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XELODA OR MITOMYCIN
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Aug 26, 2012 - 9:57 pm
JUST TALKED WITH DOC FRIDAY AND HE IS GIVIVING ME A CHOICE BETWEEN XELODA OR MITOMYCIN. |
Joined: Apr 2011
Xeloda is usually a substitute for 5fu. I would go with the pump 5fu, side effects are minimal unless u r allergic. Standard of care is 2 rounds of 5fu and 2 rounds of mitomycin for stage 1 and 2. Do your research. There are chemo shortages right now. I would rather wait and get the proper dosage. My mother in law took the xeloda which is the same as 5fu but had terrible side effects including the hand and foot.
Joined: Jan 2010
I have never heard of using xeloda in the treatment of anal cancer, but I know it is used to treat colorectal cancer, which is not the same. If you have anal cancer, I believe your doctor needs to use the standard protocol of treatment--two rounds of Mitomycin, given on day 1 and day 29, two rounds of 5FU via pump given on day 1 and day 29 for 96 hours, 5-6 weeks of IMRT radiation, depending on tumor size, using a dosage that is no higher than 59 gys to preserve function of your sphincter.
I highly recommend that you go to the website for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, register, then print out the current guidelines for treatment for anal cancer. I don't believe you will see Xeloda recommended. I realize Xeloda is a pill form of 5FU, but there has to be a reason that the IV form of 5FU is recommended for treatment of anal cancer. otherwise the rest of us would have been most happy to just take a pill. I could be wrong, but I don't believe there is anyone posting on this board that did not get 5FU by IV.
If I were you, I would print out those guidelines and get familiar with them. Take them to discuss with your doctor. Also, ask him/her how many cases of anal cancer has he/she treated and what chemo drugs were used? I would need some kind of proof that the Xeloda was effective to allow it over the standard 5FU.
As for the port and pump being an issue, it's really not. Having a port put in is a simple and very common procedure. Wearing the pump for 96 hours is merely an inconvenience and not a big deal.
Joined: Aug 2012
MY DOC JUST TOLD ME THAT XELODA WAS AN OPTION IF I WANTED IT. HE IS VERY SAVVY AND IS INVOLVED IN TRIAL STUDIES AS WELL. HE SAYS THAT I WILL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF 5FU IN MY BLOOD EITHER WAY. HE HAS TOLD ME THAT MY INSURANCE MAY NOT COVER IT BECAUSE IT IS "OUT OF THE BOX" BUT THAT IT IS THE SAME TREATMENT. I AM VERY ACTIVE AND NEED TO BE ABLE TO LIFT AND MOVE A LOT. I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR MOBILITY AS WELL AS MINIMAL SIDE EFFECTS.
Joined: Aug 2012
Hi everyone. Just wanted to share that I had taken both the mytomycin and xeloda along with seven weeks of radiation. I took xeloda five days a week along with my radiation treatments. Weekends were chemo free. I also took the mito twice like everyone else. I really didn't have huge issues with the xeloda. I did have dry hands and feet. But very manageable. As far as the xeloda or the 5 fu .well my docs choice that method. There also was another person besides myself on the same treatment. I also have read a lot, and this seems to be more of a colorectal cancer med thn anal cancer which is what I have. I m three months post treatment and doing good. Just wanted to share this info. I'm also being treated at stanford. Everyone on my medical team have been wonderful. This forum is awesome. Lots of great info.thanks