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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Cancer / March 2005irinotecan (camptosar) side effects
Well, I just transferred to a new hospital with a new onc. It troubles me that after a first interview he wants to drop oxaliplatin from my folfox regimen in favor of irinotecan (camptosar). He said he doesn't want the neuropathy to ruin my feet. Well, duh ...!! It's not like I'll have my feet that much longer (I'm stage 4 CRC). The regimen with oxaliplatin has been working thus far (liver lesions have not enlarged for the past 8 months). My previous onc had no intentions of changing things until the tumors got "smart." The neuropathy was quite tolerable. It's only in the front half of my foot and I've gotten quite used to it. I have little or no other problems with the oxaliplatin. When I read about the side effects, especially the diarrhea, I get scared. I don't want to have to be within 50' of a restroom for the rest of my meager life. Do you think I ought to argue with my new onc on this? Are the side effects of irinotecan less scary than the documentation states? Is this new medication of the same family as oxaliplatin? Should I ask my onc if he owns shares of this drug company's stock? (Heh heh ... just kidding) --Joe _________________________________ "Take a little 5FU, leucovorin and oxaliplatin for thy stomach's sake." -- 1 Timothy 5:23 (adapted) Hi Joe > Well, I just transferred to a new hospital with a new onc. > It troubles me that after a first interview he wants to drop [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > (I'm stage 4 CRC). The regimen with oxaliplatin has been working > thus far (liver lesions have not enlarged for the past 8 months). Oxaliplatin for me appeared to be unusualy effective. It cleared my inoperable liver mets and I had a liver resection last September, 8 months after chemo. > The neuropathy was quite tolerable. It's only in the front half of > my foot and I've gotten quite used to it. I have little or no other > problems with the oxaliplatin. You were lucky. I thought the end of world was coming after the first few sessions and neuropathy was severe. > When I read about the side effects, especially the diarrhea, I get I'm warned each new chemo session about diarrhea which may be severe. So far, with 3 different types of chemo, I always get constipated for 10 days instead :( My onc said that peripheral neuropathy could also affect the intestines, the contractions that push the contents along, making you "sluggish". > Do you think I ought to argue with my new onc on this? Are the side > effects of irinotecan less scary than the documentation states? Is I've just finished a 6th fortnightly session of irinotecan. Believe me - it's kids stuff compared to oxaliplatin which I had over a year ago. I was expecting the worst. Lost my hair again, mild sores and thrush in mouth for a month, some taste left, smooth fingers but not cracked and bleeding and not so tired as before. Of course, every patient is different. I was diagnosed with colon c in Jan 2003 and had a transverse colectomy in March 2003. Regards Alf hi- i've been on a cisplatin/irinotecan regemin since may '04 for extensive small cell lung cancer. for me, the diarrhea hasn't been a problem. easily controlled with lomotil or imodium and only lasts for a day or two. good luck- wray > i've been on a cisplatin/irinotecan regemin since may '04 for extensive > small cell lung cancer. > for me, the diarrhea hasn't been a problem. easily controlled with lomotil > or imodium and only lasts for a day or two. > good luck- Good to hear from you, wray, J > Well, I just transferred to a new hospital with a new onc. It troubles > me that after a first interview he wants to drop oxaliplatin from my [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > --Joe Neuropathy is a serious side effect. You have a sensible doctor. MIKE I have had 8 sessions of combined 5fu, irinotecan, and avastin. Minimal side effects. I seem to be doing better than the oxi.... people in this regard. Liver metastasis reduced by 33 per cent after 6 sessions. Just to reassure you Margo > Well, I just transferred to a new hospital with a new onc. It troubles > me that after a first interview he wants to drop oxaliplatin from my [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > "Take a little 5FU, leucovorin and oxaliplatin for thy stomach's sake." -- 1 Timothy 5:23 (adapted) > I have had 8 sessions of combined 5fu, irinotecan, and avastin. Minimal side effects. I seem to be > doing better than the oxi.... people in this regard. Liver metastasis reduced by 33 per cent after 6 > sessions. Just to reassure you > > Margo Hello Margo and welcome :-) Are you posting from Ireland? Joe's been busy recently trying to put on weight. Hopefuly we'll have an update this week. Is your cancer also colorectal? Keep in touch and let us know how you're doing... Many hugs, J Update: I'm getting fatter! Hallelujah. Thanks for all who helped. --joe >> I have had 8 sessions of combined 5fu, irinotecan, and avastin. Minimal side effects. I seem to be >> doing better than the oxi.... people in this regard. Liver metastasis reduced by 33 per cent after 6 [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >Many hugs, >J _________________________________ "Take a little 5FU, leucovorin and irenotecan for thy stomach's sake." -- 1 Timothy 5:23 (adapted) nobody@nospam.com said... > Update: I'm getting fatter! Hallelujah. Thanks for all who helped. > --joe Excellent. I've got plenty of spare fat here you can have if I could only work out a way of removing it from my midriff and posting it to you... ;-)  SignatureIf you can keep your head when all around are losing theirs... then you've failed to grasp some important aspect of the situation. |
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