side effects of xeloda

Hi Wendy , glad to hear you are getting some help.  When I was on Xeloda I often only lasted 12 days a cycle .  It still seem to work ok. So dont worry.  I hope you do get a chance for a holiday.  I have just come home after 10 days away in sunny Qld. The weather was around 24 during the day.  I usually get anxious when i,m away from home but this time i really enjoyed our holiday.  I'm due for scans the first week in September but I m feeling relaxed whatever the out come. Look after your self and do what you love doing .  Love Wendy h 67

hi wendy,

thank you for the message,when i last saw my oncologist we did talk about a break but at the time it was for no specific reason, perhaps if we were going on a holiday i would ask, at the moment, i am having to wear cotton gloves on my hands, and my breast care nurse is arranging for a occupational therapist to come and see me and bring some devices to help me with opening cans and peeling potatoes etc, it is manageable even if its uncomfortable and and painful at times, as my feet have settled i have been hoping that my hands over time will, im caught between a rock and a hard place, the xeloda is working really well it just has bad side effects which i am learning to live with, i am going to see a podiatrist as well to get my feet looked after as i cant cut my toe nails!!!fortunately i have a dishwasher and i have 1 and half hours of domestic assistance every fortnight, it doesnt sound much but the lady is a real tornado and does all of my floors and wet areas and vacuuming so thats a real bonus, again arranged by my mcgrath nurse she has been a tremendous help and a real advocate on my behalf, also my oncologist has said instead of the 14 day cycle i can stop after 12 days if its too much so thats what i am going to do, otherwise i just keep soldiering on as we all do, my biggest hope is that a breakthrough will come in research over the next couple of years!!!! we could all do with a miracle!!!

at the moment the project on the go is i am building a new house for my son and his family, which is halfway through construction, my partner is project managing the whole thing and i will really have peace of mind when they have moved in and i wont have to worry about them having to move around because the landlord wants to sell whatever house they are renting,then next year will think about a holiday, but otherwise the days come and go, between m drs visits blood tests scans, you know the drill!!! well spring is nearly here and lets hope that we can all look forward to some lovely weather, take care

hugs

wendy 55

Hi Wendy, sorry to hear you are having such a rough time on the Xeloda.  Have you had a few weeks break from the drug. I am not on Xeloda now but I remember when the side effects were bad the oncologist gave  me a 4 week break to recover and have a few days away.  My  tumor markers were never as low as yours. My main problem was my feet. My hands were not too bad just some numbness of the finger tips. Diarrohea at least once a cycle.  I have nothing to complain about after hearing about you.  It's hard. But just keep putting 1 foot in front of the other and ask your oncologist for some time out. Sending you lots of hugs and remember that Wendy's are strong  you can do it .were all in this together. Love Wendy h 67

Hi Wendy  I had same while on docs/hercepton.  And the worst thing was in shopping centres etc because I looked like I was constantly crying people avoided me like the plague ... in the first half of chemo when I looked okay, just bald, I often had people come over and assure me they'd been there and come out well!!  

Funny I had the wrinkled / red palms too!!  The palms are still the same.  The only things I can say are keep out of airconditioning and heating if possible (brrrr).  I got out my old kids vaporiser at home and kept the air a bit moist, put my face in the steam every now and then which helped a little.  Don't use tissues -  they made the rash worse - toilet paper, hankies to dab the moisture.  Rinse your face often, the salty tears were making the rash worse and drink and drink.  Reckon I was losing a litre of fluid through my face!!

I hope you get more advice on what to do.  For me luckily it went away about 6 weeks after the last dose of docs/hercepton.  Hopefully though if you are taking the drug long term it will be something your body will acclimatise to.  Sending you big hugs, and hope everything improves.

Pam

You may just have to put up with the nose and eye thing until it settles. Sunglasses a must. I think my dad has been on that one but he wears glasses all the time and his have that tint thing where they turn into sunnies outside and return to normal inside. Runny nose isn't as bad as blocked nose. You could try a vicks nose inhaler to keep it clear?

If you are taking the medication in the morning, try switching the dose to just before you go to bed. It made a heck of a difference to my dad.

Sorry Wendy I can't help much. I agree with Alice re meditation. For me it has got me through all these awful side effect these drugs give us. 

Hope some other ladies can offer help.

Thinking of you through this period. 

Love

Anne-Marie ??

hi Wendy, 

No answers for you but wanted to give you a hug and send you some energy to cope with the side effects they sound dreadful.. I had runny eyes whilst going through my chemo and it drove me crazy.... so I totally get that. 

Are you in USA ? or just referencing to their costs of Chemo drugs... 

have you tried some mediation to relax and unwind if possible. 

I hope someone is able to give you some advice here that helps you with side effects. 

hugs 

Alice aka Soldier Crab