Physically Exhausted, Help!

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mindy10
mindy10 Member Posts: 182 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi everyone, hope all are doing well. I have a quick question. To those of you that where on Xeloda, where you physically exhausted. My dad is on 3500mg a day and he says if he even makes a sandwich he gets so exhausted. Of course he thinks it is the cancer kicking in. I tell him its the Xeloda. Also, since he started the Xeloda he has had pain in his lower left back. Anyone else experience muscle pain while on this drug. Thanks everyone. Mindy

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  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #2
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    Mindy -

    I was on Xeloda 4000mg/day, later reduced to 3000mg / day. I was also on oxaliplatin and Avastin. Was I exhausted? Yes, from time to time. It got worse after 3rd cycle and we delayed following treatments in part because of that, but primarily because of other symptoms. Was it solely due to the Xeloda? Who knows? Since I was on three drugs it is not clear that one culprit is responsible.

    Not sure how many cycles your Dad has had (or what other drugs he is on) but I breezed (except for a couple of days) through my first cycle and then things got a little more difficult. During my third cycle is the first time I remember telling my husband that I was sick of feeling like crap! This is pretty normal from what I understand. Making a sandwich? Well I hardly even really wanted a sandwich while on chemo, so making it definitely seemed exhausting.

    Sorry, but I am not sure about pain in back. Maybe someone else has some ideas. Don't hesitate to hammer your oncologist with these questions.

    Betsy
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    #3
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    Betsydoglover said:

    Mindy -

    I was on Xeloda 4000mg/day, later reduced to 3000mg / day. I was also on oxaliplatin and Avastin. Was I exhausted? Yes, from time to time. It got worse after 3rd cycle and we delayed following treatments in part because of that, but primarily because of other symptoms. Was it solely due to the Xeloda? Who knows? Since I was on three drugs it is not clear that one culprit is responsible.

    Not sure how many cycles your Dad has had (or what other drugs he is on) but I breezed (except for a couple of days) through my first cycle and then things got a little more difficult. During my third cycle is the first time I remember telling my husband that I was sick of feeling like crap! This is pretty normal from what I understand. Making a sandwich? Well I hardly even really wanted a sandwich while on chemo, so making it definitely seemed exhausting.

    Sorry, but I am not sure about pain in back. Maybe someone else has some ideas. Don't hesitate to hammer your oncologist with these questions.

    Betsy

    Hi Mindy; here's a little info on Xeloda;
    Capecitabine
    Generic Name: Capecitabine

    Product Name: Xeloda

    Indication:
    Xeloda is used in the treatment of advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer. It can also be used to treat advanced or metastatic breast cancer when treatment with taxanes and anthracyclines has failed, or if these agents are contraindicated. After failure of anthracycline containing therapy, Xeloda should be used in combination with docetaxal.


    Action:
    Capecitabine is an oral antineoplastic agent that is metabolised to its active form, 5-fluorouracil, an enzyme that is found in tumours. 5-fluorouracil is an antineoplastic drug known as an antimetabolite. After entering cells and being activated, it interferes with the replication of rapidly dividing cells (including cancer cells) by preventing the conversion of folic acid to folinic acid, a building block for new DNA. 5-fluorouracil aims to reduce tumour size and prolong life for cancer sufferers.
    Side effects;
    The following effects are seen very commonly:


    Diarrhoea, which can be severe.

    Nausea, which can be severe.

    Vomiting, which can be severe.

    Stomatitis (inflammation of inside of mouth).

    Abdominal pain.

    Hand foot syndrome.

    Dermatitis.

    Fatigue.

    Loss of appetite.
    The following link will give you more info if you like;
    http://www.virtualcancercentre.com/drugs.asp?drugid=1715
    Xeloda is from my understanding a tablet form of 5fu. My 6 month stint on 5fu pretty much knocked the hell out of me and was progressively worse with each dose...yet many people have few effects with it and lots are even able to continue working. I was not able to.So it effects everyone differently.Exhaustion and fatigue were for me very prevalent throughout the six months and even beyond...but that was me.Nonetheless your dad should keep his clinic informed of his weakened state.BUT...keep in mind this was for 5fu...Xeloda may have different effects entirely as it involves metabolising to its active form, 5-fluorouracil.Hope this helped Mindy, cheers, Ross and Jen
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #4
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    kangatoo said:

    Hi Mindy; here's a little info on Xeloda;
    Capecitabine
    Generic Name: Capecitabine

    Product Name: Xeloda

    Indication:
    Xeloda is used in the treatment of advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer. It can also be used to treat advanced or metastatic breast cancer when treatment with taxanes and anthracyclines has failed, or if these agents are contraindicated. After failure of anthracycline containing therapy, Xeloda should be used in combination with docetaxal.


    Action:
    Capecitabine is an oral antineoplastic agent that is metabolised to its active form, 5-fluorouracil, an enzyme that is found in tumours. 5-fluorouracil is an antineoplastic drug known as an antimetabolite. After entering cells and being activated, it interferes with the replication of rapidly dividing cells (including cancer cells) by preventing the conversion of folic acid to folinic acid, a building block for new DNA. 5-fluorouracil aims to reduce tumour size and prolong life for cancer sufferers.
    Side effects;
    The following effects are seen very commonly:


    Diarrhoea, which can be severe.

    Nausea, which can be severe.

    Vomiting, which can be severe.

    Stomatitis (inflammation of inside of mouth).

    Abdominal pain.

    Hand foot syndrome.

    Dermatitis.

    Fatigue.

    Loss of appetite.
    The following link will give you more info if you like;
    http://www.virtualcancercentre.com/drugs.asp?drugid=1715
    Xeloda is from my understanding a tablet form of 5fu. My 6 month stint on 5fu pretty much knocked the hell out of me and was progressively worse with each dose...yet many people have few effects with it and lots are even able to continue working. I was not able to.So it effects everyone differently.Exhaustion and fatigue were for me very prevalent throughout the six months and even beyond...but that was me.Nonetheless your dad should keep his clinic informed of his weakened state.BUT...keep in mind this was for 5fu...Xeloda may have different effects entirely as it involves metabolising to its active form, 5-fluorouracil.Hope this helped Mindy, cheers, Ross and Jen

    Wow, kanga, now I've heard everything.
    5FU comes in liquid, pill, and even cream form!!!
    And STILL it knocked the heck out of me...but, I must admit, it worked!

    Mindy,
    Yes, my love, sadly the whole point of chemo is to kill rapidly dividing cells, which are more than just the cancer cells (hair cells, for instance...why with some chemos you lose your hair). Your body's natural immune system is saying "Hey, wait a minute, I want to help, too" and can get injured as well. The tireds may be low white cell count...I'm sure his onc is checking the blood counts...It's what we patients live for...another needle stick!
    Hugs to you, dearheart....you have to watch, and still smile, and support!

    Kathi
  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #5
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    Is he on Xeloda by itself? I took Xeloda for a summer and I have to say that I was not exhausted, but I felt very wierd, almost like I was in a stupor. I cannot honestly remember if I was taking it every day or what, but when I had breaks I would feel normal again. The worst problem I had from it was the hand and foot syndrome. I just yesterday as a matter of fact read an article by Dr. Lin (GI department, medical oncologist) at MD Anderson. He studied giving patients Celebrex in conjunctin w/ the Xeloda and apparently it helped the hand and foot sydrome tremendously. I am not sure about back pain, that could be completely unrelated. I suggest talking to your doctor about this because I cannot say that I felt exhausted.
    By the way, Xeloda does not affect all the cells in the body like IV 5-FU does. It is supposed to be a targeted therapy.
    Good luck to you,
    Susan.
  • chynabear
    chynabear Member Posts: 481 Member
    #6
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    shmurciakova said:

    Is he on Xeloda by itself? I took Xeloda for a summer and I have to say that I was not exhausted, but I felt very wierd, almost like I was in a stupor. I cannot honestly remember if I was taking it every day or what, but when I had breaks I would feel normal again. The worst problem I had from it was the hand and foot syndrome. I just yesterday as a matter of fact read an article by Dr. Lin (GI department, medical oncologist) at MD Anderson. He studied giving patients Celebrex in conjunctin w/ the Xeloda and apparently it helped the hand and foot sydrome tremendously. I am not sure about back pain, that could be completely unrelated. I suggest talking to your doctor about this because I cannot say that I felt exhausted.
    By the way, Xeloda does not affect all the cells in the body like IV 5-FU does. It is supposed to be a targeted therapy.
    Good luck to you,
    Susan.

    I wasn't on Xeloda, but Oxiliplatin, 5fu, and Leucovorin so maybe this doesn't apply...

    As said, chemo kills good cells along with bad. This causes us to feel all of the symptoms that are possible.

    I was extremely tired for 1-2 days after my last day of treatment. So tired that I didn't want to wake up to eat let alone make myself something to eat.

    I know there are some good books out there, but Dr. Patrick Quillins book Beating Cancer with Nutrition offers a diet to go along with chemo to minimize the side effects and to help keep the healthy cells, well healthy. I wish this is something I would have tried during chemo to see if it helped. The logic is there so I'm sure it would have. Maybe it is something you should look into.

    I hope he gains his strengh to fight this beast.

    On the back pain, I had to have a few shots to help boost my (red?) cells. I know it gave me terrible back aches. Is he taking any shots to boost his cell count, red or white?
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #7
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    Ahoy, Mindy -

    First let me say that it is wonderful that you are looking for some answers for your dad. I wish I had had such a concerned person looking out for me when I was sick! You rock!

    Anyway, regarding your dad's fatigue... one thing that can happen when you're on chemo is that your red blood cells can be knocked down significantly and your blood doesn't carry as much oxygen. There are several ways to deal with tis common side-effect of chemo; you can get a transfusion ("changing the oil", which I did a few times - I felt GREAT afterward) or there are a couple of drugs that can be [perscribed based on what, exactly, is going on with your dad - neupogen or procrit, although a lot of clinics seem hesitant to prescribe these (not sure why, but there is probably a good reason)...

    Anyway... the best thing you can do is talk to his doctor. Make sure you get the answer to your questions - remember the doctor is your learned advisor who works FOR you!

    - SpongeBob

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