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FLOT chemotherapy? How many rounds?
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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He started on Wednesday and has been sleeping a lot. So far, he’s been taking the nausea meds and has been able to eat and drink but last night he was feeling really crappy. The cold sensitivity seemed to wane a bit by last night but I expect it will return at some point, if not now after the next round. He had the shakes really bad the morning after the first infusion but that went away as the day went on. I’m finding myself worrying about what the next side effects will be. He’s bummed out that he’s most likely going to lose his hair so I bought him some soft caps to wear. I’m kind of sad about that too, about him having to go through this at all, but our hope is to get through it the best we can and that it works. It’s hard seeing someone you love who is usually so active be floored by treatment. I’m doing everything I can to help.
my husband did 4 rounds of FLOT followed by surgery then he finished 3/4 post op FLOT. we plan to skip the last chemo as he became too fatigued, extreme weight loss, lack of appetite. However he will be 76 in a few weeks and got through it all and is feeling so much better now. He is eating better, we traveled to Florida for a week and planning to go to Aruba next month. It's not easy, just try to take it one step at a time. The FLOT sees to be cumulative and seemed harder post op , but by then he had already a big weight loss and was weaker than when he began the regimen. Stay strong. you will get through it What stage does your husband have?
He’s stage 3 because of a local lymph node, no spread to organs. He’s 65 and has been in great health, very active, so I think that suddenly feeling so sick and exhausted is difficult for him to deal with from a mental standpoint. I’m hoping he’ll have some good days in the “rest period” of this first cycle so he can get to the next. One doctor said sometimes they’ll recommend 6 rounds prior to surgery but I don’t see him being able to do that. It’s going to be hard enough doing 4. I think I’m just now realizing what an uphill battle this could be and it’s scary.
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.
When is he supposed to have the surgery? I was advised that the pre-surgery chemo is usually between 4 and 6 rounds (because it isn’t well tolerated after surgery) but my husband doesn’t think he can deal with 6 at once. He’s in construction too-he’s a plumbing contractor. Maybe you guys can talk with the oncologist about stopping chemo until after the surgery so he can gain some strength back. I think sometimes they forget they’re dealing with human beings and not machines.
My treatment regimen includes a 30-day recovery open period after 5 1/2 weeks chemo/radiation and before subsequent decisions on treatment. I'm stage 3 w/some spread to esophagus walls @ tumor location.
Is 5100 mg of 5FU over 24 hours normal? This seems really high to me but maybe it’s because it’s over the course of 24 hours? Given how my husband feels now, I’m nervous about how the side effects from the next cycles will be; I can’t imagine him feeling worse as right now he is unable to get comfortable and can’t sleep without getting up several times. It looks like he’s at 100% dosages for everything and I wonder if it’s too high. He’s already experiencing weird cognitive issues; he’d hoped to be able to work some but he won’t be able to if this persists throughout treatment. We go see the oncologist on Wednesday and will talk with him to see what’s “normal” and what isn’t. He needs to be able to tolerate treatment in order to get through it. Did many of you have dosage percentages decreased a little bit when you were doing FLOT?
He was only scheduled 5 rounds pre surgrey but is doing 28 radiation treatments. He is so weak so I am hoping that with the break from chemo he can get some strength back. Radiation is OK but is starting to get mouth sores. Anyone deal with those?
My husband is using a mouth rinse several times a day made with water, baking soda and salt (I think it’s 2 cups water, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt). I make it in a mason jar and he just shakes it up before he uses it.
And this seemed to help with the mouth sores? Did you notice this during radiation as well? How long after last chemo did you find some strength was coming back?