Hi, my first post, well not really as I posted somewhere else that was maybe not the most appropriate - still finding my way round here.
I've committed to Folfox IV Chemo (via a PICC line) starting in a few weeks. This follows a bowel cancer diagnosis and 5 wks for radiotherapy/oral chemo.
What I'd really like to do is to hear from or talk to someone who has gone through this, preferably in similar circumstances and ideally at Guildford (RSCH). I had hoped that RSCH would have been able to put me in touch with someone but that has not proved possible.
I appreciate that people respond differently and am not seeking details just general guidance on the regime and what to expect and when. I'm trying to manage my expectations.
The hospital are helpful, the regime will be blood test Thursday, review Friday, IV chemo the following Monday repeated on a 2 wk cycle. Would anyone who's been through this (as I say preferably at RSCH but if not another) be willing to contact me to share experiences. My current expectations are to be feeling lousy in the week of the chemo but more or less normal in the second week - is this realistic?
Any advise would be appreciated.
thanks in advance
David
Hi David,
I've had a slightly different experience, with bowel resection followed by 12 biweekly cycles of Folflox through a port rather than PICC line, while I was leaving in New Zealand 3 years ago. So I can only comment on the Folfox treatment, yes a few lousy days but nothing dreadful, the first couple of days the dexamethasone keeps you going (needing sleeping pills to actually get a good night sleep) and then quite tired for a couple of days (really felt coming off the steroids). You just have to watch for the cold, getting things out of the fridge was a bit uncomfortable and after several cycles I started getting the tingling/numbness in fingers and toes. It got worse about 3 months after I had completed all cycles and then took about 6 months to get back to normal. Also had quite bad mouth ulcers for the last 3 cycles but resolved as soon as I stopped the chemo. Everyone is different though.
Good luck with it and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions!
Cecile
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