Anybody Get FOLFOX Chemo After Metastatic Diagnosis?

Im having the same thing unfortunately My doc is starting me on oral Xeloda 14 days on 7 days off then a few rounds of Oxaliplatin. I also checked with City of Hope and they do the same regimen. After treatment if there are any signs of the tumor still on liver they will go in to to an ablashia on the liver I feel comfortable doing it especially confirming my oncologist and my colon oncologist stated this along with City of Hope and the second opinion of the same treatment Let me know how you proceed and prayers for all of us F cancer and lets beat this together

I am currently in the middle of FOLFOX 6 treatment. I have Stage 4 rectal cancer that metastasized to a lymph node and a small spot in the lung. So far side effects have been manageable. I have been experiencing nausea, diarrhea, and some neuropathy, but am doing acupuncture and PT to help. The weirdest side effect for me has been the cold sensitivity due to the oxaliplatin. My midway CT scan did not show any nodule in the lung, which seems to indicate treatment is working.

@madilworth - I'm really glad to hear your midway CT scan showed no nodule in the lung—that’s incredibly encouraging and suggests the FOLFOX 6 treatment is having a positive impact! The cold sensitivity from oxaliplatin is definitely a strange and common side effect; it can feel like a shock to the system when touching cold surfaces or drinking cold liquids. It sounds like you’re managing the nausea, diarrhea, and neuropathy well with acupuncture and physical therapy—great job staying proactive. Since you’re handling things but might want some additional tips, here are a few practical ideas for dealing with cold sensitivity and other side effects, along with some general guidance:
Cold Sensitivity (Oxaliplatin-Induced): This happens because oxaliplatin can cause temporary nerve irritation, leading to tingling or discomfort with cold exposure. To help:
Wear gloves when reaching into the fridge or freezer, and keep warm socks or slippers handy for cold floors.

Use room-temperature or warm drinks and foods to avoid throat or mouth sensitivity. A scarf or face covering can help if you’re outside in chilly weather.

Some patients find relief by keeping a warm blanket or heating pad nearby for comfort during infusions or at home.

Since this is a neuropathy-related effect, let your oncologist know if it worsens or persists, as they might adjust the dose or schedule to reduce nerve impact. This might seem counterintuitive but the next time you are having your oxalaplatin infusion, try wrapping your fingers in a cold pack. The chemo nurses typically keep these on hand. What you are doing is limiting the amount of drug into the fingertips and preventing the drug from affecting the nerves. Could you give that a try and let me know if it works?

Thanks for the tips! After treatment #2, my throat seemed to be closing up after simply breathing cold air, so I know to be careful with cold temps. I go to an infusion center for treatment, so I make sure I am bundled up when I leave. Sometimes even room temp water is too cold, so I heat up water when needed. I have gloves that I use for getting things out of the fridge. Thankfully the cold sensitivity has only lasted for a few days after treatment.

I am interested in icing, but my nurses were not super excited about me trying it and my doctor said research about its effectiveness is inconclusive. I have tried compression socks, which seem to mitigate some of the effects for my feet. I have had a hard time finding the right compression gloves (either too loose or too tight). The exercise routine developed by my oncologist PT seems to help me recover from the treatment.

@madilworth - it's great that your symptoms seem to be resolving relatively quickly. I know the first time that I reached into the fridge for a pitcher of cold water, and felt the shock of a cold it's certainly was a surprise! You can certainly try the ice packs it wouldn't hurt anything. But I would watch for is any sign of developing neuropathy in your fingertips. Are you also experiencing some symptoms of change of taste?

Two to four days after treatment my tongue starts to develop a coat and I notice a change of taste. Thankfully that doesn’t last long.

One thing I forgot to mention is when I go to have the pump removed I get an IV hydration for about an hour. This is something that I had to ask for, but definitely worth it to help with diarrhea.

I am going to stick with compression for treatment 5, but will consider ice for the next.

I am currently getting FOLFOX chemo with Mvasi. I was diagnosed with Stage IV rectal cancer in December, and I will be starting chemo round 10 on Monday. My tumor and metastases have shrunk, and my CEA consistently decreases with every lab starting at 58 in January and most recently 6.4. I have had side effects, but for me they are tolerable. Neuropathy has increased to generalized numbness in my fingertips, and the Oxaliplatin dosage was adjusted by my oncologist. She did say that the neuropathy is permanent, so that's a risk we take with this particular chemo regimen. There are also potential heart issues that may arise. I believe atrial fibrillation although I'm not entirely sure. It seems when I read about a side effect, I develop it - lol. I wish you the best in your treatment!

I’m on folfox and will have treatment #5 in a few days. I’m experiencing some neuropathy in my feet. I read that it was temporary but I’m fearful of it getting worse.

@mmott - neuropathy is relatively common especially after the number of treatments you have received. Can you describe exactly what your experiencing, is it in both feet, just in the toes? As reported before here and in my case I know that the application of cold packs around my toes during treatment really help diminish the neuropathy. If you're experiencing some tingling and some numbness it is very likely to resolve in weeks or months after treatment is ended. I suggest you also discuss this with your chemo nurses would you feel comfortable in doing that?

It’s in both feet, toes snd fingers. Tingling and burning. I asked about cold packs and my oncologist said they don’t work 🤷‍♀️
I’ve only had 4 treatments so far.
Thanks for your response and advice