XELODA
Comments
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Xeloda side effects
Casey,
Hi, I've taken Xeloda along with irinotecan and Avastin, although never just by itself. I am to the point now,however, where I'm probably going to be doing some maintenance chemo- I think it will likely end up being Xeloda with some Avastin infusions every few weeks.
My most recent dosage of Xeloda has been 3,000 mg/day (3 500 mg pills in a.m. and 3 again in p.m.). Your dose is higher than that and the higher dosage may mean more extreme side effects. Everyone reacts differently, however, so you can't be sure how you'll react to it until it happens.
Side effects I experienced have been:
Hand/foot syndrome: this includes some darkening, reddening, or splotching of my fingers and palms of hands, some possible peeling of bottoms of feet and cracking/peeling around the cuticles and tips of fingers. Also includes skin being ultra sensitive and becoming either sore or possibly even blistered if exposed to too much friction (too much walking in shoes that rub gave me red blistered feet at the balls of my feet and bottoms of my toes).
Diarrhea: speaks for itself- keep the Immodium handy- at home and in your car. Hopefully it will work well for you. If it doesn't, there are prescription meds that can be prescribed that definitely will help control that.
Oh- my personal experience was that I didn't experience the side effects right away- they built up over time- it was more like my third cycle of it that things started happening.
Best wishes with everything!
Lisa0 -
LisaThank You for thelisa42 said:Xeloda side effects
Casey,
Hi, I've taken Xeloda along with irinotecan and Avastin, although never just by itself. I am to the point now,however, where I'm probably going to be doing some maintenance chemo- I think it will likely end up being Xeloda with some Avastin infusions every few weeks.
My most recent dosage of Xeloda has been 3,000 mg/day (3 500 mg pills in a.m. and 3 again in p.m.). Your dose is higher than that and the higher dosage may mean more extreme side effects. Everyone reacts differently, however, so you can't be sure how you'll react to it until it happens.
Side effects I experienced have been:
Hand/foot syndrome: this includes some darkening, reddening, or splotching of my fingers and palms of hands, some possible peeling of bottoms of feet and cracking/peeling around the cuticles and tips of fingers. Also includes skin being ultra sensitive and becoming either sore or possibly even blistered if exposed to too much friction (too much walking in shoes that rub gave me red blistered feet at the balls of my feet and bottoms of my toes).
Diarrhea: speaks for itself- keep the Immodium handy- at home and in your car. Hopefully it will work well for you. If it doesn't, there are prescription meds that can be prescribed that definitely will help control that.
Oh- my personal experience was that I didn't experience the side effects right away- they built up over time- it was more like my third cycle of it that things started happening.
Best wishes with everything!
Lisa
Lisa
Thank You for the information. can't say I'm looking forward to these side effects but it is the next step in fighting this cancer.0 -
Hello
I am on Xeloda too, I take 4 500's and 3 150's twice a day for 6months. I am just finishing up my 5th round, got 3 more to go. WHen I say round I mean my two weeks on and one week off. I was on the IV chemo the first time and the cancer came back within about 3-4 months. SO I am hoping this will do the trick. The side effects are alot less then the IV chemo to me. I still have nausea and diahrrea (sp) but its managable. I have alot of fatigue which I hate, havent been able to work, and with each round it seems to get a little bit worse. However I am going to attempt to go back to work a few days a week, I am hoping it will help, we will see. I personnally think you will be glad that you have the option to use the Xeolda instead of the IV chemo. Good luck and please let us know how you are doing and if you happen to have any questions.
God Bles
Beth0 -
not bad
I'm on Xeloda only, as a maintenance/prevention therapy. For me, the side effects have not been bad at all. I have mild hand-foot syndrome (sensitive skin, red, occasional blisters on bottom of feet and toes). Wear supportive flat shoes. I have mild fatigue -- I have a nap every day. I haven't had diarrhea at all. I get very mild stomach cramps for a few days. I'm on a schedule of 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. During on, I have 3 pills in am, 3 in pm.
So for me, it's really not bad at all. I'm on this "indefinitely" -- and it is definitely something I can easily live with. I exercise regularly, travel, work fulltime (admitedly on a flexible schedule)
Good luck!
Tara0 -
Bethdorookie said:Hello
I am on Xeloda too, I take 4 500's and 3 150's twice a day for 6months. I am just finishing up my 5th round, got 3 more to go. WHen I say round I mean my two weeks on and one week off. I was on the IV chemo the first time and the cancer came back within about 3-4 months. SO I am hoping this will do the trick. The side effects are alot less then the IV chemo to me. I still have nausea and diahrrea (sp) but its managable. I have alot of fatigue which I hate, havent been able to work, and with each round it seems to get a little bit worse. However I am going to attempt to go back to work a few days a week, I am hoping it will help, we will see. I personnally think you will be glad that you have the option to use the Xeolda instead of the IV chemo. Good luck and please let us know how you are doing and if you happen to have any questions.
God Bles
Beth
Thanks for the
Beth
Thanks for the information and I hope your return to work is managable.
It's nice to have this outlet to exchange idea's with someone who is going through the same life experience's.0 -
TarataraHK said:not bad
I'm on Xeloda only, as a maintenance/prevention therapy. For me, the side effects have not been bad at all. I have mild hand-foot syndrome (sensitive skin, red, occasional blisters on bottom of feet and toes). Wear supportive flat shoes. I have mild fatigue -- I have a nap every day. I haven't had diarrhea at all. I get very mild stomach cramps for a few days. I'm on a schedule of 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. During on, I have 3 pills in am, 3 in pm.
So for me, it's really not bad at all. I'm on this "indefinitely" -- and it is definitely something I can easily live with. I exercise regularly, travel, work fulltime (admitedly on a flexible schedule)
Good luck!
Tara
Sounds like you have
Tara
Sounds like you have this part of your recovery under control, I can only hope to handle it it the same way you are.
Thank You0 -
Post operative Xeloda
Hi Casey,
I am now into the 2nd week of my 3rd cycle (2 weeks on, 1 week off). 4 * 500 mg in the AM and 5 * 500 mg in the PM. From what I understand the dosage is also dependent on various factors such as body weight besides diagnosis or staging. So this can be quite different for different people.
It has been manageable so far. But my biggest problem is still the frequent bathroom visits (5 to 10 times daily) though this could be due to the surgery (lower abdominal resection in my case) rather than the drug. I swing between the extremes of constipation and diarrhea which I manage with Colace, Immodium and/or Metamucil.
As mentioned by many others on this forum, this is believed to be easier than IV chemotherapy though no less effective than 5FU on it's own (statistically). I was offered IV chemotherapy. But this was my treatment of choice as I have 2 young kids (2 and 4 yrs old) and this would be easier from a lifestyle angle.
Good luck!
Andrew0 -
I agreecaseyarm said:Beth
Thanks for the
Beth
Thanks for the information and I hope your return to work is managable.
It's nice to have this outlet to exchange idea's with someone who is going through the same life experience's.
This board is just wonderful, it has helped me out so much. There were times when I just thought I was going to lose it and came here and found support. There is always someone here that has been through or going through what we are. So the advise comes from first had experience and that sure does help alot. Also just being able to talk or vent to people you know know what your going through. Sometimes I find it hard to talk to my family members because they just dont understand, and I know it frustrates them as well, but here we are family too and being able to express my real feelings helps me so very much. So please continue to stop by and ask any and all questions, like I said there will be someone that can respond or give advise or just listen.
Take care hon
God Bless
Beth0 -
Xeloda
Glad to hear your surgery went well. I also had a colon resection and part of my treatment is Xeloda. Tuesday I start round 5. IV drugs day one and 3 500 mgs Xeloda twice a day for 14 days. After the two weeks, I'm off a week then start again. I haven't had too many side effects from the xeloda. My stomach gets upset sometimes. I have never thrown up, it just feels off. But, I have two different types of medicine to prevent nausea. I get a little loose in the bowels sometimes but never diarrhea. I've had red spots on the back of my hands and arms but my onc doesn't think it is hand/foot. As my treatment goes on, I do feel like my hands and feet are getting a little more sensitive but I have still been able to run and exercise (some what). I feel pretty lucky that my side effects haven't been too bad and only two more treatments to go.
I wish you the best of luck and hope your side effects will be light. Everyone reacts differently.
Paula
Take Care!!
Paula0 -
Andrewac said:Post operative Xeloda
Hi Casey,
I am now into the 2nd week of my 3rd cycle (2 weeks on, 1 week off). 4 * 500 mg in the AM and 5 * 500 mg in the PM. From what I understand the dosage is also dependent on various factors such as body weight besides diagnosis or staging. So this can be quite different for different people.
It has been manageable so far. But my biggest problem is still the frequent bathroom visits (5 to 10 times daily) though this could be due to the surgery (lower abdominal resection in my case) rather than the drug. I swing between the extremes of constipation and diarrhea which I manage with Colace, Immodium and/or Metamucil.
As mentioned by many others on this forum, this is believed to be easier than IV chemotherapy though no less effective than 5FU on it's own (statistically). I was offered IV chemotherapy. But this was my treatment of choice as I have 2 young kids (2 and 4 yrs old) and this would be easier from a lifestyle angle.
Good luck!
Andrew
Thanks for the info
Andrew
Thanks for the info it's nice to talk to someone who is walking the walk..
****0 -
Paulapcs1453 said:Xeloda
Glad to hear your surgery went well. I also had a colon resection and part of my treatment is Xeloda. Tuesday I start round 5. IV drugs day one and 3 500 mgs Xeloda twice a day for 14 days. After the two weeks, I'm off a week then start again. I haven't had too many side effects from the xeloda. My stomach gets upset sometimes. I have never thrown up, it just feels off. But, I have two different types of medicine to prevent nausea. I get a little loose in the bowels sometimes but never diarrhea. I've had red spots on the back of my hands and arms but my onc doesn't think it is hand/foot. As my treatment goes on, I do feel like my hands and feet are getting a little more sensitive but I have still been able to run and exercise (some what). I feel pretty lucky that my side effects haven't been too bad and only two more treatments to go.
I wish you the best of luck and hope your side effects will be light. Everyone reacts differently.
Paula
Take Care!!
Paula
Sounds like you have
Paula
Sounds like you have it under control I can only hope I can fair as well. hanks for your responce.
****0 -
xeloda
Hi ****: I feel like I have taken so much xeloda:):) I should know something but probably not true. In 06 I had a big liver re-section and did 8 months of xeloda. in 08 the liver cancer was back, and I am on another round of xeloda plus oxalyplatin.
The xeloda is do-able. I personally have very little diarrhea, the oxy is very constipating however. Watch you skin and sun exposure for sure you can fry quite quickly on xeloda. I find deep abdominal pain quite normal, I flush up and get red cheeks, the sides of my mouth crack open...just in the corners....slather with vaseline. I find it accumulates so gets worse as the cycles go on....I am on 3 of 6. I have a lot of low grade nausea just growling around lots of the time so I do my anti nausea meds but they don't help that much.
All round you should be good....as everyone says.....every soul reacts differently.
All best love,,
Please write if you have specific questions
Mags0 -
Mags
Thanks for the info,
Mags
Thanks for the info, I'm going today for my first appointment to the cancer clinic since I started on Xeloda and it's only been one week so I haven't developed any real symtoms yet except for some stomach upset and loose bowels. Graval and imodium seem to work so far.
Thanks again.
****0 -
Thanks but I have 1 question....caseyarm said:Mags
Thanks for the info,
Mags
Thanks for the info, I'm going today for my first appointment to the cancer clinic since I started on Xeloda and it's only been one week so I haven't developed any real symtoms yet except for some stomach upset and loose bowels. Graval and imodium seem to work so far.
Thanks again.
****
Thanks everyone for the info. Xeloda is one of my options for my chemo treatments. I need to make a decision quickly. My other option is the Folfox IV. I was hoping to talk to someone who used the oral method. I had my right ascending colon removed along with 17 lymph nodes. 3 of those nodes did have cancer cells in them. Of all you people on the Xeloda, did any of your cancer travel to the nodes or was the Xeloda recommended because you had no lymph node involvement?
Best wishes to all of you,
Mary Kaz0 -
Xeloda Therapy
I am on my second round of Xeloda. I take 4 500 mg. in the am and 4 500 mg. in the pm. So far my main problem has been constipation. I have mild nausea at times. I have triple negative cancer in several lymph nodes under my left arm. After many tests they have not found any cancer anywhere else but think it may have come from my breast. Has anyone else experienced this kind of diagnosis?0 -
Second Roundmkaz said:Thanks but I have 1 question....
Thanks everyone for the info. Xeloda is one of my options for my chemo treatments. I need to make a decision quickly. My other option is the Folfox IV. I was hoping to talk to someone who used the oral method. I had my right ascending colon removed along with 17 lymph nodes. 3 of those nodes did have cancer cells in them. Of all you people on the Xeloda, did any of your cancer travel to the nodes or was the Xeloda recommended because you had no lymph node involvement?
Best wishes to all of you,
Mary Kaz
I am not exactly sure why I was put on Xeloda this time. My first time I did the IV chemo 5FU, from everything I have been told and read, Xeloda is the same as 5FU just in a pill form. And from what I have read it is just as effective as the IV chemo. I personnaly perfer the pill to the IV chemo, less side effects and you can take it on your own. I do find that I feel bad for a longer time because I take it for 14 days straight, but like i said the side effects arent as bad. With the IV chemo I was really sick for about 5-6 days then I started to feel better, with Xeloda I just feel sick for the whole 14 days, its just like having the flu for 2 weeks. It doesnt seem to take long to feel better on my week off, which is nice.
This has been my experience, hope the info helps.
GOd Bless
Beth0
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