Is FOLFOX chemotherapy?

An abbreviation for a combination chemotherapy regimen that is used to treat colorectal cancer. It includes the drugs leucovorin calcium (folinic acid), fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin. There are several different FOLFOX regimens, including FOLFOX-4, FOLFOX-6, modified FOLFOX-6 (mFOLFOX-6), and FOLFOX-7.

How bad is FOLFOX chemo?

Headache. Tiredness. Numbness, tingling or pain, “pins and needles” of the hands, feet, arms and legs. Tingling or a loss of feeling in your hands, feet, nose, or tightness in throat or jaw, or difficulty swallowing or breathing which may be made worse by exposure to cold.

What kind of chemo is FOLFOX?

FOLFOX is a combination of chemotherapy drugs used to treat bowel cancer. It is also known as Oxaliplatin de Gramont or OxMdG, which means modified Oxaliplatin de Gramont. It is made up of: folinic acid (also called leucovorin, FA or calcium folinate)

How successful is FOLFOX?

Previous studies of the FOLFOX regimen for treating advanced colorectal cancer have demonstrated an overall response rate of over 40\% and successful progression-free survival (18,19).

How do you know if FOLFOX is working?

The first sign that a treatment is working is often when your symptoms reduce in severity. Your doctor may order blood tests and scans at various time points throughout your treatment to determine how well it is working.

Do you lose hair with FOLFOX chemo?

Hair loss is rare with this treatment, but you may notice hair thinning. If any of your hair does fall out, it will grow back after treatment has finished. What are the side effects of FOLFOX that I may have? Fatigue is the most common side effect reported by our patients.

Do you lose hair on FOLFOX?

Your hair may get thinner. But you are unlikely to lose all the hair from your head. Hair loss usually starts after your first or second treatment. It is almost always temporary, and your hair will usually grow back after treatment finishes.

How long is FOLFOX infusion?

Your nurse gives you folinic acid and oxaliplatin as a drip (infusion) over 2 hours. After this, your nurse injects some of the 5FU into your line or cannula.

When do FOLFOX side effects start?

Nasal stuffiness and watering of the eyes can also occur three to four weeks after treatment. Most patients experience feeling sick to the stomach (nausea) as a result of FOLFOX infusions. There is no apparent pattern as to when nausea starts, how long it lasts, or how severe it is.

How do you feel after FOLFOX?

The effect often shows up as one of the following:

1. Your throat feels like it is closing when you eat or drink something cold. You may even feel as if you cannot breathe – but you can.
2. When you touch something cold with your hands or feet, they feel like they are on fire or you get a painful shock.

Is hair loss normal after FOLFOX cancer treatment?

** Hair loss from FOLFOX cancer treatment is almost always mild, not obvious from a distance, and seen only on close inspection. A different hair style can help cover some hair loss, and a wig or hair piece is usually not required.

What chemotherapy drugs are used in FOLFOX?

Each chemotherapy drug in FOLFOX is designed to kill colon cancer cells. FOL – folinic acid (leucovorin) F – fluorouracil (5-FU) OX – Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin®)

How many times can you do FOLFOX chemo?

FOLFOX chemo is repeated every 14 days. Each 14-day period is known as one Cycle. If the disease is not metastatic, treatment is given for a total of 12 cycles (6 months). If the disease is metastatic, each cycle may be repeated until the treatment no longer works or until unacceptable side effects occur.

What is the prognosis of colon cancer with FOLFOX?

On average, up to 25\% of colon cancer patients discontinue treatment at some point due to unacceptable side effects if FOLFOX chemo is being given for metastatic disease. If the disease is not metastatic, most patients are able to complete all planned courses of treatment.