Round 2 of round 2

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here4lfe
here4lfe CSN Member Posts: 306 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
My wife is starting irinotecan, avastin, and Xeloda. Hoping for mild to no side effects. CEA over 400, so hope this regime gets things under control.

Best

Comments

  • lisa42
    lisa42 CSN Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #2
    Best wishes
    Best wishes to your wife as she starts this new chemo. Things to watch for with the irinotecan are nausea and diarrhea. Make sure she has meds to control these side effects before starting it. Hope and pray that this will work for her!

    Lisa
  • here4lfe
    here4lfe CSN Member Posts: 306 Member
    #3
    lisa42 said:

    Best wishes
    Best wishes to your wife as she starts this new chemo. Things to watch for with the irinotecan are nausea and diarrhea. Make sure she has meds to control these side effects before starting it. Hope and pray that this will work for her!

    Lisa

    Thanks Lisa
    The nurse gave us the rundown on what to watch for. Double dose of Imodium!?! Oncology people don't mess around.

    Have fun on your cruise.

    Best
  • geotina
    geotina CSN Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    #4
    Hi
    My hubby is on this minus the Xeloda. Hair loss may be an issue, it was for George. Diarrhea can get pretty bad, everyone varies with some degree of it. We didn't stay on top of it like we should have and paid the price so stock up on the Immodium AD. We buy the Walmart or CVS house brand, it has the same ingridients as the name brand, and is less than half the cost. Make sure it is the Immodium AD (anti-diarrhea).

    Now for the good news, it has worked very well for George.

    Take care - Tina
  • keystone
    keystone Member Posts: 134 Member
    #5
    xeloda
    My husband did well on xeloda only after researching the cause of the side affects. We found after a few weeks in and severe nausea that folic acid can greatly increase side affects. It is tough eliminating folic acid as the US fortifies all wheat products with it. Have her limit cerials,breads and pastas and I believe she will do better. I litterally could not have forced a piece of bread down my husband after a couple of days. It made that much of a difference with him. Wishing your wife the best! Steph
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 CSN Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #6
    Praying
    Praying it will be so.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • westie66
    westie66 CSN Member Posts: 642
    #7
    tootsie1 said:

    Praying
    Praying it will be so.

    *hugs*
    Gail

    Lomotil vs Imodium
    Hi all: I too am on irenotecan as well as 5FU, both of which cause severe diarrhea. I have changed from Imodium to prescription Lomotil - works better for me as the Imodium, even AD, didn't touch it. And on prescription it is cheaper. Also the BRAT diet (bananas, white rice, applesauce, white bread) during the diarrhea phase lessens the severity of the diarrhea somewhat. But I think your body has to get the chemicals out of you and that is one way! (keep diaper rash cream on hand though!)
    Cheryl
  • here4lfe
    here4lfe CSN Member Posts: 306 Member
    #8
    westie66 said:

    Lomotil vs Imodium
    Hi all: I too am on irenotecan as well as 5FU, both of which cause severe diarrhea. I have changed from Imodium to prescription Lomotil - works better for me as the Imodium, even AD, didn't touch it. And on prescription it is cheaper. Also the BRAT diet (bananas, white rice, applesauce, white bread) during the diarrhea phase lessens the severity of the diarrhea somewhat. But I think your body has to get the chemicals out of you and that is one way! (keep diaper rash cream on hand though!)
    Cheryl

    Thanks for the info westie66. She's doing fine so far, but it's still early in the treatment. We'll try to stay on top of it.

    Best

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