When I had my radiation treatments, I started on the 5FU (with the pump 24/7 you don't get the leucovorin) and I did not respond well. I never had overpowering nausea, just a basic queasiness and was very very tired. I didn't want to eat and hated the port, the pump, the whole thing! I am not usually one to get depressed, but being honest here, that pump depressed me BIG time. The doctors would get mad at me because I was losing weight which is something you're supposed to try NOT to do during radiation but the infused 5FU took my appetite away and gave me mild cramps. Nothing truthfully was horrible. When I switched to the Xeloda I had an appetite again and things overall just were better. I wasn't tethered to the pump, didn't get any mouth sores, just all in all, for me a totally different lifestyle. You have to remember, though, that everyone reacts differently. While the majority of people do fare better on Xeloda, not everyone falls into that category. Oftentimes oncs are reluctant to prescribe the oral form because they fear that the patients will not comply with the dosing schedule. You would have to talk with the onc about this.
I also strongly feel that taking the oral form allows the patient to feel more 'normal' during times of treatment. There is no pump, no restrictions on showering, no tubing from your chest, etc. It's just my opinion, but I do believe that, at least for me, the emotional aspect of feeling normal went a long way in my psychological journey through my cancer treatments.
Jaynee