How many cycles of oxaliplatin can you have?
How many cycles of oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) intravenous (IV) infusion you receive will depend on why you are receiving this medication and how you respond to treatment.
You will receive up to 12 cycles of oxaliplatin if you are using it in combination with fluorouracil and leucovorin as an adjuvant (add-on) therapy for the treatment of stage III colon cancer after complete resection of your primary tumor. You may receive fewer cycles of oxaliplatin, however, if the side effects are unacceptable.
If you are receiving oxaliplatin for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer you will continue receiving it until there are signs that your cancer is progressing, meaning that the medication is no longer working for you, or the side effects become unacceptable.
References
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Eloxatin Product Label. [Accessed 21 December, 2022]. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/021759s023lbl.pdf.
Read next
How long does oxaliplatin stay in your system?
Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) is a platinum-based drug used to treat colon cancer which is administered by intravenous (IV) infusion. After it is administered, oxaliplatin is converted into total platinum, ultrafilterable (free) platinum and erythrocyte platinum.
Ultrafiterable platinum represents the main active substance that provides oxaliplatin’s anti-cancer and toxic properties. Initially plasma ultrafiltrate is distributed quite quickly in the body in two phases, with half-lives (the amount of time it takes to reduce by half) of 0.43 and 16.8 hours, respectively, as the drug is moved into tissues and also cleared by the kidneys.
The third phase of elimination (the terminal half-life of platinum in ultrafiltrate), however, can be as long as 392 hours (approx. 16 days), although this is thought to reflect clearance of mostly inactive platinum conjugates.
After a single oxaliplatin infusion, about 54 percent of the drug is excreted in urine within 5 days. Continue reading
How often should I have a colonoscopy with ulcerative colitis?
If you have ulcerative colitis (UC), and you have had it for at least 8 years, then you should have a colonoscopy every 1 to 2 years. This is because people with UC have an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Continue reading
What is the success rate of Keytruda?
In general, PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors like Keytruda have been shown to significantly prolong overall survival (OS) in some patients with various cancer types, but Keytruda does not always work for everyone. Continue reading
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Drug information
- Oxaliplatin Information for Consumers
- Oxaliplatin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Oxaliplatin (detailed)
Related support groups
- Oxaliplatin (2 questions, 11 members)
- Colorectal Cancer (17 questions, 52 members)