Stage 2 colon cancer- should I take xeloda?

Chemo wise, most people don't have lasting problems from Xeloda.  It's the IV ones that are doozies.  I can't tell you either way, it's a personal decision but I didn't get chemo when I had my resection and my cancer came back.  My doctor at the time didn't think it was necessary.  He was wrong.  I paid a huge price.  Xeloda is doable as long as you are not extremely sensitive to medications and don't usually have lasting side effect issues.  It feels crappy while you're on it but once you're off, you're done.  Wear cottom gloves and socks to bed and keep your hands and feet moisturized before you even start taking it if you choose to do it.  Prevention is better than fixing.

Tough decision. I was stage IV so not really able to comment on your decision. I had to do everything I could to try and battle the advanced stage cancer. But I will say, in my experience, some of the chemo I took didn't seem to be effective in my cancer and one drug was mirraculously effective. Also, ne in my hands and feet was a very real side effect from oxciliplatin. The neuropathy in my hands completly dissipated however the neuropathy in my feet seems to be permanent. In hind site the oxciliplatin didnt seem to help kill the cancer cells but instead caused permanent neuropathy. Only if we could know what would work and what wouldn't work in advance... Of course that is the dilemma. Good luck and God bless!

I dont recall dry skin being one of my side effects. I did Xeloda and Oxcliplatin for stage IV. I agree with a previous poster that said the IV stuff is the worst and in comparison the pills are considered mild. Just be ready for a bit of a bumpy ride. If it were me, I would error on the side of being more aggressive rather than less. You can always use lotion for dry skin.

My husband, 43, had stage 3b.  His resection was the beginning of October and then he started Xelox in November.  We were told the oral chemo would have fewer side effects and our insurance covered it so we decided that was easier than coming home with a pump and doing Folfox.  (We have nine children, seven of which are boys.  The thoughts of tubing and needles with all those kids was worrisome. Yes, they are all ours and we know what causes it.  )  

During the off week after the second treatment my husband started experiencing diarrhea.  We spent early Christmas morning in the ER.  With each successive treatment the off week got worse and worse until after the fourth one I woke up to find him on our bathroom floor, temperature elevated.  We ended up in the ER and then back at the hospital several times to top off his fluids.  His potassium dropped to dangerously low levels.  

When we went in to start the next cycle the oncologist didn't give us any choice we had to switch to the 5FU, the Xeloda was killing my husband a little too effectively.  

I realize this is a very unusual case, less than 10% of patients have this reaction.  Just be aware that it is a possibility, especially if you've lived a live with no alcohal.

Good luck and God bless.

Bellen said:

Hi Phil64 - would you mind

Hi Phil64 - would you mind sharing the part of your chemo cocktail that you found was really effective.  I know everyone is different, but I'm always reading and trying to learn of my chemo options for the future.  Having folfiri + avastin right now. Thanks so much.

I have a blog where I've documented my battles from the dignisis to date. I also have a chart where I show my CEA results and overlay the chemo cocktails I was receiving. 

Re: https://pscamihorn.me/cea-history/

If you examine this chart you will see that Erbitux was highly effective on my cancer. So effective that my oncologist gave me a year of just Erbitux in an attempt to make sure any rogue cancer cells would be obliterated.

The surgeon that did my last liver resection said he didn't think I should take the Erbitux treatment but I trusted my oncologist and did 24 of 24 treatments from Feb 2015 through Feb of 2016.

So far I'm still NED. Thanks be to God.

Wishing you all healing Light and Love.

Cinnamon Jones said:

xeloda

Wow, how scary that must have been.  Hope things are going better now.  What did you mean by the comment "if you have lived a life with no alcohol?"

We don't ever drink alcohol, never even tasted the stuff.  We were told that because of that his reaction would be more harsh.  Does that make sense?

We just had the second dose of 5FU and things seem to be going much better for him.

I am going for LAR at the begining of April, the plan is 12 rounds of chemo after,  surgeon thats gonna do the surgery thing thats over killing, but I am gonna go for it. I am an RN as well, will try to go back to work as well, most likely modified work, dont feel like sitting at home. 

Right now I am back to work after chemo/rad, by my will, and it feels great, was going nuts at home.

If you have to work, than work,  but good thing with nursing is posibillity of changing area that one wants to be in, try to pick the area that suits your current condition.

Good luck!

I was stage 11B when diagnosed. Did 3 treatments of xeloda and 1 treatment irinotecan. Ned at the present time and hope to stay that way. i didn't know when I started that the cancer had spread to some pelvic lymph nodes. So happy that I decided to do adjuvant chemo. I ended up in the hospital from the I irinotecan treatment butt I think it helped.

Hi Cinnamon. Im Stage 2 Colon / clear margins / 16/16 neg. My oncologist recomended Xeloda for 6 months. I was wondering if you decided to do the treatment and

if so, what has you experience been as far as side effects. Thank You.