Re: Xeolda

[Guest guest]

I was treated with Xeloda. 5 weeks and now off of it. I was on it in

conjunction with radiation. It's a chemo drug that actually is supposed to

enhance

the effects of the radiation. The pill form of the 5FU as obvious advantage

of ease of use (with exception noted below). For most the side effects aren't

anywhere near as toxic as more traditional.

When I got the prescription for Xeloda I did have to pay the deductible -

twice. The reason is that they only manufacture the pill in it's largest form

of

1000 mg. This is kind of frustrating since the recommended dosage is 2300 mg

per day. The dose is supposed to be based on the surface area of the

patients body. Mine was slightly less does since I'm smaller.

The deal with pills is taking the correct number per day to get the correct

dosage.

As for side-effects I had stomach cramps after the end of two weeks. Pretty

painful but I found the best way to avoid it was to do the following (this

after talking with pharamacist). Because the stomach cramps were from (best we

could determine) acid reflux I took a Xantac then waited a half hour, then took

the Xeloda, waited another half hour and then ate. They recommend taking

Xeloda after a meal but I got queasy with that. Nausua was minor - masked more

often as hunger pangs. Sometimes hard to tell the difference. But other days

a little more sharp due to odors, which can often trigger nausua during

treatments.

I also broke out in hives off and on during treatment. Still have them even

now. Nothing too major - benadryl was usually effective. That's not the

typical experience from what I hear. Some fatigue and diahrea (more from

radiation than chemo) but I was able to still work most days. From the onset

(diagnosis) to ending treatment I missed a total of 80 hours - this is spread

over 3

months. That was for appointments scans and sick days. Just one other piece

of advice..chemo can cause depression. Throws the body out of whack (not to

mention everything else you're going through). Just be aware that there may be

" chemo moments " and days when your mom just won't feel good, physically or

mentally. Hopefully they will be minimal.

Blessings to you both. Sheila

[Guest guest]

One more item - although I used Xantac for acid reflux ...it maybe other over

the counter items like pepcid ac or tagament could be used - really depends

on how the Xeloda affects her stomach. My acid reflux (never had it before)

was a heart burney kind of feeling, high up. same with the stomach cramps I got

- definitely not the low abdominal kind. Those were treated with the diahrea

med from doctor...sounded weird but worked, thankfully. And I did end up

getting pain med to have on hand - just in case of serious bout recurring -

which

was minimal after a bit.

[Guest guest]

Thank you, I wanted to get all the information i could so i can give

it to my mother, she is not big into the internet. I am going to

print this and give it to her the Xantac sounds like a great idea

stacey-

-- In colon_cancer_support , msheila7@a... wrote:

> I was treated with Xeloda. 5 weeks and now off of it. I was on it

in

> conjunction with radiation. It's a chemo drug that actually is

supposed to enhance

> the effects of the radiation. The pill form of the 5FU as obvious

advantage

> of ease of use (with exception noted below). For most the side

effects aren't

> anywhere near as toxic as more traditional.

>

> When I got the prescription for Xeloda I did have to pay the

deductible -

> twice. The reason is that they only manufacture the pill in it's

largest form of

> 1000 mg. This is kind of frustrating since the recommended dosage

is 2300 mg

> per day. The dose is supposed to be based on the surface area of

the

> patients body. Mine was slightly less does since I'm smaller.

> The deal with pills is taking the correct number per day to get the

correct

> dosage.

>

> As for side-effects I had stomach cramps after the end of two

weeks. Pretty

> painful but I found the best way to avoid it was to do the

following (this

> after talking with pharamacist). Because the stomach cramps were

from (best we

> could determine) acid reflux I took a Xantac then waited a half

hour, then took

> the Xeloda, waited another half hour and then ate. They recommend

taking

> Xeloda after a meal but I got queasy with that. Nausua was minor -

masked more

> often as hunger pangs. Sometimes hard to tell the difference. But

other days

> a little more sharp due to odors, which can often trigger nausua

during

> treatments.

>

> I also broke out in hives off and on during treatment. Still have

them even

> now. Nothing too major - benadryl was usually effective. That's

not the

> typical experience from what I hear. Some fatigue and diahrea

(more from

> radiation than chemo) but I was able to still work most days. From

the onset

> (diagnosis) to ending treatment I missed a total of 80 hours - this

is spread over 3

> months. That was for appointments scans and sick days. Just one

other piece

> of advice..chemo can cause depression. Throws the body out of

whack (not to

> mention everything else you're going through). Just be aware that

there may be

> " chemo moments " and days when your mom just won't feel good,

physically or

> mentally. Hopefully they will be minimal.

>

> Blessings to you both. Sheila

>

>

>