Cost Of Folfox

My dad was given a couple of options for chemo (Stage III). The first one, 5FU, is covered by the government plan (we're from Ontario, Canada). The second option, Folfox containing Oxaliplaitin is not covered and was told costs about $2,000 per treatment. There is financial assistance we can apply for. What he would gain from it might be an extra 5% living the next 5 years if he had taken just 5FU.

I'd like to hear from any other Canadians, especially from Ontario, who have been/are in a similar situation.

Thanks

ADF1962

It appears that my reply became a separate message. So please read earlier message.

Hi. Just found this site today. Sorry for the late response. Hope you found the funding. I started on Folfox 4 on November 9, 2004 at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga. Cost was zero for twelve treatments. Henderson Hospital in Hamilton told me it was $2900 per treatment. Universal medicare, baloney!

My dad eventually did get the cost waived.

He's halfway through the treatments now.

How was the treatment for you Mel? How did you feel at the end of it?

Thanks for any information you can give.

Hello

Hope your dad is doing well. I was first diagnosed with sigmoid colon cancer in September/October 2000. I had surgery and was refused chemo because they found no lymph node involvement (malignancy). Also refused when I got a second opinion. They said that the "statistics" indicated that the chances of my having a recurrance would be the same whether or not I had the chemo because they put me in Stage 1, N 0. Turns out they only checked three nodes versus a standard thirteen plus. Last fall, a colonoscopy revealed another tumour on the same spot in my colon and this time there was lymph node involement. My regimen consisted of twelve sessions, one every two weeks, starting November 9, 2005. I would think your dad's treatments are similar to mine. I had a port (a catheter that accepts needles for IV, meds, etc.) inserted under the skin in my upper left chest so that I could go home during the treatment and avoid needles in my arm every time. Each session was about 50+ hours. Day 1 started blood work to measure the components of my blood, the most important one being neutrophils (needed to be above 1.5). If that was okay (which it always was for me), I then started with an anti-nausea pill called Zofran(ondansetrone)and a steroid for nausea/appetite/depression called Decadrone (dexamethasone) via an IV. Then I got an IV bag each of oxaliplatin and leucovorin. Then I got an injection/bolus (via the port-o cath, like all of my chemos)of 5-FU. It was a large needle full. That all took 4-5 hours.Then they gave me what looked like a hi tech baby bottle with more 5-FU that went through a tube, through my port, and into me and sent me home for about 24 hours, or until the bottle was empty.Then back in day 2 for another bag of leucovorin, another bolus injection of 5-FU and another hook up for the home bottle of 5-FU. Day 3 was simply back to Credit Valley to get unhooked when the bottle was empty. I continued to take Decadrone and Zofran pills for two days to get over the worst of the nausea. After a few sessions we lengthened the Zofran for two more days because I was feeling pretty punk. Sorry for all that rambling. I handled everthing fairly well, but the numbness/tingling/sensitivity to cold in the hands and feet is still not amusing to me at all. As you probably know, it is apparently caused by the platinum in the oxaliplatin, which damages the nerves and the nerve endings called receptors. They have the highest concentration in the hands/fingers and feet/toes so is felt most there. Haven't found anything that makes any worthwhile difference. I was told that it should have gone away in six months. Not so. If it never goes away, I have no regrets at all in taking the Folfox. Had a colonoscopy in Sept. They removed a small polyp and took some tissue from around the resection site for a biopsy that came back clear. I get blood work done every three months and will be having a CT scan in December. I enjoy my wife, my four daughters and their spouses , and my twelve grandchildren. Best wishes to your dad and you.

Thanks again.

The treatment sounds almost exactly what my dad is going through. The only added change was for his falling white cell count. He now receives 7 injections (1 per day) of Neupogen beginning 3 days after his chemo finishes.

The peripheral neuropathy in his fingers isn't too pleasant but he's learning to deal with it. With winter approaching it does have us a bit nervous.

In his case they pulled out a tumor 7cm x 11cm on the right side of his abdomen just outside the colon. Half of the 13 nodes were compromised, hence the stage III diagnosis. Would've been nice if his family doctor could have figured out why he was losing blood a lot sooner. It was until his hemoglobin hit a reading of 55 (instead of the normal 130) that we rushed him to the hospital.

He celebrated his 79th birthday yesterday so considering everything, he's doing pretty good.

Hi My husband has stage 4 colon cancer which was operated on in 2001 { at stage 3 then } He has 2 tumors in his liver & lymph node near pancreas.... He was put on 5FU & Irinotecan from March 16 2005 until May 26 2005 when they found out it wasn't working.... Then he was put on oxaliplatin { special access program compassionate SAP } We live in Weston, Ontario... He was on the chemo from June 20 until Oct. 4 2005 when he stopped breathing and had no pulse, turned blue for 3 minutes... The chemo unit & his oncologist worked on him.... Then they rushed him to the ER... He got out of hospital the next day.... The oncologist said he had a serious recaction to the chemo & can't have it anymore... Now he's waiting for the cancer to grow so they can send him to the US for chemo not available here... He's not taking any meds or chemo at his time.... He goes for a CT nov 29.... Then sees his oncologist in dec.....

Karen

Kareny, sorry to hear about the difficulty you're going through. I live near Weston too.

Thanks for the feedback on the oxaliplatin. So far my dad hasn't shown any bad reactions but as you pointed out your husband was fine from June to Oct. Can I ask, did he go to North York General for his treatments?

This is a difficult time for you. Hang in there and take it one day at a time. I'll be think of you.

Let me know how things go.

Hi Tony John goes to Sunnybrook Cancer clinic .... We will find out more Dec 13 when he goes back to the doctor... The doctor told him last time it's inoperable and he has 2 years to live.... We are going to prove him wrong....

Karen

My husband age 50 has stage 4 colon cancer was on folfiri till Dec 2005 was working great. In Jan 2006 developed fluid in chest cavity diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer not from the original tumor. He is on oxygen at home and morphine. Can only take 5 steps and is out of breath even with oxygen. Got approval for Folfox through ontario oncology access assistance program on compassionate grounds ( oxaliplatin not covered by government). The oncologists wants to start treatment soon but my husband is so weak and does not want to be in the hospital anymore. He was diagnosed in July 2005 and has been in the hospital with complications ( blood clots, internal bleeding,total blockage of his digestive tract, blood disorder and pleural effusions). The not being able to breathe is the worst.