Sife-Effects from 5FU and Xeloda

Hi,

If you have taken or are taking the chemo drugs, 5FU and Xeloda, have you had any neuropathy problems? See, we have not decided if we should do another round of chemo since my husband's cancer has obviously returned. He has not fully recovered from the first round of chemo that has left him with serious neuropathy problems in his hands. Just looking for answers....

 

My wife has been on 5FU OR Xeloda (as they are similar drugs and not used together - Xeloda actually turns into 5FU when you ingest it) for the past 18 months (along with many other chemo agents).  She has had limited side effects the most prevelant are: loss of feeling in her hands/feet and some added pain and discomfort in her heels. 

Overall, she has tolerated it well.  She started out on a Xeloda dose of 5,000mg per day but quickly reduced that to 4,000 and again recently to 3,000 mg per day.  Either way, I am convinced that 5Fu OR Xeloda is a widely accepted chemo drug.  My only concern in your case is that a multi agent chemo regimen may be the more aggressive approach. 

In the past 18 months my wife has been on:

ECF (Epirubicin, Cisplatin, and 5FU)

Months 0-5

Oxaliplatin and Xeloda

Months 6-8

Oxaliplatin and 5FU

Months 9-12 

5FU alone

Months13-16

Xeloda alone

Months 17 and 18 (she continues on this today)

 

Either way, your choices are limited as he has to be on some chemo agents regardless of their side effects. 

Hope things improve and the chemo works for him.

With Prayers and Support

Steve (aka momwithkids)

I was on Carboplatin and Xeloda.  I started with 4000 of Xeloda day then reduced to 3000/day.  Side effects from Xeloda were: fatigue, severe hand/foot syndrome and diarrhea during a couple cycles when I was taking 4000/day, and moderate nausea.  No periferal neuropathy for me.  Carboplatin hit my platelets hard and I had to take a couple breaks to get my platelet count back up.

 I have heard two folks say they had severe neuropathy problems with  Oxaliplatin and Xeloda.

 Tom

 

Stacey:

 How is your husband and what did you decide to do regarding chemo?  How long had he been on it the first time you battled the disease and what drugs were they?  Just wondering and hoping that things or ok.

 Steve (aka momwithkids)

I  took 5fu and xeloda for several weeks earlier this year and did not have any side effects except for nausea on the 3rd and 4th day that kept me in bed most of the day.  The radiation  treatments were significanly more dabilitating and sent me to the hospital for a week where I needed a picc line to eat.  I hear that everyone reacts differently but I felt that xeloda went very smoothly all things considered.

 

On 11/3/2008 staceyvansc wrote:

Hi,

If you have taken or are taking the chemo drugs, 5FU and Xeloda, have you had any neuropathy problems? See, we have not decided if we should do another round of chemo since my husband's cancer has obviously returned. He has not fully recovered from the first round of chemo that has left him with serious neuropathy problems in his hands. Just looking for answers....

 

There is new research say that some vitamins and herbs can protect nerve fibers from the effect of chemo. The problem with chemo is the chemo  molecules are so small they pass right though through cell walls this is how the chemo  gets into the cell walls of  nerve fiber and damages them coursing neuropathy problems Iv been looking at ways of shielding these nerve fibers while on chemo. Research has found  just taking large amounts of certain vitamins and herbs can protect these nerve fibers and stop the effect of chemo brain But there is still a lot of  research that still remains to be done is on what specific herbal medicines or dietary supplements would help protect brain cells from damage due to chemotherapy, and at what specific dosage levels. cheers Ray http://www.pinestreetfoundation.org/avenues/avenues17/byoa17