Best Of

@airlinegal I am so sorry about your heart attack! I hope that all is well now with no lasting effects. That is so scary!

I have been on Xeloda for over 8 years and it reacts adversely to foods that are high in folic acid. Those foods should be eaten in moderation because they are the reason for the bleeding, burning and infections in our hands and feet. I read about it early on, ignored it, and suffered greatly for 2 years.

Finally, when my feet were so bad that my onc wanted me to stop Xeloda, I remembered the folic acid advice. I had been eating huge spinach salads, and a lot of broccoli, etc. I cut way back on those and for the last 6 years, my hands and feet have only been dry. So just eat those high-folic foods in moderation and you don't have to stop eating them completely. I also stopped taking my multivitamins since they have folate.

I use Aquaphor at night on my hands and feet with socks and food service gloves. Aquaphor and socks during the day, and Gold Bond diabetic cream on my hands during the day. Remember to take the pills a half hour after you eat to avoid nausea. Xeloda has been very easy for me, now that I know how to eat while taking it.

Denise

I had a single liver mts in 2017. After 6 months of exemestan (which at that time worked on sing vertebra lession) and liver lession litttle bit grew I had ablation. They were able to do it laparoscopicaly (it was 2.8 cm big) and the recovery was very fast. I exercised yoga after 1 month. Next 8 years - I had liver clean (couple bone progressions) up to November 2025 when 8 new small lessions appeared. So for me ablation was the best thing for my liver st that time.

@livinglifenow I am so sorry you’re experiencing pain, I hope a change in hormone therapy may do the trick.

I never took any other AI, just the anastrozole for 6 years. I went straight to Fareston because I had read good things about it and it really is treating me well. I had horrible leg cramps almost every night with anastrazole, and since going on Fareston and no HP, I am the most side effect free I’ve been since getting diagnosed with BC. Look into Fareston maybe and see if the you and your doc think it might be for you. ««I just realized I sound a little like a drug commercial - “Talk to your doctor and see if XXX might be for you”.

@bsandra Oh, you flatter me 😄but seriously I hope we do get some good information from the studies of HER2+ outcomes. The study I am on is very small but my doctor revealed to me that other day that since October 2024 only one subject on this study has had a positive Signatera and even with that, her imaging did not yet show progression. Again, it’s a tiny study but still we cling to all tidbits of good news, right? Take care and best regards to your lovely family.

Hi @norah2024 I am going to reply to your earlier message first. I get anxiety also but I am somehow able to talk myself out of it most of the time. I don’t know if the anxiety is causing the side effects but of course does not help. I had pain on the right side of my face a few times but think it is due to dental issues. Do you have any dental issues you need looked at? Also I have super sensitive sinuses. Do you have any sinus issues?

I now take Naproxin for pain relief (Alieve) because I cannot have headaches and pain ruling my days. I hate to take additional l meds but I will to feel better if I have to.

Do you have any relief since you sent this first message?

I very rarely have any nausea issues. And my side affects all started after a month+ into the medication. Have you called the pharmacist at Affinitor? They may be able to help with food suggestions. Also maybe a nausea medicine to at least get you through this part. I would ask your oncologist about that. I have to be very careful with supplements - they do not agree with me. But we are all different. Be careful with that.

Do you have other symptoms and/or have some subsided? I’m sorry I don’t have more info for you. Let me know how you are doing. Thinking about you.