Xeloda or infusion pump???

[Guest guest]

Bill (husband, dx rectal cancer early July 05) went for his appoint with the onc

doctor who will head up the treatment plan. We were told last week that he

would have radiation & 5FU daily for five weeks, then surgery, then more chemo.

He was scheduled to start radiation this morning.

Now the plan has completely changed again. The OncDoc wants him to have another

scan called TRUS (Trans Rectal Ultra Sound.)

There are three hospitals near us which do this scan and the closest one is

about 1 hour drive the other two are half a day away. So of course we are

hoping for the closest one. But the beginning of tx is delayed yet again while

they try to get him an appointment for the scan. The cancer is on the front

side of the rectum, three inches in size, and the TRUS is to see if it has

invaded the prostate.

Then the doctor told him that he will have the rad and chemo together but is

pushing for Xeloda orally instead of the 5FU pump infusion. The doctor made the

pump infusion sound more complicated than he should have in my opinion (former

nursey type here) and after the sentence that started with " your surgeon will

cut right here and ................. " , Bill just got that Deer in the

Headlights look and I could see that he was totally NOT hearing anything else.

So then when the doctor started explaining Xeloda and the words 'take a pill'

were spoken that is what Bill heard loud and clear so he wants to do the Xeloda.

The post-surgical chemo will be an infusion chemo for four months of treatment.

I have researched on the net and can only find reference to Xeloda being used

post-surgery not pre-surgery. I would really like to hear from anyone who

takes/has taken Xeloda and your reaction to it and anything else you can add. I

know we have to trust the doctor but I still like to be informed and this list

has been great.

Jan

P.S. Is OD an acceptable abbreviation for Oncology Doctor?:-) Kinda like

Officer of the Day.................