chemoradiation w/5fu/Xeloda

carmen07
carmen07 Member Posts: 120 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi Everyone,
For those of you being treated with radiation w/5fu do you receive your 5fu with the pump or do you take Xeloda (5fu in pill form). Also for those who do receive it with the pump any helpful tips for showering. Do they make waterproof bags in medical stores for the pumps.

Comments

  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #2
    I had 5 fu in the pump. The tubing was long enough to put on the floor outside the shower.

    Maureen
  • 4law
    4law Member Posts: 110
    #3
    When I was on the pump, I was permitted to disconnect the tubing during showers. The portion of the tubing from my chest was only about 9 inches long. I was instructed on carefully disconnecting and reconnecting the tubing, using alcholhol swabs, etc. Also, I was instructed to properly program, set and re-set the pump -- it really was not complicated at all. I was only on 5FU, however, but I doubt it makes any difference.
  • 122456
    122456 Member Posts: 40 Member
    #4
    I have taken the xeloda in pill form and taken the 5FU from the iv. My pump was CPT-11. I was on it 46 continious hours from Monday thru Wednesday. The pill form of xeloda didn't work for me and that's why he started me on the pump. It get bothersome but I endured it for 4 months twice a month. Be blessed
  • mwomack
    mwomack Member Posts: 78
    #5
    My husband had the pump with his chemo treatments last year. He is now undergoing radiation for a recurrence and is taking 1000mg Xeloda. This is a light dose, but the Radiation Onc. was happy with it as he said we were not doing a therapeutic dose. The med. onc. was not planning on doing chemo (especially 5FU "because it didn't work last time.") but the radiation onc. insisted that he be on chemo and called the med. onc. and got him to prescribe it.

    MA
  • carmen07
    carmen07 Member Posts: 120 Member
    #6
    mwomack said:

    My husband had the pump with his chemo treatments last year. He is now undergoing radiation for a recurrence and is taking 1000mg Xeloda. This is a light dose, but the Radiation Onc. was happy with it as he said we were not doing a therapeutic dose. The med. onc. was not planning on doing chemo (especially 5FU "because it didn't work last time.") but the radiation onc. insisted that he be on chemo and called the med. onc. and got him to prescribe it.

    MA

    Thanks everyone for your responses. Ma - My understanding from the radiologist is the 5fu helps the radiation shrink the tumor more. I was just wondering why not the pill in a low dose versus the pump in a low dose.
  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #7
    carmen07 said:

    Thanks everyone for your responses. Ma - My understanding from the radiologist is the 5fu helps the radiation shrink the tumor more. I was just wondering why not the pill in a low dose versus the pump in a low dose.

    Carmen,

    I had radiation and took Xeloda with my radiation instead of the 5FU. It can be done!

    Kerry
  • nanuk
    nanuk Member Posts: 1,358 Member
    #8
    carmen07 said:

    Thanks everyone for your responses. Ma - My understanding from the radiologist is the 5fu helps the radiation shrink the tumor more. I was just wondering why not the pill in a low dose versus the pump in a low dose.

    Good question;in my opinion, follow the bucks. They don't make any money on Xeloda, because it's Rx..there's more money in infusion.. Bud
  • carmen07
    carmen07 Member Posts: 120 Member
    #9
    kerry said:

    Carmen,

    I had radiation and took Xeloda with my radiation instead of the 5FU. It can be done!

    Kerry

    Thanks again. I will definately ask why not?
  • dibrun
    dibrun Member Posts: 1 Member
    #10

    Anybody here px Xeloda instead of radiation....was out of window for rad tx so Xeloda which was to be px for 6 months is now going to be given in place of radiation

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