Rectal Cancer and pre-op Xeloda

musiclover

My friend has stage III rectal cancer and will be doing radiation with Xeloda before the surgery to try to shrink his tumor (almost complete blockage very close to anus). Has anyone had this regimen? Pretty much everything I've read on this site has referred to Xeloda AFTER surgery and always taken with other meds (Oxaliplatin, etc.). I'm hoping for no Colostomy bag. I found the best surgeon on the West Coast to do the surgury (TME - anyone had this? PLEASE respond with comments). Hope to hear from anyone to give him some good news. He's very depressed and in pretty constant pain at this moment. Thanks!

cal79

Hi Musiclover,

Sorry I can't comment on the drugs or radiation, but I had TME surgery earlier this year. They did an ultra low anterior resection with colonic J-pouch construction, TME and temporary loop ileostomy. I believe that with a large proportion of TME patients they will do a temporary ileostomy while the site heals, but it really isn't that bad.

After the surgery, I found the most helpful thing for recovery was walking, building up a little bit further every day. This really helps the bowels to start working again. Also, if your friend needs a stoma, a wheatgerm bean bag (that you put in the microwave and heat up) eased the cramps significantly, and drinking lots of sports drinks and black tea helped get things working properly.

I hope everything goes well with the treatment, and that your friend starts to feel better about things soon. I was very depressed when I was first told I had cancer, but that passed after I had the time to absorb all the huge life changes that are associated with treatment like this.

Cal

crazylady

Hi,
I was on Xeloda and had radiation before chemo. I did this for 51/2 weeks, waited 6 weeks,then had surgery and another 6 months of Xeloda.
The side effects were livable. I worked full time for the last 41/2 months on Xeloda. I did end up with a permanent colostomy which has not turned out to be as bad as anticipated. It doesn't stop me from doing anything I want to do. I was cancer free for 16 months after surgery. I am starting chemo tomorrow for lung mets.
Jamie

griff

Hey there,
Sorry for your friend. I was diagnosed with rectal/colon cancer. My tumor was also to the point of blockage, but they didn't treat me with the Xeloda until afterward. I was hoping to give a little hope by saying up until the time I went into surgery they told me I would have a colostomy bag when I awoke and I didn't. I made it through with out having one. The radiation and 5FU before the surgery shrunk it enough we didn't have to go through all that. I hope things work well for you all
Griff

Kaye2003

My husand was dx w/rectal cancer 10/03. Surgeon said he would need colostomy. He had radiation and Xeloda for 5 weeks. Tumor shrank small enough that he did not need the colostomy. He had surgery 02/04. 8 weeks later started Xeloda for 4 months. As of last Monday he is still NED. He had no side effects from the Xeloda. He was very blessed.
You and your friend will be in our prayers.
God Bless,
Kaye

taraHK

I was diagnosed with Stage III rectal cancer about 2.5 years ago. I didn't have Xeloda pre-surgery, but I had 5FU (plus radiation) -- and Xeloda is like a pill form of 5FU so this makes sense to me. I had 5.5 weeks of chemoradiation, then a 5.5 week break, then surgery. I didn't have TME but I am aware of this approach and have read v. good things about it. Everyone hopes to avoid a permanent colostomy. In my case, I did end up with one. I hope your friend doesn't but if he does, it honestly is not that bad -- one adjusts. I wish him all the best. He is lucky to have such a great friend as you. Feel free to ask questions here anytime.
Tara

Biancia

griff said:

Hey there,
Sorry for your friend. I was diagnosed with rectal/colon cancer. My tumor was also to the point of blockage, but they didn't treat me with the Xeloda until afterward. I was hoping to give a little hope by saying up until the time I went into surgery they told me I would have a colostomy bag when I awoke and I didn't. I made it through with out having one. The radiation and 5FU before the surgery shrunk it enough we didn't have to go through all that. I hope things work well for you all
Griff

My husband was diagnoised with stage 4 rectal cancer, he also had a near blockage. He had six weeks of radiation and 5FU to shrink the tumor but due to mets to his lungs they never considered surgery. He had been on 5FU, avastin, Oxilplatin and luecevoren for about 11 months and due to the neuropathy to his hands and feet they took him off the oxi and gave him irrenotecan (not spelling correctly). We were told that he would be on some form of chemo for the rest of his life. This has been very hard for him to handle, each treatment is a 3 days infusion and then 7 days of nuepogen (alot of bone pain), he tries to stay up beat and positive but the treatments make him very emotional. Its at that time when he says he can't do this for the rest of his life, I feel so helpless. We have been doing this since he was diagnoised May 9th, 2004 and its taking its toll on me mentally. I have not been able to find a therapy or support groups in my area. Does anyone know a better way to search those out?

musiclover

Biancia said:

My husband was diagnoised with stage 4 rectal cancer, he also had a near blockage. He had six weeks of radiation and 5FU to shrink the tumor but due to mets to his lungs they never considered surgery. He had been on 5FU, avastin, Oxilplatin and luecevoren for about 11 months and due to the neuropathy to his hands and feet they took him off the oxi and gave him irrenotecan (not spelling correctly). We were told that he would be on some form of chemo for the rest of his life. This has been very hard for him to handle, each treatment is a 3 days infusion and then 7 days of nuepogen (alot of bone pain), he tries to stay up beat and positive but the treatments make him very emotional. Its at that time when he says he can't do this for the rest of his life, I feel so helpless. We have been doing this since he was diagnoised May 9th, 2004 and its taking its toll on me mentally. I have not been able to find a therapy or support groups in my area. Does anyone know a better way to search those out?

Biancia, Maybe your husband can be switched to the Xeloda. It is the the same as 5FU but in pill form - so much more convenient than the infusions. The side effects are more manageable from from I've read and heard from the posters on this site. I hope this can help him. So sorry to hear about what he's going through.