There are different chemotherapy drugs used to treat pancreatic cancer. FOLFIRINOX is one of the main chemotherapy treatments for pancreatic cancer. It is several different chemotherapy drugs, which are:
It also includes folinic acid (leucovorin). This is a vitamin that helps fluorouracil work better.
Each hospital may do things slightly differently, and treatment will vary depending on your cancer. Speak to your doctor or nurse about your treatment.
FOLFIRINOX is used in different ways:
This treatment is only given to people who are well enough for a few different chemotherapy drugs. This is because FOLFIRINOX can cause side effects that can be hard to deal with. Your oncologist (cancer doctor) may change the dose of some of the drugs to make it easier to deal with. The side effects of chemotherapy can be managed.
You will have your chemotherapy at the hospital as an outpatient. This means that you will go into hospital for treatment, but you won’t need to stay overnight.
FOLFIRINOX is given in a two-week cycle. This is the time it takes to have your treatment and to have a break before the next cycle. The break allows your body to recover. The number of cycles you have will depend on how the treatment is working and how chemotherapy affects you. Your chemotherapy team will talk to you about your treatment.
The FOLFIRINOX drugs are given as an injection or infusion into a vein. You may hear an infusion called a ‘drip’. You will have the infusion through a cannula, or through a central line – such as a PICC line or a portacath.
On your first day of each treatment cycle, you will have an infusion of oxaliplatin, folinic acid, fluorouracil and irinotecan. Each chemotherapy team will give FOLFIRINOX slightly differently. For example, you may have oxaliplatin and folinic acid one after the other, or you have them at the same time.
Speak to your chemotherapy team about how you will be given FOLFIRINOX.
Diagram showing how FOLFIRINOX is given
Some people have an allergic reaction while FOLFIRINOX is being given.
Signs of a reaction are:
You may also have runny poo (diarrhoea) or tummy pain.
An allergic reaction needs treating straight away, so if you have any of these symptoms tell your chemotherapy team.
FOLFIRINOX can cause side effects, but these can affect everyone differently, and you may not get all of the side effects mentioned here.
Your chemotherapy team should tell you about possible side effects and how they are managed. Ask them any questions you have. You can also speak to our specialist nurses on our free Support Line.
Side effects normally get better once your chemotherapy finishes.
If you have lots of side effects, your doctor may change the dose of some of the FOLFIRINOX drugs to make it easier to deal with. This is sometimes known as mFOLFIRINOX (modified FOLFIRINOX). Your chemotherapy team can talk to you about this.
Your chemotherapy team should give you an emergency number to call if you are unwell, or if you need information about any side effects. Your nurse will explain when to use this number. If you haven’t been given a number, ask your nurse about this.
FOLFIRINOX can increase your risk of getting an infection. An infection is an emergency if you are having chemotherapy, and needs treating straight away.
If you have a high temperature, or you have any other signs of an infection, call your chemotherapy team on the emergency number, or go to A&E and tell them you are having chemotherapy. Read more about infections and how they are treated.
If you have diarrhoea, make sure you drink lots of water. If you have it more than four times a day, tell your chemotherapy team. They can give you medicines to control it. Read more about diarrhoea and how it is treated.
If you get constipation, drink lots of water and try to eat high fibre foods, such as fruit and vegetables. Gentle exercise such as walking can also help. Speak to your doctor about medicines that can help.
Fatigue is a common side effect of FOLFIRINOX. It isn’t the same as feeling tired. Fatigue can make you feel weak and have problems concentrating. Some people find that the fatigue starts a few hours to a few days after having chemotherapy, and starts to get better after a few days. There are things that you can do to help with fatigue. Read our tips on coping with fatigue.
Feeling tired and dizzy can affect your ability to drive. If you have these side effects, speak to your doctor about driving.
This is a common side effect of FOLFIRINOX. You will normally be given anti-sickness medicines before your chemotherapy starts. If these medicines don’t help, speak to your chemotherapy team about changing to a different medicine. We have tips for coping with feeling and being sick.
FOLFIRINOX can affect the nerves in your hands and feet, which can cause tingling and numbness (peripheral neuropathy). This normally gets better after your treatment, but for some people it may never go away. Talk to your chemotherapy team if you have this side effect.
Oxaliplatin can affect your throat, which can make it hard to swallow or breathe. If this happens when you are being given oxaliplatin, tell your nurse straight away. They may stop the infusion of oxaliplatin while they give you medicine to help.
You may also get this side effect in the first few hours after having oxaliplatin – but this is normally only if you are out in the cold, or having a cold drink. It should stop a few days after your treatment.
FOLFIRINOX can lower the number of red blood cells in your blood. This is called anaemia, and can make you feel tired, dizzy or short of breath.
FOLFIRINOX can lower the number of platelets in your blood – this is called thrombocytopenia. This can cause you to bruise more easily than normal, and you may be more likely to have nosebleeds or bleeding gums.
FOLFIRINOX may cause your hair to thin, or you may lose some hair – but it should grow back once your treatment stops.
FOLFIRINOX may cause a funny taste in your mouth. Some people say this tastes like metal or cardboard. You might find our tips for coping with taste changes helpful.
During your treatment you may not feel like eating, and you may start to lose weight. Try eating small meals often. If your appetite doesn’t get better after a few days, tell your doctor or dietitian. We have tips on dealing with a loss of appetite.
FOLFIRINOX can make your mouth sore, or cause mouth ulcers which can be uncomfortable. Tell your chemotherapy team about any problems you have with your mouth. They can make sure you don’t have a mouth infection.
FOLFIRINOX can make the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet red and sore, and your skin may start to peel or blister. Your skin might also look shiny, feel tight and crack around the fingertips. Your doctor or nurse may give you a vitamin or creams to help. This normally gets better when your chemotherapy finishes.
Oxaliplatin can cause problems with your joints, such as swelling or pain. Your doctor or nurse can give you painkillers to help. Read about having painkillers with chemotherapy.
FOLFIRINOX can make your skin darken or become more sensitive to the sun. Use a high factor sun cream if you are going outside. These changes normally get better when your treatment finishes.
FOLFIRINOX can cause sore, itchy or watery eyes. Tell your doctor or nurse if this happens, as they may need to give you some eye drops. Some people get blurred vision, but this is less common.
Fluorouracil can cause chest pain. It can also make you feel short of breath, dizzy, or cause an irregular heartbeat. It is important to call your chemotherapy team straight away if you have any of these symptoms, or go to A&E and tell them that you are having chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy can increase the risk of a blood clot in a vein. If you have any pain or swelling in one of your arms or legs, or you feel very short of breath, call your chemotherapy team straight away. Or phone an ambulance and tell them you are having chemotherapy. A blood clot is serious if it isn’t treated.
Speak to your chemotherapy team if you experience anything unusual, or if you would like more information.
You can also speak to our specialist nurses on our free Support Line.
You can download our fact sheet on FOLFIRINOX for pancreatic cancer.
Updated August 2019
Review date August 2021
This information is currently under review.
