Has anyone undergone the folfox chemo treatment?

Posted by allenmm60 @allenmm60, May 1, 2023

I am writing this for my father who has recently been diagnosed with stage IV adenocarcinoma. He has been given the treatment option of folfox and would like to get more information about how patients have responded to treatment, side effects of the chemo, and any other information he could get. I greatly appreciate any and all insight you may have. Thank you.

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I have had folfox treatment . It was set up as being in a sort of “belly bag” that I had to wear 24/7. It wasn’t as bad as other things could be.

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I have taken Folfox for pancreatic cancer. I had fatigue and generalized weakness, got better after the infusion pump was stopped. My Aloxi and Emend premedication prevented nausea. I felt a little queasy on the last day of the infusion but Compazine taken preventively was helpful. Took several days to really come up to a good level of energy. I am having neuropathy after 11 cycles of Folfox and due to reevaluate treatment. Everyone is different, but I hope this helps.

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Hi @allenmm60, how is your dad doing on Folfox?

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I just started folfox. I get the pump removed today. I am also doing radiation treatment as well for esophageal cancer. Started will a little nausea this morning.

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@bunnee70

I just started folfox. I get the pump removed today. I am also doing radiation treatment as well for esophageal cancer. Started will a little nausea this morning.

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I have had 28 days of radiation and chemo for esophageal cancer and it seems to have worked. My last PET scan was clear of cancer tumor. But I did have lots of side affects including constant caughing, nausea, diaherra, tingling in hands and feet, and always tired. But it is great to be done. Have you got target for completion of treatment?

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My radiation is 6 weeks

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My husband started FOLFOX with immunotherapy and targeted therapy every 2 weeks for stage 4, HER2+ esophageal adenocarcinoma in February. His side effects have been minimal-mostly fatigue for the first 3-4 days after infusion. Chemo is given at the infusion center except the 5-FU that they start and out on a pump for home infusion. After 46 hours i disconnect the infusion.
He just had a scan done and the results are amazing!

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@dsh33782

I have had 28 days of radiation and chemo for esophageal cancer and it seems to have worked. My last PET scan was clear of cancer tumor. But I did have lots of side affects including constant caughing, nausea, diaherra, tingling in hands and feet, and always tired. But it is great to be done. Have you got target for completion of treatment?

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I have finished 5 of 30 radiation treatments so far

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It's a challenge to get through all treatments with multiple side effects but there is hope for success at the end. It took several months after treatment before I really felt myself again. Hang in there. Where are you being treated?

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I was diagnosed with stage 4 squamous cell esophageal carcinoma in January 2019. I endured 25 targeted radiation treatments followed by 2 cycles of FOLFOX before I had to discontinue due to exacerbation of
my MS related neuropathy and neutropenia. That said, I had a good clinical response.

When scans showed my disease had progressed I was switched to 5 cucles of a reduced maintenance regimen of folinic acid and 5 FU (FOLFU). Scans show modest disease progression show I was switched to a second line regimen of FOLFIRI which substitutes irinotecan for oxyplatin and a 5 min bolus push of 5FU instead of the 48 hr osmopump. Thus far I've had 6 rounds of FOLFIRI and I have
found this second therapy regimen more tolerable with less fatigue, nausea and diarrhea than I experienced with FOLFOX. My neuropathy and neutropenia have shown modest improvement. Also, my latest scans show my clinical response has modestly improved and my disease is stable. My point in all of this rambling is that while FOLFOX is physically taxing butit's tolerable and effective. If tolerability issues arise, FOLFIRI is a viable option. Both regimens can be combined with various immuno-oncology agents.

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