We have decided to try the Xeloda

JaneE2366
JaneE2366 Member Posts: 289 Member
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hello all,
We saw the dr today. We have decided to try the Xeloda. Charlie has already had 4 rounds of chemo (5-FU, Taxotere, Cisplatin.) He is not a candidate for surgery.....stage 4...mets to lung, liver, lymph nodes, and peritoneal cavity. Dr suggested we try Xeloda to try to keep the EC in remission. We figure it is worth a shot..So we are going to start on Sunday or Monday. Praying the side effects aren't too bad. Charlie doesn't want it to compromise his quality of life. He is just starting to feel a little better.
Jane

Comments

  • mumphy
    mumphy Member Posts: 440
    #2
    Its worth a try
    Hi,

    Xeloda can't hurt it. Al was on the IV type which is 5fu for 21 days then they had to stop it because of the neuropathy to his feet.

    Our Dr. said that now that we have the xeloda approved That Al will be on it post surgery
    just not as strong a dose as the 5 fu.

    I'm sorry to here that your husband is not a candidate for surgery.
    I do understand Charlie not wanting to compromise his quality of life. WE have already discussed that matter and Al wants quality not quantity.

    As spouses and caregivers it is difficult to watch our loved ones be taken over by this horrible disease. My prayes are with you!!

    Kathy
  • kitten0385
    kitten0385 Member Posts: 248
    #3
    Xeloda
    Jane,

    I took xeloda for 6 months, with no breaks from it at all, and I had very minimal side effects. Every once in awhile I'd get diahrreah, and I got blisters on my feet if I wore heels, which I always do so I was sad when I couldn't (such a simple thing to be upset about, but it bothered me. ha). I hope the Xeloda works for Charlie and he can continue to live a wonderful quality of life.

    Cathy
  • JaneE2366
    JaneE2366 Member Posts: 289 Member
    #4
    mumphy said:

    Its worth a try
    Hi,

    Xeloda can't hurt it. Al was on the IV type which is 5fu for 21 days then they had to stop it because of the neuropathy to his feet.

    Our Dr. said that now that we have the xeloda approved That Al will be on it post surgery
    just not as strong a dose as the 5 fu.

    I'm sorry to here that your husband is not a candidate for surgery.
    I do understand Charlie not wanting to compromise his quality of life. WE have already discussed that matter and Al wants quality not quantity.

    As spouses and caregivers it is difficult to watch our loved ones be taken over by this horrible disease. My prayes are with you!!

    Kathy

    Thanks for the prayers
    Kathy,
    Thanks for the response and the prayers. Charlie just had a touch of the neuropathy to his feet while on the 5-FU. So I am hoping he doesn't have to deal with it while on the Xeloda. He is starting off with 2 doses (500 mg each) in the morning and 1 at night.
    I agree with you....it is so difficult to watch him go through this....I would change places with him in a second. This has changed him so much.....he was always such a big tough guy.....now all he thinks about is he won't be here to take care of me. Breaks my heart.
    Thanks again.....I am sure I will be posting as to how he is doing.
    Jane
  • JaneE2366
    JaneE2366 Member Posts: 289 Member
    #5
    kitten0385 said:

    Xeloda
    Jane,

    I took xeloda for 6 months, with no breaks from it at all, and I had very minimal side effects. Every once in awhile I'd get diahrreah, and I got blisters on my feet if I wore heels, which I always do so I was sad when I couldn't (such a simple thing to be upset about, but it bothered me. ha). I hope the Xeloda works for Charlie and he can continue to live a wonderful quality of life.

    Cathy

    hope he does as well
    Cathy, I hope Charlie does as well as you did. He had a little pain and burning on his feet while on the 5-Fu. Maybe he will be lucky and have no side effects. That's what I am praying for. I hope you did OK today. You continue to be in my prayers.
    Jane
  • kitten0385
    kitten0385 Member Posts: 248
    #6
    JaneE2366 said:

    hope he does as well
    Cathy, I hope Charlie does as well as you did. He had a little pain and burning on his feet while on the 5-Fu. Maybe he will be lucky and have no side effects. That's what I am praying for. I hope you did OK today. You continue to be in my prayers.
    Jane

    Jane,
    I did just fine today.
    Jane,

    I did just fine today. I'm hanging in there!!! Thanks for the prayers! Please know, my thoughts and prayers are with you and Charlie as well!

    Cathy
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #7
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • englishteri
    englishteri Member Posts: 7
    #8
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    I am stage 4. Would you mind
    I am stage 4. Would you mind sending me any information on alternative therapies you are trying? My email is tcalhoun@griffith.k12.in.us

    I am starting an antibody therapy with herceptin- a breast cancer drug. Have you heard about it?
  • kitten0385
    kitten0385 Member Posts: 248
    #9
    englishteri said:

    I am stage 4. Would you mind
    I am stage 4. Would you mind sending me any information on alternative therapies you are trying? My email is tcalhoun@griffith.k12.in.us

    I am starting an antibody therapy with herceptin- a breast cancer drug. Have you heard about it?

    Interesting
    They are testing my original tumor to see if I would be receptive to herceptin as well. So, I have heard about it, but don't know much!

    Cathy
  • englishteri
    englishteri Member Posts: 7
    #10
    kitten0385 said:

    Interesting
    They are testing my original tumor to see if I would be receptive to herceptin as well. So, I have heard about it, but don't know much!

    Cathy

    Cathy- don't want to sound
    Cathy- don't want to sound strange for saying this, but I have not come in contact with anyone my age in my similar situation. I hope we can get to know each other.

    Teri
  • kitten0385
    kitten0385 Member Posts: 248
    #11
    englishteri said:

    Cathy- don't want to sound
    Cathy- don't want to sound strange for saying this, but I have not come in contact with anyone my age in my similar situation. I hope we can get to know each other.

    Teri

    You're not strange!!
    How old are you? I am only 24, 23 at time of diagnosis. Feel free to e-mail me any time, I would love to chat....kitten0385@gmail.com

    Cathy
  • mihalkofla
    mihalkofla Member Posts: 3
    #12
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    interested in the alternative therapies
    Sherri, Do you live in central Florida? I also have a cfl.rr.com email, and have recently traveled to Miami for some alternative chemo, I would be interested to know where your husband is being treated and what they are using. My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 ec in Feb 2009. Thanks, marge
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #13
    mihalkofla said:

    interested in the alternative therapies
    Sherri, Do you live in central Florida? I also have a cfl.rr.com email, and have recently traveled to Miami for some alternative chemo, I would be interested to know where your husband is being treated and what they are using. My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 ec in Feb 2009. Thanks, marge

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #14
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

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