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Lonsurf

Musiciansson_1985
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Hi there, my dad (74) was diagnosed with bowel cancer with traces on the liver  in July 2023, he had folfox chemo originally, 6 rounds and then had a colostomy operation, then 6 rounds more which finished last July.

Due to some massive admin cock ups he's had no treatment for the liver side of things.
He had his scan 3 weeks ago and is getting a phone call from his oncologist tomorrow regarding the next step which he said would be Lonsurf..

He's petrified and is already thinking the worse about things.

Does anyone have any experience with lonsurf?

I read that it's a 'last line' medication but I don't know if the fact my dad had a stroke in January has changed the plan for his chemo due to his lack of mobility.

  • Hi Musiciansson_1985,

    Thanks for getting in touch at what sounds like an incredibly difficult and uncertain time for you and your family.

    FOLFOX chemotherapy is given intravenously and known as systemic therapy and often given as a first line drug. Generally during treatment a scan is carried out halfway through the treatment plan. This allows the hospital team to check on whether the treatment is working by comparing the result to the last scan.

    It’s difficult to know if there was any positive effect on your dad’s liver as we don’t have any access to patient’s medical records. But I’m sorry to read that there were massive admin problems.

    Lonsurf is a chemotherapy drug that is used to treat bowel and stomach cancers that have spread to other areas of the body. From the information you have given it sounds like your dad has had a follow up scan which will have been discussed at the Multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT) and Lonsurf has been recommended. This can be taken for as long as it’s working or as long as your dad is coping with the possible side effects.  

    As nurses on the support line it’s difficult for us to know the reason why your dad has been offered this specific drug, but as you have mentioned he had a stroke in January, this will be a factor his consultant and hospital team will have taken in account when deciding on the best treatment for him.

    I hope your dad has been able to ask questions today when his consultant called about the result from his scan, and the reasoning why he has been offered this particular drug.

    I really hope this information was helpful. But if there’s any other questions we can help you with please don’t hesitate to get back in touch.  Please know, you can always give us a call to talk things through further.

    Take care and best wishes,

    Sarah (Cancer Information Nurse Specialist)

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email or use webchat.

    Ref:  SMc/AR

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