Last Doc Visit Prior to Surgery

Perhaps my final Doctor appointment before surgery happened yesterday afternoon and once again the “plan” I thought was in place is changing.

According to "Plan", if everything went well, the second surgery to reverse the Ileostomy was going to be scheduled sometime in November, prior to Thanksgiving. When I mentioned this to the Oncologist he seemed displeased that there would be an interruption to the chemo treatments.

Chemotherapy will consist of eight cycles of Folfox which is a combination of Oxaliplatin, Fluorouracil (5-FU) and Folinic Acid starting sometime in September. Not to make light of the issue, but I think the FU is somehow very appropriate so perhaps I'll refer to it as EIGHT TIMES FU or simply FU in the future. ( With all due apologies to the researchers who developed this life saving drug)

A cycle will happen every two weeks including a two hour infusion at the cancer center of Oxiliplatin followed by visit from a home care nurse to “hook up a pump” for a forty eight hour drip of FU. I believe that Folinic Acid will also be included on both days but I'm not 100% sure at this point.

Now for the side effects of these drugs starting with FU

• Diarrhea.
• Nausea and possible occasional vomiting.
• Mouth sores.
• Poor appetite.
• Watery eyes, sensitivity to light (photophobia) (see eye problems).
• Taste changes, metallic taste in mouth during infusion.
• Discoloration along vein through which the medication is given.
• Low blood counts.
  

Oxaliplatin side effects

• Peripheral neuropathy - Numbness and tingling and cramping of the hands or feet often triggered by cold. This symptom will generally lessen or go away between treatments, however as the number of treatments increase the numbness and tingling will take longer to lessen or go away.
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Mouth sores
• Low blood counts - Your white and red blood cells and platelets may temporarily decrease. This can put you at increased risk for infection, anemia and/or bleeding.
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
  

The “Interesting” side effect comes from the Oxaliplatin which creates a hyper sensitivity to cold. As described by the Oncologist, “For a couple of days after you receive Oxaliplatin you will not want to reach into the refrigerator or drink anything cold.”

So, as it stands now, my final cycle will wind up sometime in December with reversal surgery sometime afterwards.. Sure would have liked to have had all this behind me before the Holidays but if this is the plan then I'll just suck it up and deal with it.

Later.... Mike