Hi I have recently been diagnosed with a tumor on my esophacus and have been told it is curable with flot chemo and then surgery. Has anyone ever had flot chemo as I'm told it is very strong .
My friend has esophageal cancer too. Today he met his oncologist for the first time after diagnosis late October 2019. Like you, he is to have Flot chemotherapy. 4 sessions then surgery then another 4 sessions. We were given all the facts this afternoon but its just so overwhelming isnt it ? So many side effects . Is there anyone who can tell us how this regime worked for them and things to look out for moving forward into this new phase
too be honest I wasn't too bad for the first 4 phases I had plenty of rest side effects I had were tiredness aching legs and sickness during cycles 3 and 4
I also lost my taste and tingly fingers especially in the cold
Always stay positive keep believing your going to beat this I did and it does help
If you'd like anymore info don't hesitate to contact
It. Really helps to get feedback. Good or bad. Just so we know what to potentially expect .
Still a bit numb from yesterday but have heard today that PIC line going in next week and chemo to start soon as a spot becomes available. So, moving forward.
Hi, thank you for posting this it's really helped me to understand what my dad may experience. He is having the same treatment of chemo FLOT 4 cycles and I'm worried. Mentally he is not coping well and with the chemo today I'm hoping there isnt too many side effects as with worry he has already lost alot of weight. He had stomach ulcer turned cancerous. I'm trying to get as much positive information as possible I hope your treatment has been successful all the best:)
Sorry to hear your diagnoses and thanks for sharing your experiences.
My dad was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and started FLOT about a month or so ago. His first round, he ended up in hospital with an infection, hardly drank or ate anything so consultant delayed the next round for a week. The second round was a week past Friday (20/3/2020). He started off not too badly but the past 3 or 4 days has just been in his bed exhausted and hardly taking in any fluids or food, says he feels sick when going to take it. Does anyone else have the same experience with this at all? Any feedback would be great as to how to help him get through it all, especially given current climate with lockdown. Think my mum is really struggling, which is hard as she was a nurse until health forced her to give up her job.
Anyway, thanks in advance for any tips and hope everyone else's treatment is going as well as possible.
I've been through the experience of 4 flots first then surgery then another 4 flots . The flot chemo is very strong one of the strongest I think they're using 4 different types of chemo in one session . I always used to feel sick and exhausted it's a major side effect of the chemo but if your dad can cope with it stick to it it's very good it shrank my cancer in my oesophagus I began to eat normally again after the second lot . I know it's hard but stick to it you tend to know what's coming as you keep having the chemo . My sickness used to last for about 5 days after having chemo and by the second week I wasn't feeling bad at all see if you can have it every 3 weeks instead of 2 it might have your dad a bit of a break in between sessions. I'll be glad to give you anymore info if needed but most of all stay positive it's the only way
i went through FLOT and it certainly is very difficult, I would speak to the nurses about different nausea medication as they can really help, ondansetron is a good one and I was able to take that along with domperidone, my district nurse called my GP and had it prescribed. My post op treatment I was even more nauseous and was dry heaving constantly and dehydrated and they gave me another medicine which was taken before chemo but I can't remember the name it began with an E though.
my reaction would normally start about day 3 after chemo and would be awful for a few days, I would hardly eat but I made sure I drank lots of water which helped, it's all very hard as you can have a very sore mouth and everything tastes rubbish, but as soon as I was able to I'd eat as much as possible, I had a thing for sausage butties with ketchup and pies. I did lose some weight but as soon as chemo finished I returned to normal and was able to feed myself up ready for my operation.
if you haven't already look at the oesophageal patients association website they have lots of information about eating and when it's difficult. I found that really helpful.
It's not an easy process but you do get through it, it must be especially hard at this time with the isolation, I feel for you all.
I have exactly the same diagnosis as you. I am having a PICC line put in on 12/5/21 & my 1st. lot of chemo on 13/5/21. I have a short break planned which starts on 17/5/21 do you think I will be in a fit state to mange this. My op is pallned for August & I am then having a further 4 lots of FLOT
As you message was over a year ago. have you had your op & how were the after effects. I hope allw entw ell & you are wel on your way to a full recovery. If you feel up to it I would appreciate any advice youa re able to offer.
im coming up to 3 years in august from my diagnosis and was given the all clear in February 2021 I too had the flot chemo 4 lots first then 9 hour surgery then another 4 lots after surgery
They give you 4 different kinds of chemo each time the medical staff have probably already told you this but it's very strong after my second course I could start to eat pretty normally it began to shrink the cancer in my oesophagus and by the fourth I had a scan and it shrank it by half meaning I could have the surgery
I wasn't too bad after the first course the side affects probably kicked in after my second dose so hopefully you should be ok for your short break if you're feeling well
The chemo was every two weeks my side affects were sickness tiredness diarrhoea and loss of appetite ( this lasted for the first 4 days after chemo and then by the second week I wasn't too bad )my taste went and my hair stopped growing though I never really lost my hair
But the main thing Steve is too stay positive it's the only way mate take the chemo in your stride best as you can and you'll smash it if I can help you with anything else about my experience don't hesitate to contact me
