Oral Chemo

One of the very rare side effects of this oral chemotherapy is listed as weight gain. I've noticed this, probably not as a side effect in my case but because I feel so well and am enjoying food again! Watch this in your case, there's a wedding dress to fit into!! No nausea or tiredness, back to my normal state.

Regarding the drug not working if you don't have side effects, think this is a common concern and seems to be universal across all cancer chatrooms.

Even though I have had minimal side effects from all chemotherapies, scans have shown that they have worked for me. I felt awful at the chemo day ward for my lack of symptoms doing FEC while others were laid low for two weeks, the same for Taxotere, others calling it Taxoterrible. From these initial chemos I have very minor neuropathy that is slowly reducing.

I was on Arimidex and then Aromasin (AI's) for a few weeks but I developed skin mets while on them - a very visible rapid progression so I was switched to Xeloda as a biopsy of skin mets showed that I was now "hormone refractory" and no longer responding to hormone treatments. My feet are still peeling and my fingertips are still sensitive and starting to peel but I no longer go around saying Ouch Ouch with every step. This was cumulative, only tingling during first cycle, getting slightly worse in cycles 2 and 3 and hopefully stopping with reduced dose for cycle 4.

A CT scan after cycle 3 has shown a swollen lymph node that we were concerned about has much reduced in size and my tumor markers are demonstrating a slight rise that is usual when cancer cells are being killed and dead cells are in the blood stream. Everyone is happy that the treatment is working despite minimal side effects. 

With love

Joy K

Thanks for replying. 

I am delighted to hear that you have only had a minor case of 'foot & hand syndrome' and that it is working for you :)

I have been on Xeloda for just under a week now. My dose is 3 x 500mg in the morning and 3x500mg in the afternoon. I have also had very minimal side effects, the first couple of days I felt a slight case of nausea - but seems to have gone now. And the last couple of days been feeling tired/fatigue - so I have a little 'nanna' nap. :) I wasnt eating much but that has also changed, starting to eat more and more now :)

I know this might seem silly, but I cannot help think, if i dont have most of these sides effects is the medication working? I can only home they working as I really really want my wedding to go ahead in March :) I tried on my dress this weekend and I had the biggest smile on my face, just truly made me feel happy! 

I would love to stay in touch, so please let me know if you have any other advice or just want to chat. 

Best of luck to you, and everyone else out there 

x

Hi missv,

I've just started on round 4 of Xeloda on the 14 days on, 7 days off cycle. In America there are many women on the 7 day on, 7 day off cycle bur I was told this was a last resort to control side effects. Despite the horrible side effects listed I've only had a minor case of Hand Foot Syndrome. My finger tips are sensitive and peeling and the soles of my feet are peeling in large strips like a snake shedding its skin , but it is working for me, results of last CT scan were improving.

My dose has been reduced from 4000mg per day (4 tabs morning and night) to 3500mg (4 tabs in morning and 3 tabs at night) to try and control the Hand Foot Syndrome and I can reduce it further to 3000mg per day if I think its needed. Don't need to see the Oncologists for 6 weeks as they are happy with the progress, this will be after round 5.

With love

Joy K

Yes, it is the Xeloda.