XELODA OR MITOMYCIN

bondservant

JUST TALKED WITH DOC FRIDAY AND HE IS GIVIVING ME A CHOICE BETWEEN XELODA OR MITOMYCIN.
XELODA HAS THE "HAND AND FEET" PROBLEM. MITOMYCIN HAS THE PORT AND PUMP ISSUE. IS THERE ANY OPINIONS OUT THERE ON THIS??

Phoebesnow

Chemo
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.

mp327

Xeloda vs Mitomycin
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.

Tyson

Mytomycin. Xeloda
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

Tyson

Mytomycin. Xeloda
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

mp327

Tyson said:

Mytomycin. Xeloda
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

Hi Tyson!
Welcome and thanks for posting! You are the very first person I've met online who got the Xeloda for anal cancer. I hope it was just as effective as the 5FU for you and that other patient. It sounds like you are doing well. That's great!

bondservant

mp327 said:

Xeloda vs Mitomycin
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.

XELODA OR MITOMYCIN
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.

Rej0328

Chemo

I'm just curious as to why I had cisplatin.  Anyone familiar with this.

mp327

Tyson said:

Mytomycin. Xeloda
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

Tyson

I'm glad to hear you are doing well and I thank you for sharing this info with us.  It's great that you are in good hands at Stanford.  Please keep us posted on how things are going.  I wish you all the best!

mp327

Rej0328 said:

Chemo

I'm just curious as to why I had cisplatin.  Anyone familiar with this.

As I understand it, Cisplatin is less toxic than Mitomycin and is preferred by some doctors, one of them being Dr. Eng at MDA, who is a leading expert in the treatment of anal cancer.  From everything I've read, the effectiveness of these two drugs is basically the same, varying perhaps just one percent or so. 

z810840b

mp327 said:

As I understand it, Cisplatin is less toxic than Mitomycin and is preferred by some doctors, one of them being Dr. Eng at MDA, who is a leading expert in the treatment of anal cancer.  From everything I've read, the effectiveness of these two drugs is basically the same, varying perhaps just one percent or so. 

mitomyercin

hi- i have just passed 5 years NED for anal cancer...I had the usual protocol of ONE round of mitomyercin and 2 rounds of 5fu...Also , i did NOT need a port...my oncologist said i only needed a pic-line......of course i also had 31 rounds of radiation. Good Luck..

 

 

mp327

z810840b said:

mitomyercin

hi- i have just passed 5 years NED for anal cancer...I had the usual protocol of ONE round of mitomyercin and 2 rounds of 5fu...Also , i did NOT need a port...my oncologist said i only needed a pic-line......of course i also had 31 rounds of radiation. Good Luck..

 

 

alyse

Congratulations on hitting the 5-year mark!  I remember that you were just ahead of me.  I'm SO glad you are doing well and I hope you took some time to celebrate your 5-year milestone!  I am so happy for you!  Hugs!  Martha

eihtak

Rej0328 said:

Chemo

I'm just curious as to why I had cisplatin.  Anyone familiar with this.

Hi, I am 2.5yrs post treatment and doing GREAT! I began in a clinical trial that included cisplatin, 5-FU and cetuximab, and radiation.....after a few weeks I had complications with my ostomy and had to go off the clinical trial but continued protocal treatment with cisplatin and 5-FU/rad. A while back I asked the same thing and was happy to hear from my doctor that it was highly recommended by Dr Eng, as Martha said. It is an older drug, and sometimes called the penicillin of cancer treatment because of its simpler make-up with a wide range of highly effective uses. I was reassured that I received excellent treatment and have not worried about it since.  

sephie

mp327 said:

As I understand it, Cisplatin is less toxic than Mitomycin and is preferred by some doctors, one of them being Dr. Eng at MDA, who is a leading expert in the treatment of anal cancer.  From everything I've read, the effectiveness of these two drugs is basically the same, varying perhaps just one percent or so. 

2009 tx at MDA

i had mitomycin with the 5 fu but i did not have Dr Eng ...... I made it thru it but had to have lower dose of 5 fu in the 2nd round.......and ended up in er..... sephie

islandgirlculebra

z810840b said:

mitomyercin

hi- i have just passed 5 years NED for anal cancer...I had the usual protocol of ONE round of mitomyercin and 2 rounds of 5fu...Also , i did NOT need a port...my oncologist said i only needed a pic-line......of course i also had 31 rounds of radiation. Good Luck..

 

 

Congrats z810840b!!!!

So good to see someone else celebrating 5 years!!!! I've been in a bit of a "worry slump" lately, and it always makes me feel better to hear about long-time survivors! Much health and happiness to you!

 

TraceyUSA

z810840b said:

mitomyercin

hi- i have just passed 5 years NED for anal cancer...I had the usual protocol of ONE round of mitomyercin and 2 rounds of 5fu...Also , i did NOT need a port...my oncologist said i only needed a pic-line......of course i also had 31 rounds of radiation. Good Luck..

 

 

z810840b

CONGRATULATIONS on your 5-year mark!  I just reached 6 months post treatment and am encouraged to hear about others survival.  I wish you continued health & wellness!

jbug2

mp327 said:

Xeloda vs Mitomycin
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.

Xeloda vs Mitomycin

I was only offered, and did the standard protocol of treatment at Cleveland Clinic that mp327 mentions.  My brother was offered a choice of the pill form or the port & pump method in a WV cancer center.  We both did the 5FU via the port.

I had an uncle who was also offered the pill form of 5FU.  He refused to do chemo at all when nausea occured and stopped treatment.  On a positive note, I finished treatment and am 8 months cancer free. 

jbug2

Tyson said:

Mytomycin. Xeloda
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

Mitomycin. Xeloda

I have to say, I am jealous!  I was hooked up to the 5FU by port & pump.  I hope this is tolerated well with very successful treatment.

jbug2

z810840b said:

mitomyercin

hi- i have just passed 5 years NED for anal cancer...I had the usual protocol of ONE round of mitomyercin and 2 rounds of 5fu...Also , i did NOT need a port...my oncologist said i only needed a pic-line......of course i also had 31 rounds of radiation. Good Luck..

 

 

mitomyercin

5 years NED for anal cancer, I am so happy for you!