Question Regarding Chemo Side Effects

onein10000
onein10000 Member Posts: 6
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I have been diagnosed with stage IV appendiceal adenocarcinoma and had surgery to remove appendix, part of my colon, and arachus in February of this year. The tumors have metasasized to the right pelvic sidewall and I am being treated with Oxaliplatin IV every 3 weeks followed by 2000 mg Xeloda (capecitabine) twice daily with meals for 14 days, followed by 7 days off treatment. Because this a relatively rare type of caner (about 1 in 10000 cases), I am being treated as a colo-rectal patient.

My question regards possible drug interaction with serum triglyceride blood tests. During my week off treatment, my reading was 209, which is slightly elevated from a normal range of 50-150. Towards the end of my next treatment cycle, the readings had shot up to 1167. Three weeks later, after being off Xeloda for a week, my readings had gone down to 889.

My oncologist says that he has been unable to find anything that shows a correlation or lack of one between either my IV or Xeloda and increased triglyceride levels, but has told me to hold off on this cycle of Xeloda (I already had the IV portion of the cycle this morning).

Has anyone had a similar situation or heard of such a thing? Is anyone aware of any additional information that may be out on the internet either showing a connection or lack of one?

My next appointment with my oncologist is on 11/11/04, and he will make a decision regarding possibly modifying my treatment regimen after he does another set of follow-up tests at that time.

Thanks for any information that may be provided.

Comments

  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    Ahoy onein -

    I was on the old 5FU/Leukovorin regime and my trigylcerides went through the roof, too. From 80-something to near 1000. It gave my regular doc pause, but when she checked with my onc he informed her that it was standard side-effect for the chemo regime. Are you also on 5FU or leukovorin as part of your treatment? I don't know if the effects extend to Oxy/Xeloda, but I can confirm them with the other regime.

    Be well.

    - SpongeBob
  • jana11
    jana11 Member Posts: 705
    spongebob said:

    Ahoy onein -

    I was on the old 5FU/Leukovorin regime and my trigylcerides went through the roof, too. From 80-something to near 1000. It gave my regular doc pause, but when she checked with my onc he informed her that it was standard side-effect for the chemo regime. Are you also on 5FU or leukovorin as part of your treatment? I don't know if the effects extend to Oxy/Xeloda, but I can confirm them with the other regime.

    Be well.

    - SpongeBob

    FYI: xeloda is the oral form of 5FU + leuco. It would be reasonable to have similar side effects, but every person is an individual. Work with the MD to figure it all out.

    Stay tough. There are lots of chemo agents out there. I never checked my chol panel when I was on it, so I can't comment.

    Just for you, given your name... I am 1 in 1,000,000. Misery loves company. :)
    j