First Folfirinox Treatment - PC

My Partner had started his treatments and been spending most days sleeping. I was told this was normal. But what are we to expect with the 2nd, 3rd and so on. We're coping with everything the best we know how. I am still learning and endless reading on this drug and Pancreatic Cancer. I just wish I could have some answers, Is there a chance that this could make his tumour shrink to nothing? It's attached itself to the main artery. The Dr's attempted the whipple and weren't able to remove the head of the pancreas due to the tumour attaching itself. It hasn't spread anywhere else but the head. It's about the size of a golf ball, Is there anyone else out there that is on folfirinox and can share their story with us? I asked if it was possible if this drug can shrink the tumour to nothing, the Dr says no.. to pray and hope it will. I'm trying to be strong. It's just so hard. He's only 37 years old... healthy too.. It just came out of no where. 

We all know every patient is different and tolerates chemotherapy differently as well.  My wife is much older than your partner, she was 57 at diagnosis but in tip-top shape.  She spent more than 5 years prior to diagnosis of inoperable stage 4 pc in July 2011 in the gym doing cardiovascular, strength endurance and weight lift training. Here is a brief description of what Folfirinox did for her... 

My wife's initial option from our local oncologist was Xeloda with radiation to treat a 5cm tumor on the body of her pancreas and 2 1cm spots on her liver. After meeting with GI/Pacreatic specialists at UCSF, folfirinox was highly recommended. We chose to abandon the Xeloda/Radiation because even though they tell you they can localize the radiation treatment to the body of the pancreas, in reality the radiation will undoubtedly affect other surrounding areas of the pancreas meaning liver, kidneys, lungs etc.

Ten months - 19 sessions/9.5 cycles of Folfirinox chemotherapy eradicated/necrozed the 5cm tumor into a scar tissue with no metabolic activity. After the first for months of folfirinox, the spots on the liver vanished and never returned. CTscans last June 2012, September 2012 and just 2 weeks ago remain stable with NO EVIDENCE OF PROGRESSIVE METASTATIC DISEASE and NO TUMOR RECURRENCE. CA19-9 were 21,000 at diagnosis in July 2011 and have been stable below 35 since her 5th cycle of folfirinox about 1 year ago. No radiation was needed whatsoever. My wife's only medication taken in conjunction with chemotherapy has been Metformin to treat her type 2 diabetes she was diagnosed with in 2006 and.  Clinicial studies are proving the anti-diabetic drug kills cancerous stem cells not targeted by chemotherapy and also kills cancerous tumor preventing them from recurrence.

On Dec 23, 2012 2:45 AM Melissa78 wrote:

My Partner had started his treatments and been spending most days sleeping. I was told this was normal. But what are we to expect with the 2nd, 3rd and so on. We're coping with everything the best we know how. I am still learning and endless reading on this drug and Pancreatic Cancer. I just wish I could have some answers, Is there a chance that this could make his tumour shrink to nothing? It's attached itself to the main artery. The Dr's attempted the whipple and weren't able to remove the head of the pancreas due to the tumour attaching itself. It hasn't spread anywhere else but the head. It's about the size of a golf ball, Is there anyone else out there that is on folfirinox and can share their story with us? I asked if it was possible if this drug can shrink the tumour to nothing, the Dr says no.. to pray and hope it will. I'm trying to be strong. It's just so hard. He's only 37 years old... healthy too.. It just came out of no where. 

Hi - I began folfirinox November 2011 the first few treatments I had lots of side effects but it did improve, after 16 sessions with 30% shrinkage I came off treatment last June sice then scans show stable, I am due for another scan early January.

Diagnosed September 2011 with mets to the liver and nodes. My advice would be lots of prayers, stay positive and for him to be as active as possible.

Blessings, Sheann

My wife started folfirnox treatment in early november for stage 2.5 pancreatic cancer, she has a golfball sised tumor on the body of her pancreas. She has had 3 treatments so far. They are 7 hours long and done every 2 weeks. She is pretty wiped out the first couple days and just sleeps. She has a pump for 5-FU that lasts for 48 hours after chemo, then daily shots of nuprigen for 5 days. The nausea and fatiuge seem to set in about 4-5 days after the initial chemo treatment and go til about 10 days out. After that she starts to feel better.

Try to stay on top of the side effects, take something before they get worse. Try to get out of bed, it helps with the fatigue. Try to eat, it helps with the nausea.

I know every body and every cancer is different but this had been her pattern. Hope this helps

On Jan 05, 2013 5:41 AM philipstphilip wrote:

My wife started folfirnox treatment in early november for stage 2.5 pancreatic cancer, she has a golfball sised tumor on the body of her pancreas. She has had 3 treatments so far. They are 7 hours long and done every 2 weeks. She is pretty wiped out the first couple days and just sleeps. She has a pump for 5-FU that lasts for 48 hours after chemo, then daily shots of nuprigen for 5 days. The nausea and fatiuge seem to set in about 4-5 days after the initial chemo treatment and go til about 10 days out. After that she starts to feel better.

Try to stay on top of the side effects, take something before they get worse. Try to get out of bed, it helps with the fatigue. Try to eat, it helps with the nausea.

I know every body and every cancer is different but this had been her pattern. Hope this helps

My treatments were exatly as you explained your wife's, same side effects which did improve after the first few months but I started November 2011, I had mets to the liver & nodes, had more than 30 per cent shrinkage and I have been off all treatment since June, scans are showing every thing is stable, due for scan next week.

Good luck to you and your wife, hope it is successfull, will the whipple be an option if the tumor shrinks?

Blessings Sheann (Toronto, Canada) 

my mother will be having her 5th treatment this friday.  Since staring the treatments, she has been sleeping up to 20 hours a day.  This is her second round of chemo as she was NED last summer and the cancer metatized to her liver in October.  I know that it hard to watch them go through everything that they are going through, however it is extremely important that the people who are around them remain as postitive as possible.  Since I work full time I make sure that on weekends I load her up in her wheelchair and take her out for a few hours.  Whether we walk around the mall or go to the park (we live in Florida) I make sure to get her out of the house and out of bed.

You and your partner are in my thoughts and prayers

So far, my partner has lost 10lbs since last Monday, his 2nd folfirinox treatment. He has his ups and downs. Only side effects is the vomitting. They're going to do 2 more treatments then go for a MRI to see if there is any shrinkage, We are trying our best to stay positive. Which is very hard. We are both learning so much so quickly about this cancer. I read everyone's post and replies to our Posts. Thank you for sharing your stories with us and helping us understand your own situations. I wish the best for everyone else.