Xeloda

What side effects are you referring to?

Jaynee

I would love to tell you about the hand-foot syndrome, but the entire time that I was on Xeloda I was not bothered with that. 

I took Xeloda for the 30 radiation treatments and then took Xeloda again for 5 months, but I never was bothered by anything. 

Sorry I can't help you with that.  How is your radiation going?  That can have some nasty side effects so be careful.

Jaynee

I took Xeloda for thirty eight days, five pills per day at the same time I took radiation for esophageal cancer after I had surgery.  I had redness and tenderness on the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet.  I also hd EXTREME nausea the entire time I took it and for several days after I stopped.  My doctor gave me Phenegren.  I also had mouth sores that went down into my digestive tract.  Sometimes when I ate my intestines would hurt so badly that I would have to take a Darvocet and go to bed.  The doctor told me that this was the result of the Xeloda.  He gave me Magic Mouth wash that I was to swich around in my mouth then swallow.  The good news is, I have recovered and have not had any incidence of cancer for almost four years. Its an agravating proceedure, but VERY worth while.  I work and play every day.  God Bless You.  You are in my prayers. 

Gerri  

Thank you for your prayers, Gerri. And, it is wonderful news that you have been cancer-free for 4 years.  We are hoping it will do the same for my mom, who has just started her treatments on Monday. I was wondering if i should start her on the bag balm & udderly smooth cream before her symptoms start.  Since, this is new to us, any advice would help.

God bless you !~!~!

I hope that you have been given detailed instructions on what to eat/not eat, things to do to help minimize the burning and skin care during radiation.   As I said, I breezed through the Xeloda, however, the radiation can really do a number on you.  It has been my experience that the rad oncs also don't tell you everything, so please ask questions.

Jaynee

I have been on Xeloda since June 2007 with minimal side effects. Be sure to use moisturizers on your hands and feet. Udderly Smooth Udder Cream is recommended, but I have been able to get by with regular body creams. Also, watch your folic acid intake.

 I take 2000 mg. of Xeloda Monday-Friday every week with weekends off, which is not the normal way this prescription is prescribed. I think I like it better than the 14/7 I started with or the 10/11 that I was on previously. They had to back off of the 14 days on, 7 days off, as my platelet count was already low from 6 months of FOLFOX6.

 Pam

I'm just ending my treatment of xeloda & radiation for rectal cancer, well, I have 3 treatments left.  As for the radiation, I didn't start seeing any side effects until I was about 15 days into it.  If you want details of what I'm experiencing, let me know and I'll give you my email and we can talk privately about it.

As for the xeloda, they have me on 3 pills (500mg) in the morning and 3 pills after dinner.  I started feeling very nauseated the first night after taking my 3 morning pills.  They had prescribed Regiland for the nausea, but it didn't work, it just made me feel worse.  After 3 days, I had lost 7 pounds from not being able to drink or eat and they then put me on Zolfran, which worked wonderfully.  I started using the udder cream right away for my hands and feet (I'd put it on in the morning and at night before I went to bed) and never had any problem with that.  I faithfully rinse my mouth 3 to 4 times a day with baking soda and cold water and never got any mouth sores either.

I hope this helps, I know it's a scarey thing not knowing what your going to be going through.  I'm in the same boat.

Thank you all for your info.  Every bit of info helps where the unknown is concerned.

My mom is taking 3 xeloda pills in the am alson with a nausea pill and 2 after dinner. She bwegins her second week of therapy tomorrow.  the first week went very well. We are hoping for the same this week.

I truely appreciate all the advice. Thanks,