Guest guest Posted March 6, 2004 Report Share Posted March 6, 2004 Becky, I don't know if it will help or not but was on Xeloda for 9 courses until he had the colostomy in November. He had no side effects except for fatigue. He never did have the hand and foot problem. He has a shop outside and does iron work and welding for his hobby. His hands are all beat up from the shop but not from the Xeloda. He was told to put Aquaphor cream or bag balm on hands and feet and he never had a problem. He never had any nausea or hair loss. His only side effect was the fatigue and I don't know if it was the infection and cancer or the Xeloda. took 5 500mgs twice a day. The Onc gave us a break and then he will probably go back on the Xeloda and Avastin combo. Hope this helps, Joyce > Hello all, > > Well, finally got Jeff in to see his original oncologist. The onc > immediately noticed Jeff is very jaundiced. Jeff has 2 liver stents > and apparently they have moved or the tumor in and around his liver > have pushed them out of place because his bilirubin is up and he > appears very yellow in his eyes and skin. He is scheduled to have > his liver stents replaced this Tuesday, so we are praying that will > reverse the problem and he will be as back to normal as possible. > > He has had 2 very scary bouts with unrelieved pain in his left kidney > where he has a ureter stent. He went last week and spent the night > in the hospital where they found the elevated bilirubin but could not > find anything that would cause him such severe pain as the stent > appears unblocked and functioning fine in the ct scan and xrays. > So far this week only one bout with this pain and it went away after > about an hour and a half. > > For those of you unaware of his history. Jeff has refused anymore > drip chemo and basically was just biding time until something went > wrong to go to the doctor despite my and his family's continued > urging for him to seek treatment. The onc told him his best chances > for any prolonging of life is with the drip chemo, but Jeff is still > abstinate about not taking any of it. Jeff briefly talked with the > onc about Xeloda, and the onc was quick to enlighten him that > although it is a pill form of chemo, it has some pretty strong side > effects in some cases. One of which I had not heard of mentioned on > this side. He said that the skin of the hands and feet could become > so damaged as to sloth off the skin. That set Jeff back of course. > > He is still thinking on it at this time. The onc told him that > unless Jeff was willing to take the Xeloda or drip chemo, that he > would not be treating him as there is nothing he does for just > keeping a patient comfortable and monitoring progression of the > disease. He referred Jeff back to his family doctor for pain meds > and anything else he would need. Also suggested home health of > hospice for pain management as Jeff is already on Oxycontin 80mg 2x > daily and still has unrelieved pain. The onc told him the next step > is a morphine pump and that would be administered through home health > or hospice. So now we are waiting for the Tuesday appointment for > liver stent replacement and whether Jeff will take the Xeloda or > not. > > Sorry so long. Thought it was time to update as so many of you have > been helping me to deal with this situation. I pray for all of you > and your families. Thank you for all your support and caring. > > Becky Beach > caregiver to Jeff(40), diagn 8/01, recurred 5/03 with liver and abd > mets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 Becky, My husband Ron had stents from both kidneys, and got some awful pain from it. The last time he was in hospital the urologist order some med that was a suppository for it and it worked. When he got home he had tylenol suppository and it helped the pain in kidney area. His regular meds (mscotin) didn't seem to help the pain in that area at all. The only thing I remember about the one in the hospital is they said it had opium in it. I can't remember the name. For Jeff's pain instead of the pump see if they can change him to MScotin and for break through Ron used morphine sulphate elixer. He liked that better than being on a pump. Tammy Husbands Onc visit Hello all, Well, finally got Jeff in to see his original oncologist. The onc immediately noticed Jeff is very jaundiced. Jeff has 2 liver stents and apparently they have moved or the tumor in and around his liver have pushed them out of place because his bilirubin is up and he appears very yellow in his eyes and skin. He is scheduled to have his liver stents replaced this Tuesday, so we are praying that will reverse the problem and he will be as back to normal as possible. He has had 2 very scary bouts with unrelieved pain in his left kidney where he has a ureter stent. He went last week and spent the night in the hospital where they found the elevated bilirubin but could not find anything that would cause him such severe pain as the stent appears unblocked and functioning fine in the ct scan and xrays. So far this week only one bout with this pain and it went away after about an hour and a half. For those of you unaware of his history. Jeff has refused anymore drip chemo and basically was just biding time until something went wrong to go to the doctor despite my and his family's continued urging for him to seek treatment. The onc told him his best chances for any prolonging of life is with the drip chemo, but Jeff is still abstinate about not taking any of it. Jeff briefly talked with the onc about Xeloda, and the onc was quick to enlighten him that although it is a pill form of chemo, it has some pretty strong side effects in some cases. One of which I had not heard of mentioned on this side. He said that the skin of the hands and feet could become so damaged as to sloth off the skin. That set Jeff back of course. He is still thinking on it at this time. The onc told him that unless Jeff was willing to take the Xeloda or drip chemo, that he would not be treating him as there is nothing he does for just keeping a patient comfortable and monitoring progression of the disease. He referred Jeff back to his family doctor for pain meds and anything else he would need. Also suggested home health of hospice for pain management as Jeff is already on Oxycontin 80mg 2x daily and still has unrelieved pain. The onc told him the next step is a morphine pump and that would be administered through home health or hospice. So now we are waiting for the Tuesday appointment for liver stent replacement and whether Jeff will take the Xeloda or not. Sorry so long. Thought it was time to update as so many of you have been helping me to deal with this situation. I pray for all of you and your families. Thank you for all your support and caring. Becky Beach caregiver to Jeff(40), diagn 8/01, recurred 5/03 with liver and abd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2004 Report Share Posted March 7, 2004 Becky- I am on Xeloda/oxaliplatin, and have hand/foot syndrome, something that about 12% of people on 5 FU get. It makes my hands red and sore as if they are sunburned, and they peel kind of like after a sunburn (the peeling does not hurt). On two occasions my oncologist has reduced my dose initially because I developed some blisters on my feet and recently because my hands became painfully sore. On both occasions, my symptoms regressed within days. Some people develop mouth sores. I only had one small episode- a canker sore like spot. Celebrex has helped control hand foot syndrome in several studies (and may have some mild anti tumor effects also). I haven't tried this because I have had some stomach ulcers. Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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