Stomach cancer.. chemo therapy

Hi everyone, thank you so much for all the feed back on my dads condition, you have been more than helpful, and i am so grateful.

Unfortunately due to extreme dehydration, my dad had kidney failure. The past week he has been in the hospital. The first couple days they did 4 treatments of dialysis, his kidneys were at a leven 18, they were brought down to an 8 and over time a 5. Yesterday they did a procedure called nephrostomy, which worked really well and brought his kidneys to a level 2.8. All of this has really set back the chemo therapy, doctors have been focusing on the kidneys first. Minutes ago i found out he has some fluid and a clot in his lungs, to do having all the fluid in his system for days that he was not able to release, they said they would give him some medication that would take care of it...

Finally his oncologist told us what chemo therapy we would be using..Xeloda which is a tablet that should be taken twice a day. && eventually Oxaliplatin which is an injection. The oxaliplatin can not be taken now because it causes kidney problems and my dads kidneys must be fully recovered.

I did some research on these treatments, but i find more that they are used to treat breast cancer and colon cancer. Does anybody have any experience with this medicine?

thank you,

Erica j.

i'm praying for all of you!!

Hello...

       My husband has colon-rectal cancer.....He HAS taken BOTH. The Xeloda you are right is taken at home....In the morning and evening....in a pill form. My husband has taken this for 6 months AND HAS done VERY WELL with it. He has had NO side effects from it BUT being tired....We have been told this is NOT normal for alot of people BUT I also know another person who took it and DID just as well. Every side effect HE COULD get does NOT mean that he will.....everyone IS different. The side effects from this CAN be dealt with.

     As far as the Oxi....Its tough AND not to worry about it since he can NOT have the treatment anyways. If I can help you with anything PLEASE leave me know. Best to you and your family......

                             Hugs Sheila

Erica,

That is what Rick's first regimen was: Xeloda, Oxaliplatin, and Epirubicin for 17 treatments over the first twelve month period. Had to stop due to possible cardiomyopathy issues from the Epirubicin. Neuropathy had also become an issue from the Xeloda. You are right, these are mainly used for breast and colon cancers as there are really no standard regimens for gastric cancer. You know the rest, 30 months later, still rocking, and living every day.

Hope this helps............Scott

Erica J.

My 45 year old spouse has been on Xeloda for 9months with the only complication being peeling of her hands and feet (this occurred when she was taking 3,000mg per day); it was resolved by lowering the dose to 2,000mg per day.  She was originall diagnosed with Stage IV stomach cancer in March of 07 but placed in remission post 4 months of ECF treatment.  This was followed by 4 months of Xeloda and Oxaliplatin and then another 4 months of just 5Fu delivered via a pump every two weeks.

Currently she remains in remission and on Xeloda.  The theory is to keep taking it as she has had no reoccurance of the cancer and she is tolerating it well. 

The only current side effect is she sometimes get a bit tired.

 Steve (aka momwithkids)