds?

Posted by emersonmoon @emersonmoon, Apr 4 2:05pm

Did a lot of people here go through a FLOT regime? The surgeon did not find any metastasis and said my hubby’s best option for survival is FLOT, surgery, and then more chemo. He thinks radiation would not be needed with this. We’re leaning toward this but are frightened by the chemo-originally the oncologist was leaning toward low dose chemo once a week, paired with radiation 5 days a week. This felt manageable, while this new option feels like a mountain. I worry about him tolerating the side effects (he’s 65 but in good shape and good health prior to the cancer diagnosis). I don’t want him to be so worn out by the chemo that he can’t have the surgery. But the overall results are showing better long term.

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emersonmoon | @emersonmoon | Apr 27 11:57am
In reply to @sosereal "Hi - :) For me the FLOT has gone pretty well. My 4th treatment May 2..." + (show)
@sosereal

Hi - 🙂
For me the FLOT has gone pretty well. My 4th treatment May 2 then Folfox and Proton. Some slight nausea (additively increasing), neuropathy (soles of feet, fingers, tongue - taste) - all tolerable.
- Bring ice-ice packs for feet, and hands- fingers. Use compression socks. They can provide ice chips for your mouth. I also double up a size too small latex gloves.
- I believe that the supplements I take helps with energy and side effects. ( Bromelain and Ellagic acid powder ( mixed with Gatorade), Magnesium, Curcumin, Iron, B-complex, Ginger root and Lutein. It seems like every positive study on supplements has an opposing one. Check with your Oncologist.
- Don't loose faith. There seems to be so much sadness and negative vibes but there are many positive outcomes. Try not to get hung up on survival rates its a dark side.
- Get as much exercise as possible.
- Eat-Eat-Eat... We will loose weight through our journey!
- Keep a journal
- Checkout Zoom support groups here is one that I regularly follow.
- Ok...EC Zoom info: Call times never change.
Sundays, 9am Eastern
Wednesdays, 6pm Eastern
Here's a one-touch Zoom link to pop right in:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4550284795?pwd=UjBHQ0J2V1pOc21SOExTR2N1UXNpQT09
If this link doesn't work for you... use the Zoom app. Open it and use these codes:

ID - 455 028 4795
Passcode - tuiBE5

All my greatest prayers and wishes, I'm sure we will cross paths. RickK

Jump to this post

Were you able to do the ice packs with FLOT? I know one side effect is cold sensitivity so the oncology said they wouldn’t be an option for my hubby. The sensitivity went away fairly quickly after round one but it might last longer moving forward (though I have hope that it doesn’t).

REPLY
RickK | @sosereal | Apr 27 6:03pm

Hi,
I am not sure why they said it is not an option? I guess I would try it and if it doesn't work out he can discontinue.
I am into my 4th and final FLOT. Yes, I have used the ice packs thus far with no issues. I still get some mild and temporary neuropathy and pins and needles sensitivity. For me the overall side effects seem a bit additive with each treatment.
RickK

REPLY
kmordan | @kmordan | Apr 28 12:38pm
In reply to @sosereal "Hi - :) For me the FLOT has gone pretty well. My 4th treatment May 2..." + (show)
@sosereal

Hi - 🙂
For me the FLOT has gone pretty well. My 4th treatment May 2 then Folfox and Proton. Some slight nausea (additively increasing), neuropathy (soles of feet, fingers, tongue - taste) - all tolerable.
- Bring ice-ice packs for feet, and hands- fingers. Use compression socks. They can provide ice chips for your mouth. I also double up a size too small latex gloves.
- I believe that the supplements I take helps with energy and side effects. ( Bromelain and Ellagic acid powder ( mixed with Gatorade), Magnesium, Curcumin, Iron, B-complex, Ginger root and Lutein. It seems like every positive study on supplements has an opposing one. Check with your Oncologist.
- Don't loose faith. There seems to be so much sadness and negative vibes but there are many positive outcomes. Try not to get hung up on survival rates its a dark side.
- Get as much exercise as possible.
- Eat-Eat-Eat... We will loose weight through our journey!
- Keep a journal
- Checkout Zoom support groups here is one that I regularly follow.
- Ok...EC Zoom info: Call times never change.
Sundays, 9am Eastern
Wednesdays, 6pm Eastern
Here's a one-touch Zoom link to pop right in:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4550284795?pwd=UjBHQ0J2V1pOc21SOExTR2N1UXNpQT09
If this link doesn't work for you... use the Zoom app. Open it and use these codes:

ID - 455 028 4795
Passcode - tuiBE5

All my greatest prayers and wishes, I'm sure we will cross paths. RickK

Jump to this post

Thankyou!
Mark starts his 1st treatment May 6th. We meet with the surgeon tomorrow.

Our prayers and positive thoughts to you as well!
KarenM

REPLY
2 replies
emersonmoon | @emersonmoon | Apr 29 9:59am
In reply to @kmordan "Thankyou! Mark starts his 1st treatment May 6th. We meet with the surgeon tomorrow. Our prayers..." + (show)
@kmordan

Thankyou!
Mark starts his 1st treatment May 6th. We meet with the surgeon tomorrow.

Our prayers and positive thoughts to you as well!
KarenM

Jump to this post

🙏🏼 all goes well! Starting is good.

REPLY
ollusam | @ollusam | Apr 30 3:18pm

Good luck. He will do just fine. One day at a time

REPLY
RickK | @sosereal | Apr 30 9:31pm
In reply to @kmordan "Thankyou! Mark starts his 1st treatment May 6th. We meet with the surgeon tomorrow. Our prayers..." + (show)
@kmordan

Thankyou!
Mark starts his 1st treatment May 6th. We meet with the surgeon tomorrow.

Our prayers and positive thoughts to you as well!
KarenM

Jump to this post

Thank you!
Just a side note on your surgeon. Origionally Mayo paired me with a surgeon and upon asking questions;
I discovered he was not certified for Minimally invasive surgery. (why they would do that I have no clue) I had to request a different surgeon that was certified and very experienced in MIT technique.
Best of luck.
RickK

REPLY
goldenshadow | @goldenshadow | May 9 12:24pm
In reply to @emersonmoon "We just went to the oncologist and talked with the chemo lady. Most people I’ve spoken..." + (show)
@emersonmoon

We just went to the oncologist and talked with the chemo lady. Most people I’ve spoken with about FLOT have said they were given an estimated number of rounds (anywhere from 6 to 8, maybe separated by the surgery and breaks). So this is what I was expecting. They didn’t give us even an estimate. She just said they do scans and when it’s done what it needs to do that’s when they stop. I’m pretty upset right now. I know it’s going to be very hard and having an estimated end point makes it a little easier. Is this usual? I expected they’d do a scan at some point and, if they needed to do more they would, but to not have a guesstimate is torture.

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Hi Scott here Went through FLOT Program my treatments were 4 treatments 2 treatments a month or every other week for two months then waited 5 weeks before my surgery. Surgery was long for me almost 9 hours. Stay in hospital was 8 days. Waited another 4 weeks then went through 4 more rounds of FLOT. Waiting for pet scan in June. I’m feeling great. Hope this helps. Ask your doctors as many questions you can think of write them down. My team was great. Doctors and nurses alike. Answered all my questions with honesty and integrity. I hope you have a good support system family and friends can help so much. If you can take walks that also helps. You can always reach out to me.

REPLY
goldenshadow | @goldenshadow | May 11 1:45pm
In reply to @s6819103 "Hi My dad sounds same. 68 was in great health and active. Still worked physically as..." + (show)
@s6819103

Hi
My dad sounds same. 68 was in great health and active. Still worked physically as an ironworker up until a couple months prior to diagnose. He completed his 5 round of chemo last Wed and was doing well until this week. Just floored him. Barely lifts his head to eat if at all and is yhe weakest I have ever seem him. I am worried about finding strength for the surgrey. I wish he would talk to someone that he can't relate to but he seems to want to put his head down and barrel through it alone. I feel so bad and not sure how to help.

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Hi I’m Scott, I’m 62 went through Flot program also. Started with 4 treatments every other week for 2 months. Waited 5 weeks then had surgery. Surgery went well long but well two surgical teams. After surgery waited 4 weeks then 4 more treatments of chemotherapy. Waiting now for pet scan in June. Feeling better every day. Food is starting to taste better. When I got diagnosed I couldn’t eat or drink anything. I had feeding tube put in was using that for 6 months. So happy to eat again. But with your further question what you can do is just be there for him. I was positive and strong for my family. But I still needed them to. There’s always days you can get down. So you being there does help no matter what. Also if you can take walks with him that helped me so much. Gave me worth. I’ve always had physical job also in shape. So this cancer can knock you for a Lupe. Just be there for him and listen. Also tough on you. Talk to someone there usually counselors available to talk to.

REPLY
kmordan | @kmordan | May 12 2:57pm

My husband is headed into his second round of chemo. (FLOT). The first round went pretty well. He did experience some fatigue around day three and four other than that he didn’t really experience any side effects. My question is this typical for the four weeks or is it cumulative and it gets a little worse each treatment?

REPLY
2 replies
mrgvw | @mrgvw | May 12 3:48pm
In reply to @kmordan "My husband is headed into his second round of chemo. (FLOT). The first round went pretty..." + (show)
@kmordan

My husband is headed into his second round of chemo. (FLOT). The first round went pretty well. He did experience some fatigue around day three and four other than that he didn’t really experience any side effects. My question is this typical for the four weeks or is it cumulative and it gets a little worse each treatment?

Jump to this post

Yes... fairly normal. But can vary patient to patient. Cumulative effects can come into play, but may not come into play as much if doing the regimen of 4 FLOT, esophagectomy, 4 FLOT. But almost always, the adjuvant 4 FLOT are much harder for patients since they're trying to recover from surgery. Many on our Zoom calls doing this if you want to check in.

Gary

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