re: Xeloda dosages - please help

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musiclover
musiclover Member Posts: 242
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My friend will start the Xeloda and radiation tomorrow. His doctor gave him 500 mg - three pills in the morning, two at night. Has anyone else out there had that dosage? 2500 mg. per day seems high to me from what I've been reading. I'm concerned about bad side effects - hand/food syndrome etc. I realize everyone is different and responds to drugs in an individual way but I would still like some feedback about other's experiences with this drug. My friend (Mark) is 60, has already lost 28 lbs. (weighs 127 now), has lower rectal cancer (they still don't know what stage - III or IV is the guess). Other than the cancer he's in excellent health (good heart, great cholesteral, no high blood pressure, etc.). I so appreciate this board and so does my friend. I've printed out many encouraging posts from everyone out there and this has helped him a lot. Thanks!
Kathryn

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  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #2
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    Hi Kathryn - I went through 4 cycles of Xeloda at 4 pills twice a day - 4000mg/day, so 2500 doesn't sound so much to me. After the 4th cycle I developed some small amount of skin peeling on my feet. As a result when I start my 5th cycle tomorrow, the doctor is cutting it down to 3 pills twice a day or 3000mg.

    My biggest complaint about Xeloda has been episodic diarrhea, but my doc was more worried about developing a foot problem and hence the dose reduction.

    Good luck.

    Betsy
  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #3
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    Kathryn,

    I've been on Xeloda for 1 year now. I began with 3500 mg and had my dosage reduced several times until I was taking 1500mg. I am now "resting" for 2 weeks and then will kick up my dosage to 3000mg again. So, as Betsy said, 2500mg does not seem too high. I did have hand/foot syndrome with peeling and sore feet. My feet were worse than my hands and I even lost a couple of toenails. They are growing back now, even though I am still taking the drug.

    No real problem with diahrrea for me or nausea. I have tolerated it pretty well.

    Kerry
  • jana11
    jana11 Member Posts: 705
    #4
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    Kathryn,

    When I did xeloda and radiation before surgery for low rectal cancer I weighed about 115-120 pounds and I took 3 tabs in am and 2 tabs in the pm. That dose was what I took. I got all my care at MD Anderson - and completely trust my docs. The radiation gave me more side effects (terrible diarrhea and fatigue and anemia) than the xeloda. I didn't get ANY xeloda specific symptoms. I hope your friend does well. He is lucky to have you caring so much for him.... hang in there. The worse part is the waiting.

    Please return with any other questions. jana
  • lauriecaldwell
    lauriecaldwell Member Posts: 2
    #5
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    I am currently taking three chemo treatments concurrently. I have been taking Xeloda daily for 7 months now; 1000 mg in the morn and 1000 mg at night. This is my second go-round with colon cancer and I was on the same dosage and schedule 3 years ago. I have experienced minor nausea and a lot of diahrea (spelling?) as well as somewhat severe bone pain. One positive is that I have not lost all of my hair, just half.

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