Anyone Have Experience with Xeloda?

CRCSurvivor2009
CRCSurvivor2009 Member Posts: 8
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello,

I've been reading many of your posts over the past few months (since my second Stage 2 Dx in March) and know that this is a wonderful, caring and compassionate group with an unfortunate common bond. Please don't let my UserName give you the wrong impression - it has nothing to do with anyone's cancer diagnosis; it's just my automatic response when anyone asks how "my husband and" I are doing. I have been deeply touched by many of your stories, and admire your strength and willingness to share your experiences to help others.

If anyone has taken Xeloda, would you mind sharing those experience with me? Dosage strength, side effects, long-term effects, length of treatment, etc.? Recurrence of cancer despite taking it?

Or, is this a fairly "new" drug? I'm having a hard time finding anyone who has "been there".

Blessings to each of you!

Suzy

Comments

  • marqimark
    marqimark Member Posts: 242 Member
    #2
    Praying for You
    I did not have Xeloda.


    Hope all goes well.

    Mark
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #3
    I was there
    For about 24 hours. (don't let this scare you, my response was not typical) and my Onc pulled me off due to the extreme nausea. This was in conjunction with my radiation treatments.

    It converts to 5FU in the body (reportedly at the tumor site). The most common side effect is Hand/Foot syndrome, thus the admonition to use a good hand cream.

    It can be used in place of 5FU for both FOLFOX and FOLFIRI treatments.

    What is your total protocol? That info might help with better responses.

    Blake
  • luvmum
    luvmum Member Posts: 457 Member
    #4
    Hi Suzy
    My mum had xeloda once and she experienced severe diarrhea and nausea so the doctor changed to 5-Fu. But different patient will have different reaction. The doctor didn't prescribe anything anti-nausea drugs or anti-diarrhea drugs to her as he thought people usually don't have much side effects from taking xeloda. He did mention that my mum's side effects are not very common.

    Best,
    Dora
  • feniks
    feniks Member Posts: 33 Member
    #5
    My wife
    was on XELODA for about two months and I read about a lot.Results are mixed,someone do better than others.With this illness you can´t know much about,how is gonna develop.
    I read somewhere that folic acid intake must be controled because folic acid(leucovorin)help 5fu to stay in the system longer,XELODA is 5fu in pill and already have enough of everything and don´t need too much folic acid.That mean-don´t be afraid,just look better what he eat while is on XELODA,don´t exclude everything with f.a. because pretty much everything have folic acid aka vit.B6 or foliacin.
    Nausea,bleeding-wife has bleeding but not too much nausea.
    Bloodwork was in range,more or less.
    Apetite,not so good.
    My wife didn´t stand well but she was terminal.
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #6
    Xeloda
    Mine was used in conjunction with radiation treatements. Xeloda is the pill form and it does promote hand/foot symdrome in many. My dose was two 500 mg tablets in the morning and two of the same at night for 6 weeks. Use a good hand lotion (gold bond, lubriderm) and apply liberally. It does cause loose stools, but so does radiation so I'm not sure why my diaharrea, could be a combination of both. It really never bothered me and never had any bad side effects from it. Good luck.

    Kim
  • CRCSurvivor2009
    CRCSurvivor2009 Member Posts: 8
    #7
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Xeloda
    Mine was used in conjunction with radiation treatements. Xeloda is the pill form and it does promote hand/foot symdrome in many. My dose was two 500 mg tablets in the morning and two of the same at night for 6 weeks. Use a good hand lotion (gold bond, lubriderm) and apply liberally. It does cause loose stools, but so does radiation so I'm not sure why my diaharrea, could be a combination of both. It really never bothered me and never had any bad side effects from it. Good luck.

    Kim

    Xeloda - Thank you for sharing your experiences
    Thank you so much for the information on Xeloda, as well as your good wishes.

    A little more info about me, from my User Profile:

    Around my 50th birthday, I was urged by a couple of doctors to have a colonoscopy, but I didn't think that sounded like something I wanted to do.

    At age 53, after months of chronic constipation, I requested a referral to have the procedure. At that time I was diagnosed with Stage II colon cancer and had a resection done the following day. Surgery went well - all tissue and 17 lymph nodes removed were negative.

    My surgeon referred me to an oncologist "as a matter of course" but both agreed there was no need for treatment; so I was surveiled by the surgeon for 1 year, with a follow-up colonoscopy at that time. Still, all tests and colonoscopy looked great - no sign of a problem. I was released with instructions to have my next colonoscopy in 2 years.

    Seven (7) months later - surprise - one episode of bright red blood, colonoscopy, another Stage II diagnosis, another resection performed, another referral to oncologist. This time, not so simple. This time, there was only one (1) lymph node left to remove. It was negative.

    Decision to make - follow-up with surveillance or try adjuvent Xeloda.

    I have made my decision - no Xeloda for me; I will see the oncologist for blood tests and surveillance every 3 months as before.

    I will continue to check in to see how you all are doing, and if there is any news in my situation, I will come back to share.

    Bless you all,

    Suzy
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #8
    Xeloda
    I've been on Xeloda for over a year and 4 months to be exact. I experience no side effects from it. I'm on Avastin and Xeloda only for the last 6 months and I truck along as if it wasn't anything. I go to college full time, watch my grandson from 3:00 to 6:30 pm every day and on Fridays from 8:30 to 6:30, a lot of days I walk the mile to the Safeway store and back, I just had my infusion of Avastin today, started my Xeloda (1500 mgs in the morning and 1500 mgs in the evening every day for two weeks one week off), took my grandson since Fridays are babysitting days, walked a dozen miles with him in the 30 minutes of infusion, took my pills, grieved over my mother's death and continue on.
    My neuropathy was due to the Oxiplatinin which has been fading, it is finally gone from my hands about 5 months ago and has left all but the tips of my toes this month.
    I have to say compared to other chemo's I love my Xeloda. (no blessings needed, I have plenty)
    Winter Marie
  • keystone
    keystone Member Posts: 134 Member
    #9
    Xeloda
    Hey there Blessed! I agree even through it all we are blessed. My husband was on xeloda for 6 weeks straight (I understand usually there is a week break in treatment but his oncologist did not do this) He took 1800 mg morning and night. After a week or so he became VERY nauseated to the point he wanted to quit. I did some research and found that Folic Acid increases symptoms with Xeloda. It is tough to eliminate because the US adds folic acid to all flour. We eliminated breads,pastas and and anything fortified with folic acid (cerial is the worst)and he had a complete turn around. I don't think I could have forced a piece of bread into his mouth because he felt it had made such a big difference. I hope this helps!! He did this and radiation at the same time and has since had surgery. He has taken his first post chemo treatment of Folfox and I'm afraid he is going to have issues. This site is excellent to gather information. Hope all goes well!
  • schnauzerheads
    schnauzerheads Member Posts: 53 Member
    #10
    herdizziness said:

    Xeloda
    I've been on Xeloda for over a year and 4 months to be exact. I experience no side effects from it. I'm on Avastin and Xeloda only for the last 6 months and I truck along as if it wasn't anything. I go to college full time, watch my grandson from 3:00 to 6:30 pm every day and on Fridays from 8:30 to 6:30, a lot of days I walk the mile to the Safeway store and back, I just had my infusion of Avastin today, started my Xeloda (1500 mgs in the morning and 1500 mgs in the evening every day for two weeks one week off), took my grandson since Fridays are babysitting days, walked a dozen miles with him in the 30 minutes of infusion, took my pills, grieved over my mother's death and continue on.
    My neuropathy was due to the Oxiplatinin which has been fading, it is finally gone from my hands about 5 months ago and has left all but the tips of my toes this month.
    I have to say compared to other chemo's I love my Xeloda. (no blessings needed, I have plenty)
    Winter Marie

    xeloda
    sounds like we're on the same regimen... i haven't had any problems with the xeloda, some minor bouts of nausea, come and go quickly, but that might be from one of the other drugs. the oxy is the one i'm really not enjoying, especially watching people drinking iced tea, lukewarm tea is making me completely crazy. liver resection in two weeks, onward and upward.
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #11
    schnauzerheads said:

    xeloda
    sounds like we're on the same regimen... i haven't had any problems with the xeloda, some minor bouts of nausea, come and go quickly, but that might be from one of the other drugs. the oxy is the one i'm really not enjoying, especially watching people drinking iced tea, lukewarm tea is making me completely crazy. liver resection in two weeks, onward and upward.

    Yea for your upcoming liver resection
    I hated the oxy too!!! So glad I got my resections and am only on the Xeloda and Avastin now. Remind us about the liver resection when it gets closer would you? I have the memory of a itty bitty sparrow.
    Winter Marie
  • belindahill
    belindahill Member Posts: 144
    #12
    xeloda
    hello, my husband at the age also of 53 was dx with cc, he started 6mth of xeloda 6 wks after surgery, the first 4 cycles were not too bad too tolerate, then it all got quite hard, he sufferd with severe diarrhea. He had to take 5 tabs in the morning and 4 at night after food.
    He had no problems with hands and feet or sickness.
    1o mths after dx we are still doing ok. I hope all goes well for you.

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