Xeloda, Epirubicin and Cisplatin

Hi, my mom had gastric ca 2 years ago and was good until about a month ago. She was dx with StIV terminal gastric ca with mets to spine and liver. She is only 47 and Korean. She got radiation therapy for two weeks, and the radiation worked. Her tumor shrunk and she is not requiring the pain meds like before. All she needs is a little morphine here and there, but nothing like before. She was receiving radiation to the spine b/c thats where one of her tumors were that caused her pain and difficulty walking. Now she is walking and singing, etc. Yesterday we started chemo of Xeloda for 2 weeks, Epi and Cispl Q3 weeks. Today she is not having any really bad side effects. Just some nausea, but was prescribed 100mg of Anzemet which worked and some Ativan. What should I expect the next few days or weeks? Also, it is hard to try to meet the 2300 calorie/day regimen, esp. for someone who had a gastrectomy. Any suggestions advice or anything is appreciated.

Hi.   Good to hear that your mom is doing well thus far.  Sounds like she is keeping a positive attitude and that speaks and does volumes.  Keep encouraging her.

I work at a cancer office and my sister is also on Epi and Cisplat.  What usually happens (now remember everyone is different) is that about 5-7 days after the chemo is when counts start to drop (red blood cell and white blood cell).  That is when she may be very fatigued and not feeling well.   Her doctor has probably and will probaby give her some shots to help boost her counts.   Also, with the Cisplat it is important that her kidneys flush the drug out so she needs to stay hydrated and drink plenty.  They probably gave her pre and post hydration with her treatment which helps also.  Cisplat can be hard on the kidneys.  My sister is now 7 days out from her treatment and is currently experiencing this.  Her hemoglobin went from 10.9 one day down to 7.6 the next so she has gotten 3 units of blood over the last 2 days.  

Make sure she gets rests and doesn't overdo things and that she drinks plenty.  I know what you mean about the calories.  My sis is not eating much at all and has dropped so much weight.  We can't get her to eat anything really... a bite here or there. Even shakes and protein drinks don't appeal to her much.

 Hang in there.

Tracy

 

Thank you Tracey. We go in tomorrow to get my mom's blood work done. She has been fatigued, but she says she feels pretty good. She is very weak and has not been meeting the 2300 calorie mark. She lost 5 pounds already in one week. So I emailed the doctor, and we started her on Marinol/Drabinol 2.5mg BID. it has already started working as my mom is craving food. We'll see how it goes for 2 weeks. She just started taking it and already felt the effect from the meds. She is having involuntary wretching which is caused from the tumour pressing against her abdominal cavity. Is there any thing else I should be looking for? Thank you again. On to week 2 I suppose. Will keep you posted.

On 5/21/2009 Tracy06 wrote:

Hi.   Good to hear that your mom is doing well thus far.  Sounds like she is keeping a positive attitude and that speaks and does volumes.  Keep encouraging her.

I work at a cancer office and my sister is also on Epi and Cisplat.  What usually happens (now remember everyone is different) is that about 5-7 days after the chemo is when counts start to drop (red blood cell and white blood cell).  That is when she may be very fatigued and not feeling well.   Her doctor has probably and will probaby give her some shots to help boost her counts.   Also, with the Cisplat it is important that her kidneys flush the drug out so she needs to stay hydrated and drink plenty.  They probably gave her pre and post hydration with her treatment which helps also.  Cisplat can be hard on the kidneys.  My sister is now 7 days out from her treatment and is currently experiencing this.  Her hemoglobin went from 10.9 one day down to 7.6 the next so she has gotten 3 units of blood over the last 2 days.  

Make sure she gets rests and doesn't overdo things and that she drinks plenty.  I know what you mean about the calories.  My sis is not eating much at all and has dropped so much weight.  We can't get her to eat anything really... a bite here or there. Even shakes and protein drinks don't appeal to her much.

 Hang in there.

Tracy