Forum Discussion

Beery's avatar
Beery
Member
10 years ago

Another pit stop

Hi all,

Just a quick note to bring things up-to-date.

I have been on Capcetabine(Xeloda - 2500mg per day) (2 weeks on, 1 week off) since March 2015 and now have been taken off due side effects and further progression of boney mets.  Side effects being: starting with tingling of hands and feet (lucky did not progress to full blown hand and foot syndrome); itchy, hot rash to hands, arms, lower legs and face; sore mouth/gums; sinus like symptoms with nose bleed; and lot of dizzyness and shortness of breath on exertion and unable to walk any great distance with out legs going rubbery as I progress into 2nd week on xeloda.  Bloods have show that I'm slightly anaemic and have been for a long time.  So the chemo is affecting the bone marrow where our red, white and plasma cells are made.  

Have experienced a TIA and a 7cm blood clot in the right internal jugular vein for which I have been put on Clexane injections, twice daily, apparently for the rest of my life.  Something said about the clotting cascade not working properly and factor X in the blood plasma.  Don't completely understand, but was told is was due to the cancer.  If anyone can explain this I would greatly appreciate your input.

Recently experience intermittent pains in chest, numbness to left hand and left side of face finishing with a headache. Also waking with headache at rear of head, near junction of neck and brain. Reduced Xeloda which helped with facial numbness a little.  Mentioned this to onc at last appointment where a MRI and chest Xray was done.  Result of MRI showed a small hyperintense white matter focus in the left frontal lobe (due to the TIA, I think) and extensive mets to the vertebral bodies (spine).

So now I'm to have the usual 3 monthly scans, ((a little earlier as not due till end of month) Ct of chest, abdo and pelvis and Bone scan) and see my onc for reports and moving onto a new chemo regime.  He did mention Eribulin but wanted to look into a few other options, due to side effects, (neutropenia and, in my case diverticulitis) and also have a talk with the cardiac specialist with a view to perhaps doing a stress echo.

So here I am, having a little holiday from the Xeloda/chemo, and not looking forward to what is to happen next.  Obviously I have used up all my oral chemo options and now back to IV chemo. What do they call it...the fourth -line therapy. I will know more once I see my onc on 25th.  Love to hear from anyone who has been Eribulin or have experienced the same situation as me.   Sue :)

 

2 Replies

  • Beery's avatar
    Beery
    Member
    10 years ago

    Thanks Jenny.  I'm enjoying getting back to what should feel like normal before the next bout of treatments.  Sue:)

  • Jenmegs's avatar
    Jenmegs
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Sue, such a big time for you, a TIA, stopping the xeloda and waiting for the next step, and then, good gracious,  :(  , the "take-home gift" is a twice daily jab with clexane. Even so, thank goodness for clexane!! (and, wow, for finding out about what's been ailing you while your thyroid was being ultrasounded!)

    I don't know how all the clotting things, clotting factors and the various clot-buster medications work. I can understand that if someone (maybe at your clinic, maybe with a diagram of how the clotting works) might set this out for you it would be good to know while the clexane and your body system gets on with "melting away" that "7cm temporary addition".

    Thinking of you the next couple of weeks with scans etc Hugs, Jenny