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All about Xeloda

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Comments

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2011

    Sue beautiful pix

    Apple sorry about the h&F, it was so disguisting, my kids were so upset about it and me not so happy....

    Zoh, love when you check in.....

    Am watching grandchildren again while dd works, to the park (63 here in philly) so when gd gets up we have to walk, not so far cause don't have the car seats in my car. I am still using the cream even tho the H&F have gone, but they are still weird....7 days on is going ok, 3rd day on.....

    have a wonderful sunday peeps!!

  • K-Lo
    K-Lo Member Posts: 826
    edited November 2011

    Good morning, Divas.

    Yesterday am I said those great words: no xeloda! What a gift the week off is.We had a pre-thanksgiving dinner with lovely friends. My DH and I had a ball preparing ( I had a good steroid buzz from Fridays bronchitis Tx.) We do have a lot to be thankful for. The gravy was delicious even every year I have to try to figure it out at the last minute!



    I had to slip away at 9, they were still having a good time. Son didn't make it but surely we will see him Thursday. Now we have the most darling sisters-in-law coming who will bring North Carolina produce and create amazing dishes for our table and then play music for us!



    Love,

    Kathy

  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 1,466
    edited November 2011

    i am quite relieved to know that the foot hand pain is random rather than accumulative (at least within the cycle.. i feel much better today after spending the day with my feet up reading yesterday).

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2011

    Yea Apple, that pleases me......and so happy you are doing something for yourself!!

  • K-Lo
    K-Lo Member Posts: 826
    edited November 2011

    Do y'all have finger neuropathy?

  • justjudie
    justjudie Member Posts: 196
    edited November 2011

    I have neuropathy in both my hands and feet. Particularly in my feet. But I had it before I ever took Xeloda. I got it bad from Taxotere, and while it got somewhat better after I was off Taxotere, it never went totally away. Think its here for good. Hands arent too bad but feet are very affected.





    Judie

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2011

    feel stupid what exactly is neuropathy?

  • Tiger_Blood
    Tiger_Blood Member Posts: 83
    edited November 2011

    Dear Lord! 

    I am not sure if the Big D is caused by the X or my Tykerb. This is Day 5 of my first cycle and the stomach issues are kicking in high gear. Does it wax and wane or does it continue indefinately? 

  • alesta29
    alesta29 Member Posts: 240
    edited November 2011

    Blondiex

    The neuropathy is peripheral neuropathy - basically when there is damage to the nerve cells, typically seen in hands and feet. It can be permanent, or more commonly with chemo, can come and go.

    You can get muscle weakness, cramps and loss of sensation. After Taxotere, the balls of my feet are red and swollen and I have altered sensation. I also have slight numbness in my fingers which makes me prone to dropping glasses, plates, lightbulbs etc.

    I buy cheap crockery and glasses! 

  • LivingIt
    LivingIt Member Posts: 52
    edited November 2011

    Way to go Tiger. 

    I must report from the 'other side'. Ive been off X for 6 weeks now and on my new tx. My skin is still crockodile skin. Still using Bag Balm on hands feet and sometimes whole body for dryness. Other wise all SE's (tender feet) resolved.

    Also: bump for someone asking about trouble with Xeloda. :) 

  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 1,466
    edited November 2011

    crockodile skin?  way to coin a term Livingit.  I hope you are doing well on your new plan.

    Boy my hands and feet killed me this time.. yesterday was my first day 'off' the Xeloda... man, my extremities hurt.  The only solution is to take a couple of pain pills, put my feet up, slather my hands (and feet) in tons of cream and grab a book and a big cup of peppermint tea... then fall asleep.

    I hope next time is better.

  • justjudie
    justjudie Member Posts: 196
    edited November 2011



    Tiger-Blood,



    If I am not mistaken BOTH Xeloda and Tykerb cause the Big D. I am on Xeloda only and I have problems with it, so it must be really bad on both those drugs. My doc tells me to take Immodium (its over the counter) and it does nelp quite a bit. you may want to give that a try. Keep your onc posted as you can become dehydrated. Hoping you can get some relief.



    Judie

  • justjudie
    justjudie Member Posts: 196
    edited November 2011



    Blondie,



    Laurie's explanation of neuropathy was a good one. I might just add that the Hand Foot Syndrome from Xeloda seems to affect the skin while neuropathy is nerve damage. Certain chemos really can cause neuropathy, but again, it seems that some get it and some do not.



    i would like to caution those that have bad neuropathy in their feet to be very careful walking etc. I recently broke my ankle and I believe the neuropathy in my feet, not being able to feel the bottom of my feet, was a causitive factor. I have just recently started walking on it again and almost had ANOTHER fall going down some stairs!! Between sort of favoring the recently broken

    ankle, and the damn nueropathy, I twisted my other ankle!! It was like a minor sprain just some ice for that night and it was ok. But it really scared me. All i needed was another broken ankle! I have never had problems like this before the neuropathy. Believe me, I am trying to really go slow

    and be much more careful now.



    Judie

  • singletona80
    singletona80 Member Posts: 44
    edited November 2011

    Ive only been taking this pills a little over a week and already im sick of them . . . ugh !! I am always gagging when I have to take these pills.  At night all I can think about is that I have to take "those" pills again, my stomach just churns thinking about them. .. . . does anybody else feel like this?

  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 1,466
    edited November 2011

    you need to take them after a meal i think.. a small meal works best for me.. with a big cup of water... all four (for me) at once.  sometimes i eat a bit more, to coat the pills with food so they don't upset your stomach.

  • justjudie
    justjudie Member Posts: 196
    edited November 2011

    I agree. Helps a lot if you take them with food. Just try to think about how "those pills" might be attacking and killing your cancer cells! That might make them more palatable.



    Judie

  • singletona80
    singletona80 Member Posts: 44
    edited November 2011

    Thanks ladies, yes I think it's the anxiety of having to take the pills I'm gonna ask my ONC for a prescription for ativan

  • jeanieb2
    jeanieb2 Member Posts: 130
    edited November 2011

    Singletona8 - I know exactly what you mean.  I find myself getting nauseated when I get them ready for the week or when I just think about them or see them.  I find myself acting like a little kid and want to put stars on the days I finish and then I count the days I have left, I take them 7 days on and 7 off so why do I think I need to count them everyday, it is not like I have lots of days to count down.  Hang in there, I wish I could say it gets better, but, for me it has gotten worse.   I take my Zofran the day before I start and try not to miss a dose of it at all, it has helped some but still just the thought of the pills is not good.

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2011

    Yea take my last 7 days on in about 10 minutes, so glad that it is 7 days on 7 days off, that 14 days crap was for the birds, lol.   My hands are starting again and my feet a swelling but not peeling yet.  I put the udderly smooth on all the time. 

    Thanks for the explaination on the neuropathy, have something going on with them (hands and feet) not sure what it is but they like don't feel like they are there and there is no feeling in them , if that makes and sense.....CANCER SUCKS!!'

    happy thanksgiving all!! 

  • justjudie
    justjudie Member Posts: 196
    edited November 2011



    Blondie: You are sooooo right. Cancer does suck and its miserable all that we go through. I keep trying to tell myself to just be grateful it is not worse, but then I think its probably only a matter of time till it IS worse.



    Singleton, I think the Ativan is a very good idea. Smart young woman. Take whatever you need to get through all tnis is my motto,



    Judie

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2011

    Ativan works better for me than anything!!

  • singletona80
    singletona80 Member Posts: 44
    edited November 2011

    Hey I just wanted to report that today was a good day for me!!! I think that Ativan is working wonders, plus more thn anything it helps me to sleep at night.  The last two nights I have only woke up twice compared to my usual 6-7 times before.  Tomorrow is my last day of this Xeloda cycle and then YESSSSS Im off this drug for 7 days . .. I feel like doing the happy dance. . .  LoL !!!

    I was craving a slurpee so guess what ladies I went to 7Eleven and had me a Coco-Cola Slurpee . . hahaha!!!!!

  • justjudie
    justjudie Member Posts: 196
    edited November 2011

    Mmmmmm....sounds very good Singleron!! You and I will be off the X at the same time this coming week, so lets enjoy!





    Judie

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2011

    good for you single and congrats....celebrate everytime you are done somehow, I need to go get my DQ, hopefully tomorrow....there is only 1 open and about 20 minutes away and have to go to that area tomorrow....

    Congrats on the Ativan, I know I get up about 4 times a night, thought it was just me!!!

  • dreamwriter
    dreamwriter Member Posts: 678
    edited November 2011

    next wk am off X too

  • Tiger_Blood
    Tiger_Blood Member Posts: 83
    edited November 2011

    I am off X next week. too! It has been my first cycle. Tomorrow, I go in for my first Zometa. Happy times. 

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2011

    good luck Tiger_blood, make sure you drink alot afterwards (and before fo that matter) I am not a drinker so they give me 1000 liters of fluids with my Zometa to help with the SE's and I have none and have had it 4 times I think, go back on X on Friday, loving this 7 days on 7 days off, wonder if it is working, lol, probably not scanned until maybe February or March, just got scanned in October...

  • K-Lo
    K-Lo Member Posts: 826
    edited November 2011

    Good morning Big D........1:38? (00)

  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 1,466
    edited November 2011

    i don't know what that means K-Lo.. but good luck. 

    I'm on day 5 of no Xeloda.. i can walk without wincing!  yay

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2011

    excellent and congrats on day 5 off, sorta feels like a human when off for me!!

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