Off of Folfox

Jaylo969
Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Went in for my 6th Folfox treatment today and doctor says no more Folfox. The neuropathy is getting too intense and she fears permanent disability if we continue. I will start Xeloda in a week and have my port taken out as soon as it can be scheduled.

I have very mixed emotions about this but I do trust her as much /probably more than any other doctor I've ever had.I think my fear is this: I have fallen through the cracks with almost every doctor I've seen in my adult life. I research and find the very best, most highly recommended doctors and they have made me suffer needlessly.I guess I'll just have to hope and have confidence that all will be well this time and proceed onward and upward.

Anyway, no more pump, no more port, no more infusions.Just pills.

Now on to find out something about Xeloda and stage II cancer.

-Pat

Comments

  • karguy
    karguy Member Posts: 1,020 Member
    #2
    Xeloda
    I did xeloda,with radiation,and the only side effects I had were numbing of the fingers,some people have probloms with their feet,but I never did.The tumor shrank to stage 3,by surgery time.I just had a loss of appetite ,but you probably already have that.my appetite did come back,and the side effects went away after stopped treatment.I hope this helps.
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    #3
    karguy said:

    Xeloda
    I did xeloda,with radiation,and the only side effects I had were numbing of the fingers,some people have probloms with their feet,but I never did.The tumor shrank to stage 3,by surgery time.I just had a loss of appetite ,but you probably already have that.my appetite did come back,and the side effects went away after stopped treatment.I hope this helps.

    Xeloda is much easier than Folfox.
    Xeloda is much easier than Folfox. I had both. Xeloda can cause hand/foot syndrome. My hands and feet peeled and got red and sore. Eucerin cream, Udder cream or vaseline, antibiotic cream, etc are a must use every morning and evening to ease this problem. You can get it all at the drug store. When you use this cream at night, put white gloves/socks on to keep it on your hands. I did not lose my hair with Xeloda. Drink lots of water to wash it through your system. Some people have stomach problems. With the help of your doctor, any side effects can be managed.
    Hoping all goes well.
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #4
    lizzydavis said:

    Xeloda is much easier than Folfox.
    Xeloda is much easier than Folfox. I had both. Xeloda can cause hand/foot syndrome. My hands and feet peeled and got red and sore. Eucerin cream, Udder cream or vaseline, antibiotic cream, etc are a must use every morning and evening to ease this problem. You can get it all at the drug store. When you use this cream at night, put white gloves/socks on to keep it on your hands. I did not lose my hair with Xeloda. Drink lots of water to wash it through your system. Some people have stomach problems. With the help of your doctor, any side effects can be managed.
    Hoping all goes well.

    Jaylo.........
    Remember, you have half a regimen of Folfox in ya already. Thats pretty heavy hittin right there....You'll be ok.....Love and Hope, Buzz
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    #5
    lizzydavis said:

    Xeloda is much easier than Folfox.
    Xeloda is much easier than Folfox. I had both. Xeloda can cause hand/foot syndrome. My hands and feet peeled and got red and sore. Eucerin cream, Udder cream or vaseline, antibiotic cream, etc are a must use every morning and evening to ease this problem. You can get it all at the drug store. When you use this cream at night, put white gloves/socks on to keep it on your hands. I did not lose my hair with Xeloda. Drink lots of water to wash it through your system. Some people have stomach problems. With the help of your doctor, any side effects can be managed.
    Hoping all goes well.

    lizzydavis
    Thanks for the info. I am already having the red, burning, stinging hands from the 5-FU. Started a few days ago.Been using Benadryl cream on the hands to stop the itching. Do you think Xeloda will make it worse?

    As far as hair I got a short, short cut . I call it my chicken hair-do. No muss, no fuss. Just didn't have the energy to blow dry and all else involved.

    Please tell me what type of stomach problems. I have been on Zantac in AM and Prilosec in PM for over a year for gastritis.Will I need something else?

    Best wishes to you.
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    #6
    karguy said:

    Xeloda
    I did xeloda,with radiation,and the only side effects I had were numbing of the fingers,some people have probloms with their feet,but I never did.The tumor shrank to stage 3,by surgery time.I just had a loss of appetite ,but you probably already have that.my appetite did come back,and the side effects went away after stopped treatment.I hope this helps.

    Karguy
    I think I must be atypical. I eat very well...better than before surgery. I was in the hospital 13 days, lost about 15-20 lbs, but am at my normal right now.I had actually gained weight before dx. Thought it was middle age hitting me.

    Thanks! Your post encouraged me.
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    #7
    Buzzard said:

    Jaylo.........
    Remember, you have half a regimen of Folfox in ya already. Thats pretty heavy hittin right there....You'll be ok.....Love and Hope, Buzz

    Buzzard
    You are right. The glass is half full, not half empty. Thanks!

    -Pat
  • Brenda3.16
    Brenda3.16 Member Posts: 209
    #8
    Jaylo969 said:

    Karguy
    I think I must be atypical. I eat very well...better than before surgery. I was in the hospital 13 days, lost about 15-20 lbs, but am at my normal right now.I had actually gained weight before dx. Thought it was middle age hitting me.

    Thanks! Your post encouraged me.

    I agree Xeloda is much
    I agree Xeloda is much easier than folfox. I stopped folfox and started Xeloda in September and am still on it currently. I am taking 1800mg twice a day for 1 week then off a week. I have had hardly any side effects from the Xeloda. I am a little bit tired at times and have dry hands and feet. Eucerin has worked good for that. My hair got thin on Folfox and is thicker than ever now. My doctor added Avastin last friday. I will do that every other week in addition to the Xeloda. I was so happy to be rid off the pump. My neuropathy from the folfox is very slowly getting better. My doctor said to take B6 twice a day while taking the Xeloda.

    Good Luck,

    Brenda
  • JR
    JR Member Posts: 139 Member
    #9
    Brenda3.16 said:

    I agree Xeloda is much
    I agree Xeloda is much easier than folfox. I stopped folfox and started Xeloda in September and am still on it currently. I am taking 1800mg twice a day for 1 week then off a week. I have had hardly any side effects from the Xeloda. I am a little bit tired at times and have dry hands and feet. Eucerin has worked good for that. My hair got thin on Folfox and is thicker than ever now. My doctor added Avastin last friday. I will do that every other week in addition to the Xeloda. I was so happy to be rid off the pump. My neuropathy from the folfox is very slowly getting better. My doctor said to take B6 twice a day while taking the Xeloda.

    Good Luck,

    Brenda

    Xeloda
    I have been on Xeloda + Avastin for about 4 months now. 4000mg per day. Two weeks on and one week off. I get the Avastin infusion at the begining of the cycle. Much better than 5fu infusion. The hand/foot thing can get quite bad though. By day 14 my hands and feet are swollen and bright red. It hurts to walk and my hands are almost useless. The good thing is that in a couple of days after the cycle, it gets much better. In fact, today is #14 and I should be feeling better tomorrow.

    Good Luck,

    John

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