Oral Chemo?!?

does anyone here take oral chemo? and if you do, could you tell me what stage you are in? And are the side effects lessened with oral vs intravenous chemo? i was wondering if one is more effective than the other because I have a close relative who just found out she has ovarian cancer in her mid twenties. Her doctor has recommended intravenous chemo but she has heard that oral chemo will not make her lose her hair.. I was just wondering if anyone here has any information. thanks in advance!!

Hi.
My 10 year old daughter is currently on oral chemo. She takes 400mg of Gleevec everyday. She was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, stage 1 in Sept. 2005. She started on oral chemo a week later. Her hair is thinner, but is still there. She has aches, pains, and swelling in her ankles. She doesn't have much nausea but is also on 4mg of Zofran.

First of all ovarian cancer is nothing to mess with. Second being of such a young age it is more than likely aggressive. I would go with your oncologist's advise because they are looking at what is best to irradicate her disease if possible. What is more important here? Temporary hair loss or living? My hair at this time is just coming back in for the third time. I've been through it more than once so I am speaking from experience and not just an oppinion. When facing cancer I think hair loss is at the bottom of the priority pole... Trust me, it will grow back!

Annie

In response to the oral chemo therapy question:
I have been taking XELODA for the last 4 months. I was taking Femara for many months, with great results, but then it stopped working.At that time, I was taking the Lupron shot every 3 months as well.
Regarding XELODA (oral chemo), it has been a breeze. Except for the hand thing, requiring me to use hand cream a lot. No complaints with it and my hair is intact as well.
Hope this helps. My best to you

I take 150mg of Tarceva every day. It has side effects but they are all handlable in one way or another. I've been diagnosed with S4 lung cancer so anything that will help me & let me live a reasonable quality of life is OK by me. The infamous Tarceva "rash" is the first hurdle. In the beginning many break out for several weeks, most of it goes away, sometimes all of it. Find yourself some good dry skin products,it brings dry skin to new heights. Not for everyone but for me my hair has thinned out considerably with my eyebrows almost gone. I have heard from those who have suffered this side-effect strongly that their hair grew back curly, much like regular chemo....it's just a more slow process. Good Luck.

Hi..just started taking xeloda. Please tell me
more about how it worked for you..you said you had few side effects, even after 4 months. Did
it work to keep cancer at bay? I am a stage 4
metastatic breast cancer survivor. Cancer has
spread to bones only. I was also on femara and
many other hormonal treatments, which all failed
after a while. Now started xeloda, 3000 mg per day, one week on and one week off. I just finished one month, now into second month. I really have had very few side effects. Some cramping in my hands and feet. My vision seems to get alittle blurred..and maybe alittle more tired. Is this all normal while taking xeloda?
Any advice would be appreciated...God bless, Kathy