dukes D 47 round chemo FOLFIRI+AVASTIN

HY, i am write for 1 st time.i am from croatia and i am 41 yrs old.. first sorry for my bad english,but in school we learn french ,bad choice :)

 i have colon cancer ,dukes D. i I operated 05.01.2010.tumor was at the beginning of the large intestine and invaded the small intestine, peritoneum and lymph nodes .. my doctor gave me 6 months of life ..

today  I am here I am stilla live and I am going on Monday to 47 chemo protocol folfiri + Avastin ..

but I am in fear, great fear, because for the first time this summer, my CT was performed, showing little progression .moj lymph nodes (metastases) in the peritoneum has grown from 6.1 mm to 6.5 x 11.1 x 14.6 mm I .. 2 months this summer I received chemo because I have to pull teeth .. now I am back on the horse again and I am receiving chemo and doing my 13 07.12.2012 CT.I I think and hope that it will be ok ..

If you have questions, please ask me.i  will try to help ..

I read on the forums, an American to be there for HIPEC is often the case as moj.u HIPEC Croatia also work, but I do not know if I can do and is it really so difficult operation to the story that the survival rate of only 50 percent??

Regards

done chemo no 47 ..and i am stronger than before.. 07.12.2012.i do CT scan no.13 and i hope that will be stationary...who knows!??!

Hi, I am a 56 year old woman living in Stockholm, Sweden. In January 2012 was diagnosed with colon cancer stage 4 which I think is the same as Dukes D. My primary tumor is in the beginning of the (ascending) colon and I have some affected lymph nodes, lots of metastases in my liver and one in a rib. I am considered inoperable. I received nine folfiri + avastin cycles between February and June and the tumors shrunk by about 20%. I am currently on avastin as maintenance and so far there has been no significant change. I think my situation is similar to yours except I was diagnosed this year. It sounds encouraging that you are still going strong and that you body is able to take so many rounds if chemotherapy. Do you still have your primary tumor? Best regards, Anne

Sorry, I just realized you did have Rutgers to remove your primary tumor. /Anne

Sorry, I just realized you did have *surgery* to remove your primary tumor. /Anne

Anne, my husband was diagnosed 1 yr ago. Not spread to liver but some nodes in the chest area.  My question now regards platelet level and Avastin.  His oncologist won't give him Avastin at 87,000.  They say it has to be 100.  He hasn't had 100 except 3 times since mid-August.  Also supposed to be starting Xeloda, but waiting for spinal tap to see what may be causing hand tremor.  Has been 6 weeks since chemo and would like to get going.  Did you get Avastin at lower platelet levels.  Thank you.  

Livtolaf, Unfortunately I don't think I can help you very much. Avastin does increase your risk of bleeding so it's logical not to take if your platelets are way off. Before start of treatment, my count was 561 and 416 at two different times. During treatment, I have no data right now as I can't find the papers. After finishing nine cycles of Folfiri and Avastin, during maintenace treatment with Avastin, my count was between 225-265 at different times. Reference value in Sweden is 165-387 units of x10(9)/L. Perhaps different in the States...? I also can't tell you how much Avastin I have received each time, but as far as I know, it's always been the same amount. Sorry I can't be of more help. I wish you and your husband the very best. Sincerely, Anne

Anne, I'm 46 and I have had stage 4 Colon cancer sence 4'09 with 3 major surgerys to remove tumors in both my colon and small intestines, this thursday I will start a new chemo regiment using Foliri for the first time.  It will be my 49th chemo treatment. In the past I have used folfox and oxciliplatin, which worked will however my body started rejecting the platin which led to over night chemo sessions.  My latest CT scan has shown the existing cancer areas reducing. But now they found spots in my lungs.  The Doctor has changed Chemo to Foliri.  Can you tell me the side affects of the Foliri and how long it took you to recover after each treatment.  Thank you Allan

some people with me received folfox and i think that is much toxic than folfiri and side affects are  harder than folfiri..i have folfiri +avastin 47 time  in 30 months..i have diarrhea, loss of taste the first couple of days, a little nausea, and measuring your blood pressure, but my blood is so far, thankfully, was always good ..my next line if  my NEXT CT SCANS  shows progression will be folfox and i have litlle fear about that chemo bcs my doctor saide to me..the best munition for you is FOLFIRI +AVASTIN..

Hi Allan71, I think some side-effects are the same but that there are some differences. The way I understand it, the platinum-based chemo have the potentially serious side-effect of neuropathy whereas Irinotecan affects the mucous membranes of the digestive tract which causes mouth sores (I felt like I had been scalded) and potentially severe diarrhea. There were days I couldn't eat, there were days I was in agony with stomach cramps and diarrhea. I got to try different stuff to reduce the side-effects and found that, for me, an old ulcer medication made a *big*difference. It's called Andapsin in Sweden where I am at, active ingredient sucralfate. It's a pretty disgusting goo, but worked for me. I would say that I got a couple of decent days in before the next treatment. I hope Folfiri works for you. I wish you the best of luck. Sincerely, Anne