FOLFOX Chemotherapy
FOLFOX is a term for a chemotherapy regimen that incorporates folinic acid (FOL) fluorouracil (F) and Oxalipatin (OX). Chemotherapy is used to destroy rapidly dividing cells in the body. FOLFOX chemotherapy treatments are used in treating cancer of the bowel.
Flourouracil or 5-FU belongs to a family of drugs called antimetabolities often used to treat cancer. This drug has been around for over 40 years and has been very effective in cancer treatment. Folinic acid is a derivative of tetrahydrofolic acid, and it is readily converted into other reduced folic acid derivatives. Folinic acid is used as part of the FOLFOX formula since it enhances the effect of 5-FU.
FOLFOX is usually given intravenously through an IV drip into the arm, but it can also be delivered through a central line directly into a large vein in your chest. The drawback with a central line is that it must be placed before treatment begins and remains there until all treatments are completed.
Like most chemotherapy FOLFOX is given in cycles. Many factors go into how much treatment will be needed such as gender, weight, and the cancer’s response to the treatment. Normally, up to 12 treatments may be given in 2 weeks long cycles.
On the first day of a FOLFOX treatment cycle, a patient is given an oxaliplatin and folinic acid drip for 2 hours followed by an injection of fluorouracil and then an infusion of 5-FU through another drip or pump. This procedure may last up to over 20 hours.
The second day of treatment a folinic acid drip is given for 2 hours followed by an injection of fluorouracil then another fluorouracil infusion in a drip. This procedure again takes up to 20 hours. The benefit of a central line is that a patient can have the infusions of fluorouracil at home using a small pump rather than having to remain in a hospital or treatment center.
As with most chemotherapy the drop in white cell count means an increased risk of infection. Common side effects for FOLFOX are less drastic than for most cancer treatments. Fatigue, numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes, and general malaise or most often reported.