Went to Dr. May (my oncologist) this morning. I was half way there and remembered that I forgot the paperwork she requested I bring - so I had to turn around and of course, I was 20 minutes late...but it worked out well...I only had to wait 10 minutes in the waiting room!
Well, I expected to hear what she had to tell me.......but I'm not too excited about it.
She wants me to go for a scan - PET scan -- being that I had the allergic reaction to two of them and the last one a bit worse than the first....
PET scan then I meet with her and decide when to begin chemo - again....
Right now she would like me to have 6 treatments (3 months)....every other week - same amount of time - 4 hours.
Chemo treatment: 5-Fu and Irinotecan (also known as: Camptosar and/or Camptothecin-11, CPT-11)
This drug is used for Metastatic colon or rectal cancer.
some side effects:
diarrhea; two types early and late forms....Early: occurring withing 24 hours of receiving drug, accompanied by symptoms runny nose, increased salivation, watery eyes, sweating, flushing, abdominal cramping.
Late diarrhea: occurring greater than 24 hours of receiving drug usually peaks at about 11 days after treatment.
Also: Hair loss, poor appetite, fever, weight loss....of course there is another list of many other side effects too.
After finishing the chemo treatments then I would go for another PET scan.
I had blood drawn today too. She will be checking my CEA count. I'm hoping to get this info back by Tuesday the 27th. - CEA count is a tumor marker. Last time taken it was 24...should read 1 or less.
That's the story...again, I'm not happy about doing the 'cocktail' again...even for 3 months....I just thought 'disease free' means I'm done!
There was one other option - taking a pill for 6 months - daily, for three weeks then off a week. She's opting the more aggressive way.
