TAXOTERE & XELODA

DESTINY27
DESTINY27 Member Posts: 12
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hello Everyone,

I am new to this. I been diagnosed with bc on Dec. 18, 09 and had Mastectomy on 1/6/10.
Had 18 nodes removed which 16 were positve. Pet scan showed it met to my liver. Stage 4.
Just finished my first round of chemo Taxotere every 3 weeks and I'm taking oral Xeloda 2x daily 6 pills 3000mg. I've been reading posts and I found out combination of Taxotere and somwthing else but no the Xeloda. Does anyone know about this.

I will have my second round on Wed. 1/24. Didn't have bad side effect on the first round besides my hair start falling three days ago.

Thank you,

Nina

Comments

  • Aortus
    Aortus Member Posts: 967
    #2
    An effective 1-2 punch against mets
    Hi Nina!

    Sorry you have to be here - but if you are looking for support and encouragement you have come to the right place. My beloved Moopy was diagnosed stage IIIa "triple negative" in November 2008 and this board has been a Godsend for both of us. BTW, she had 6 rounds of TAC (Taxotere, Adriamycin, and Cytoxan).

    The combination of Taxotere and Xeloda seems to be a strong 1-2 punch against BC which has metastasized. Although the article I pulled this quote from was written in 2005, it was updated in 2008 and can be considered current.

    From http://www.breastcancer.org/news_research/ask_expert/2005_06/question_11.jsp

    "Taxotere and Xeloda (chemical names: docetaxel and capecitabine) is a combination that is very effective treatment for metastatic breast cancer. We don't yet know what the best combination therapy is, or in what situation combination therapy would be better than sequential single agent chemotherapy. This particular combination has to be used with caution because of the risk of skin toxicity from Xeloda, but it is very effective treatment with a higher response than single agent treatments with Taxotere."

    Hope this helps you, Nina. It certainly looks to me like that your oncologist is fighting the mets aggressively, and that he/she has confidence in your ability to fight alongside the chemo. Please come back often and keep us up to date on how you are doing!

    Best,
    Joe
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #3
    Hi, Nina, I wanted to
    Hi, Nina, I wanted to welcome you to this group of amazing survivors. I don't have experience with your situation but wanted to welcome you. Continue to post and we'll be here to walk this journey with you. Good luck on your next treatment. ((((HUGS))))
  • DESTINY27
    DESTINY27 Member Posts: 12
    #4
    Aortus said:

    An effective 1-2 punch against mets
    Hi Nina!

    Sorry you have to be here - but if you are looking for support and encouragement you have come to the right place. My beloved Moopy was diagnosed stage IIIa "triple negative" in November 2008 and this board has been a Godsend for both of us. BTW, she had 6 rounds of TAC (Taxotere, Adriamycin, and Cytoxan).

    The combination of Taxotere and Xeloda seems to be a strong 1-2 punch against BC which has metastasized. Although the article I pulled this quote from was written in 2005, it was updated in 2008 and can be considered current.

    From http://www.breastcancer.org/news_research/ask_expert/2005_06/question_11.jsp

    "Taxotere and Xeloda (chemical names: docetaxel and capecitabine) is a combination that is very effective treatment for metastatic breast cancer. We don't yet know what the best combination therapy is, or in what situation combination therapy would be better than sequential single agent chemotherapy. This particular combination has to be used with caution because of the risk of skin toxicity from Xeloda, but it is very effective treatment with a higher response than single agent treatments with Taxotere."

    Hope this helps you, Nina. It certainly looks to me like that your oncologist is fighting the mets aggressively, and that he/she has confidence in your ability to fight alongside the chemo. Please come back often and keep us up to date on how you are doing!

    Best,
    Joe

    TOXOTERE AND XELODA
    Dear Joe,

    Thank you so very much for the info. I will start the second round tomorrow. I just hope it will be the same as the first one with a very mild side effect. Thursday, I will go back to take a shot of Nuelasta. (Not sure of the spelling) I've read that it hurts and not looking forward to that. Didn't have this shot on my first chemo and my blood cell count was low, that's why they told me to have the shot day after the chemo.

    Best regards,

    Nina
  • DESTINY27
    DESTINY27 Member Posts: 12
    #5
    MyTurnNow said:

    Hi, Nina, I wanted to
    Hi, Nina, I wanted to welcome you to this group of amazing survivors. I don't have experience with your situation but wanted to welcome you. Continue to post and we'll be here to walk this journey with you. Good luck on your next treatment. ((((HUGS))))

    Thanks for the warm welcome
    Thank you....

    regards,

    Nina
  • sbmly53
    sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
    #6
    Nina,
    I just wanted to add
    Nina,

    I just wanted to add my welcome, support, love & prayers.

    Sue
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #7
    DESTINY27 said:

    TOXOTERE AND XELODA
    Dear Joe,

    Thank you so very much for the info. I will start the second round tomorrow. I just hope it will be the same as the first one with a very mild side effect. Thursday, I will go back to take a shot of Nuelasta. (Not sure of the spelling) I've read that it hurts and not looking forward to that. Didn't have this shot on my first chemo and my blood cell count was low, that's why they told me to have the shot day after the chemo.

    Best regards,

    Nina

    Nina, I had the Nuelasta
    Nina, I had the Nuelasta shot after my chemo. It really didn't hurt any more than any other shot. I noticed that the shot came out of refrigeration and either I or my nurse warmed it up in our hands prior to giving it. I did have some very minor bone pain from it in my lower back and legs. I was able to control it with Extra Strength Tylenol. Be sure to ask what you can use in the event you have any side effects. Good luck!!
  • DESTINY27
    DESTINY27 Member Posts: 12
    #8
    MyTurnNow said:

    Nina, I had the Nuelasta
    Nina, I had the Nuelasta shot after my chemo. It really didn't hurt any more than any other shot. I noticed that the shot came out of refrigeration and either I or my nurse warmed it up in our hands prior to giving it. I did have some very minor bone pain from it in my lower back and legs. I was able to control it with Extra Strength Tylenol. Be sure to ask what you can use in the event you have any side effects. Good luck!!

    MYTurnNow, Thank you
    I am now ready for the second round of chemo tomorrow and Nuelasta for the following day. I will make sure I will warm it in my hard prior. I still have pain meds after my surgery and if hurts tha bad, i will take some.

    Thank you so very much.

    Nina
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #9
    DESTINY27 said:

    TOXOTERE AND XELODA
    Dear Joe,

    Thank you so very much for the info. I will start the second round tomorrow. I just hope it will be the same as the first one with a very mild side effect. Thursday, I will go back to take a shot of Nuelasta. (Not sure of the spelling) I've read that it hurts and not looking forward to that. Didn't have this shot on my first chemo and my blood cell count was low, that's why they told me to have the shot day after the chemo.

    Best regards,

    Nina

    Just want to say good luck
    Just want to say good luck to you and hoping that your treatment goes well for you!

    KYLEZ ♥
  • 2ds
    2ds Member Posts: 1
    #10
    TAXOTERE and XELODA side effects
    I was diagnosed after nine years with metastatic breast cancer, stage 4 in July 2009. This time I have three tumors in one lung, one lymph gland invaded, 7 - 9 mets throughout the spine, several ribs and the pelvis. It came back with a vengeance but I am determined to beat it again. My treatment this time is the combination of taxotere every other week and Xeloda 2 tabs X 2 daily - two weeks on, one week off. The reason for every other week instead of three weeks between treatments is the dosage was cut in half due to the side effects being so extreme. Side effects have been horrible; in fact my oncologist said I have been her extreme patient for any side effects. My hand and feet have peeled three layers deep several times, my finger and toe nails have ALL fallen off completely and now are starting to come off again of what little has tried to re-grow. The tips of my fingers continuously crack/split and are so sore to touch anything. I use Udderly Smooth udder cream constantly trying to keep them moist as there really is nothing out here to help us other than to keep the skin moist. My hair has fallen out and any scratch, bump, whatever seems to get infected immediately. Taste is awful and my weight is down by 50 pounds and continues to go downward (thankful that I had it to lose). Joint and muscle pain is always there and the tear duct in my right eye is open and has constantly run for these past 7 months.
    This is quite a lot of side effects but I just wanted to put it out there to let all know that there are lotsl with these meds but if this is what it takes to survive and beat it – then I am willing to endure it. Hope this has helped anyone looking for info and I would appreciate any info from anyone willing to share.

    Hugs to all,
    Linda

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