April 12, 2007 I was diagnosed with BC.  My path report was explained to me and I did do quite a bit of research afterward just to make sure I understood it.  Went through the past year of treatments - A/C, Taxol, bilateral mastectomy.  Then it came time for my PET Scan as a followup.  Mets to the spine.  I had really thought I would get at least one clear scan!  So now I get to start a new chemo treatment for me - Xeloda.  Any inof?  Thanks!

Skyrat, I am so sorry for your mets dx.  I have no info on Xeloda..but I know there are quite a few women that have been on it or are on it.  Just wanted to send you some cyber hugs.

 {{skyrat}}}

Take care,

Bugs

Skyrat, this is terrible news and I know you must be in a state of shock. I think we all hope for at least a year of clean scans after tx. I have no personal knowledge of Xeloda, but have seen very positive results posted from some of the gals here.

Best wishes and may God bless you,

Miss S

I took Xeloda during radiation.  I had no side effects.  It's supposed to be effective for bone mets.

I cringe everytime I read bad news here, but then I realize how courageous, how great you all are, how strongly you fight the beast everyday. There will be good news for you too, Skyrat - unfortunately I don't now anything about this drug, but lots of ladies here must have used it and will give you feedback, so ... stick around!

You are in my prayers, honey. Hugs and good vibes!

Skyrat,

I too was dx with mets within the first year (dx 5/1/07). Mets to the liver and now skin. UGH! It's been a tough 7 mos. I just started Gemzar...haven't had Xeloda but I'm sure I will. Just hang in there!!!!! Lots of great support here, not to mention the advances in drugs/medicine are amazing today.

Best of luck!!!

Barb

Xeloda is a wonderful, quick acting chemo. It is easy to do as it is an oral drug. Don't be worried if the onc. plays around with the doses. One of the side effects is terrible hand and foot syndrome. Red, hurting, and sometimes bleeding hands and feet. When it feels like you are walking on glass, the onc. will lower the dosage.

Good luck on Xeloda...there are many that visit this site that are on it!

Skyrat, That is horrible to show mets on the first scan out.  I'm so sorry!  But welcome here, you will find lots of compassion and good advice.

If you want to check out bcmets.org, there has been a lot of discussion about Xeloda in the past couple of weeks.

Brenda

Hi Skyrat,

There certainly is room here for you, but I wish you didn't need to be here! I was 38 when diagnosed with bc and extensive bone mets right from the start--over two years ago. Just recently, progression was found. I just finished some rads to my spine (for pain from a compression fracture) and will be starting XELODA in a couple of weeks. One of the oncs I spoke to about XELODA referred to it, along with AVASTIN, to be "standard of care". The other option offered to me was TAXOL and AVASTIN. I chose the XELODA because I felt like it would be easier for me to make sure I didn't miss a dose; summer is coming and we will be traveling some. 

My onc believes I have as good a chance doing well on XELODA as I would the TAXOL. We are not starting AVASTIN with it right away, though--it's easier to identify the cause of intolerable side effects (if they occur!) using a single agent. We have left the timing to add the AVASTIN open for now.

I posted a thread here a while back asking about XELODA experiences. There are also a few other similar threads if you look a few pages back. The "hand/foot syndrome", diarrhea, and sometimes stomach upset seem to be the side effects most talked about. I will be starting with a 2 weeks on/1 week off schedule. Some others are using a 1 week on/1 week off schedule. The schedule and dosage can be adjusted down if the side effects prove to be too much.

I have read of several people who have had very good success with XELODA. There is a lady on the mailing list at bcmets.org who took XELODA for 4 years with good results! My thoughts and prayers will be with you that you get a good long run with it.

((((HUGS))))
Diane

Skyrat ~

Always room for you...  Sorry your dx ...my aunt is currently battling spine cancer and she is undergoing bone infusions to strengthen her bones and morphine so she can press for relief when needed..she controls this herself for the pain. 

My best to you may the Xeloda work its wonders ...

Much LUV

Hey Skyrat,

so sorry you are going through this. But Xeloda is a very good drug, there is plenty of info on here about it. It worked for me as well as many others. Just put it into the search box. Best of luck to you, we are here for you.

Hi,

I did Xeloda for a year and a half with little to no side effects, and it produced a complete response, making my pesky little "innumerable liver and bone mets" disappear for awhile!

Skyrat, so sorry you had to join us, so quickly after your dx no less!  I have bone mets right now.  Was dx with them in 7/06 and they are still stable since dx 2 years ago.  This is a wonderful site with lots of caring individuals to offer support and information anytime of the day or night.  Please feel free to post good news (we really love that!), bad news, or just to vent over your anger (it is a necessary evil with this blasted disease).  I am really glad you found us and there is absolutely plenty of room fro you here!

Ladies - I thank you so much for the words of encouragement, the shared experiences and your responses.  I was told by my onc that after the three chemo drugs I've already had, Xeloda should be a breeze.  LOL  And I did research it the day I got home from getting the diagnosis of mets.  I do like to know the medications I am taking and the poisons I am putting into my body.  Prayers to you all who are fighting your own battles, but who took the time to comfort me in mine.

Welcome to the place you never dreamed of being.  Cyber hugs to you.  It's a lot to bear.  I'm new to board but had BC for 9 years, mets for 3 years.   Of course, I have some bad days, but mostly feel well.  I just finished the 4th week "on Xeloda".  Your Dr. will set  yr. weeks on and off schedule.  My clinic nurse had a nice welcome package for Xeloda and they have a great patient info. for managing SE's

www.Xeloda.roche.com

Best to you, Dee

I've always loved the picture of the bird - for some reason that has been one of the ones that stuck out to me. Sending hugs your way.

Welcome to the club that no one wants to join.  Xeloda did not work for me but that does not mean it won't work for you.  I tolerated it for the three months with ease... was ready for the hand foot syndrome and armed with Udder Cream and Bag Balm but never needed to use it.  It is a breeze to take and if it works for you... it's like being treated without doing (hardly) anything at all!!!  So, best of luck to you and I hope Xeloda kicks cancer a$$ to the curb!!

Robin

Hi,

I did 4 months of Xeloda last year and it's true, compared to IV chemo it is much easier.  No hair loss, no low WBCs, no nausea.  The hand/foot thing seems to be the most common SE.  But if you stay away from hot water and keep the Bag Balm going the SEs stay under control. 

Because I'm er/pr+ my onc switched back to a hormonal while the Xeloda was still working so that we can use it again when needed. 

Good luck with your treatment.  Keep us posted as to how you're doing.

Bernice

Skyrat,

Of course there is room for you here.  Though we are all sorry for the reason.  I have just finished my first cycle of Xeloda last Friday.  I did pretty good on it but did have some SE.  I'm not sure if they are from the Xeloda or Taxotere since I was also give my first round of that too.  My SE's were dry mouth that was sore but no mouth sores, sometimes hard to eat. I did have a couple of days with nausea but I did manage to work every day.  All in all compared to A/C and Taxol it has been more of a breeze, still sucks.  Keep your head up and go with the flow.  God will take care of what we can't.

Hugs,

Linda

 Hey all, i would like to talk, commiserate, encourage, anyone else with stage iv metastatic breast cancer.  I start chemo AGAIN day after tomorrow.  Kinda deperessed, but doing ok.

Skyrat sorry that u have to join us ...I have just done 2 cycles of xeloda, and now waiting to see if I do a 3rd..

Xeloda so far as a chemo has minor SE ,I do seem to have probs with nausea in the late arvo, and pins and needles feeling in fingers and feet but thats not bad compared to some chemos.

wishing u well on this treatment and hoping it works for u...I'm waiting to know how long before we know its working? surely 2 cycles isnt enough?

hugs

oz

LAGirl, you might want to start a new thread so you don't get lost in the middle of this one.

I want to thank you all for your responses.  I am still trying to get my feet back under me and once I do, I will at least maybe be able to help others on here.  Prayers are with you all.

Zeloda is a wonderful drug and I truly don't think that you are going to have a problem.  It affords you freedom to move about and not be tied to a monthly infusion.  I took it for 2 years and the only side effect was sore hands and feet at the end of each segment of taking it which was every 2 weeks.  Make sure you lotion your hands and feet religiously 2xs a day.  I was given a script for Ammonium Lactate cream from my Doc.  Its pretty good.  Also there is a belief that if you take Vit. B6 3xs a day it also helps.  When the feet really got "burny" I would apply Aloe Vera gel straight from the refrigerator and that would really cool them.  Good luck and enjoy the freedom that the Zeloda affords you.  I really don't think you are going to mind taking it.  Let us know how it all goes for you.          Toonies

I am so sorry to hear you have to join are awful club but the women here are very helpful and informative.

I also have bone mets (11 bones infected), I had the option of zometa, zoladex (to stop period), abraxene and advastin or  zometa,zoladex, xeloda and advastin.  I picked the abraxene cocktail since the doctor strongly believed that it would help me.  I have been stable for a year and now off the abraxene and just doing the others as a maintence cocktail.

Allot of women do both regimes so I guess its your decision but stay postive and if you need more information on the cocktail i am and was taking please feel free to pm me.

Take care and many hugs.

Roxanne