Oxaliplatin chemotherapy is given to the patients suffering from advanced colorectal cancer. Oxaliplatin is a platinum based drug that is usually classified as an alkaline agent, but does not belong to an alkaline group. This drug is administered with fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (folinic acid). This combination is called FOLFOX. The clinical trials indicate that a combination of these drugs reduce the risk of a relapse.

The Oxaliplatin regimen is usually started after the resection of the cancer. The studies indicate that this reduces the risk of relapse. The clinical studies show that this regimen is effective when the cancer spreads to the  loco regional lymph nodes or  in  stage two or  stage three of the cancer. Oxaliplatin chemotherapy not only increases the chances of survival, but it also ensures that the cancer does not relapse. The combination of the three drugs has been found to be more effective than the conventional chemotherapy where only 5-FU and leucovorin are used.

Administration of Oxaliplatin

This drug can be administered to the patients in various ways. Your oncologist will decide the regimen for Oxaliplatin chemotherapy before starting the treatment. This drug cannot be given orally as there is no pill for it.

Oxaliplatin chemotherapy is commonly called FOLFOX regimen because of the drugs used. The regimen can be called as FOLFOX 4 OR FOLFOX 6 commonly called De Gramont regimen. This regimen is usually given after the cancer is removed by surgery.

This drug can be given to you as a day patient or you might be asked to stay for a short while in the hospital. Before you start with the treatment, discuss the regimen with your oncologists. They might ask you to take a blood test before starting the chemotherapy treatment. Just before starting the treatment, you will also be given some anti-sickness drugs intravenously or orally.

After that the doctors will put you on a drip, and leucovorin and Oxaliplatin will be injected into that drip. This will take approximately two hours. Then you will be given fluorouracil and leucovorin. Your oncologist will decide the regimen and the drugs will be administered accordingly. There are two ways in which this regimen can be scheduled:

• FOLFOX 4 Regimen: In this regimen, you will be given an infusion of fluorouracil, followed by an infusion of oxaliplatin for about 2 hours. This will be followed by an injection of leucovorin (5-FU). Then this drug is given through infusion. This might take about 22 hours. This course is repeated the next day.
• FOLFOX 6 Regimen: In this regimen you will be given an infusion of fluorouracil and oxaliplatin for about two hours. Then leucovorin will be injected into your saline drip and this drug will be given by infusion for the next 46 hours.

Because the infusions for the leucovorin last for a long time, you might have to stay in the hospital for a day or two. If the drugs are being administered through a central line or a PICC line, then your 5-FU infusions can be given through a pump, which is portable.

This pump allows only a controlled quantity of the drug into your blood stream in a fixed time. This allows you to go home with the pump attached to your body. Going home during the treatment or taking the therapy at home is possible because the pump is quite portable and can be carried in a belt or in a holster. You can inquire about this pump from your nurse or you r pharmacist. They will also tell you how to take care of these pumps. These days there are electronic pumps available in the market.

In case you have a PICC line or a central line, then it will not be removed and will be used for the next chemotherapy cycle.

Frequency of Administration of Chemotherapy - Oxalipatin

Before you start your treatment, you must discuss your regimen or your treatment plan with your oncologists. Ask them if you have any doubts about the chemotherapy treatment. Your regimen will depend on various factors like the stage of the cancer, your age and so on. The regimens used for FOLFOX 4 and FOLFOX are different.

FOLFOX 4: One cycle of this regimen lasts two days. The doctors usually recommend about 12 cycles that are repeated after a rest of about two weeks.

FOLFOX 6: One cycle of this regimen lasts for three days. So the patient has to stay in the hospital. If you have a pump inserted, then you can go home and come back to the hospital on the third day. After this you are allowed for a rest period of about 11 days, during this period when no chemotherapy is given.

The frequency of dosage and the regimen of a drug might vary from one person to another. It will be decided by the oncologist.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy - Oxaliplatin

Before you leave the hospital, your doctor will prescribe you several anti-sickness drugs. It is very important to have these drugs even if there are no signs of side effects initially. There are many side effects of chemotherapy oxaliplatin regimen. These symptoms will differ from each person. Most of the patients have difficulty in swallowing, tingling sensation of the tongue, shortness of breath and some patients feel chest pressure. The side effects can start hours after the infusion starts. Such patients are usually advised to avoid an exposure to cold. Some other common side effects are peripheral neuropathy, a lowered resistance of the body, anemia, nosebleeds, depression, fatigue, diarrhea, mouth sores, and loss of appetite. If you notice any other side effects, then contact your doctor immediately.

The colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. However, the usage of Oxaliplatin with a new combination of drugs seems to be more effective for patients suffering from stage II and stage III colorectal cancer, if Oxaliplatin chemotherapy is started immediately after surgery.