Capecitabin

[Zennia]

Is there anyone on capecitabin?

[MacroMom]

Yes, with good results so far. What would you like to know?

[Zennia in reply to MacroMom]

How long have you been on it, and what are your side effects? Thanks for replying to me.

[MacroMom in reply to Zennia]

I just started in June. Ibrance/Faslodex didn't work for me, after two months my CA 15-3 shot up and liver metastases had increased. Like Barbara, I take it 7 days on, 7 days off, 1300 mg am and pm. So far I haven't had the hand/foot syndrome. I also use Udderly Smooth morning and evening, and keep my feet and hands out of hot water and minimize friction. It was also recommended to take 300 mg of Vitamin B6 daily to help with the hand/foot. I may have a little more fatigue but nothing like I had on Ibrance...and at 64 I lead a pretty active life so it's hard to know what's the drug and what's the grandkids! The only other side effect is some difficulty sleeping deeply. Apparently that's pretty rare though, and melatonin is helping. If you enter "Xeloda" in the search box here you'll find a lot of other good information about it. Wishing you all the best!

[barbarac76]

Hi Zennia,

I've been on Xeloda since mid-February. 1500mg in am, 1500mg in pm. 7 days on, days off. I've had one PTscan in May since starting. Progression in liver resolved. Nodules in lungs, lymph nodes, and bones stable.

Common side effect is hand/foot syndrome. Mine hadn't been too severe (redness, but no burning sensation) until recently. It seems to be heightened during the end of my "on" week and the beginning of my "off" week. Reducing my walking and using lots of cream (my oncologist recommended Udderly Smooth extra care 20) has helped.

I wish you well and hope you have good results with Xeloda. It's always an anxious time when you change treatments.

[MacroMom in reply to barbarac76]

Thanks Barbara, I didn't know that Udderly Smooth had an "extra care" version, I'll look for that. Your results are so encouraging! My CA 15-3 went down 200 points after the first six weeks on Xeloda; hoping for another drop next month.

[barbarac76 in reply to MacroMom]

Hi. Your results are really encouraging, too. A 200-point drop is amazing. I'm hoping it continues. Wouldn't it be nice to get a couple of years out of Xeloda. My oncologist keeps telling me about all the success stories, so I'll go with that.

About the Udderly Smooth extra care (Care 20) - I'm not really sure if it makes a difference. I've been trying all sorts of creams, but mainly sticking with the Udderly Smooth extra care because my onc recommended it (said the Urea content was key). Has the foot syndrome gotten progressively worse for you? I never return to completely normal after my week off, so I guess that may be the explanation for mine seemingly getting worse. It's still bearable as long as I don't take long walks. .

[MacroMom in reply to barbarac76]

I haven't had any sign yet of drying or cracking. My hands and feet are generally cold so maybe that helps. I do sometimes have to kick off my shoes and socks because my feet feel so hot. When I take a bath now it's with my hands and feet sticking out to stay cool...I look like a flipped turtle with limbs flailing! But again, I've only had 4 weeks of the Xeloda so far. I'll keep doing what I can to prevent it. And yes, here's to "a couple of years"!

[barbarac76 in reply to MacroMom]

I didn't see your previous response when I wrote mine. Happy for you that you are not experiencing the hand/foot syndrome. I'm going to try taking the B6 vitamin.

[PLASEM]

I am starting taking Xeloda today prayers for less side effects God bless all of us

[jstickrod]

I have been on Xeloda for four months. I do experience extreme exhaustion, and it is always on my "on" weeks. I take 1500 mg each morning and evening for two weeks, then two weeks off. So far, my hands and feet remain fine, just a little redness. I am experiencing the constant taste of "metal" in my mouth. Oncologist and pharmacist says this is unusual, so we are experimenting with some techniques to lessen that symptom. I was on Ibrance/Faslodex for 18 months, and it started to not be effective. My tumor markers are declining on Xeloda, so I wish you the same pattern of effectiveness.

[Zennia]

Thanks for your reply. I have been on Xeloda for about 3 months. Had a cat scan yesterday, so I am anxiously waiting for the results.

[Kimr2081]

I was on Xeloda for about 8 or 9 months. It kept my mets in my liver stable but for whatever reason it didn't stop it from moving to my back. Other than the hand and feet issues I really didn't have any side effects. They didn't show up until about 4-5 months in. They got bad towards the end but I still could have managed. They are just annoying at sometimes they do hurt. My feet were the worst. I sometimes felt I was walking on gravel. I moisturized a lot and lathered my feet at night and slept in socks.

Wishing you lots of success with this drug.

Kim

[MMMP]

I was on it for over three years- than it gradually stopped working- switched to ibrance- 5 cycles 15-3 continues to rise.... next to try Afinator - only Mets in bone .. really hoping to catch a break- my son gets married in May 2020 and I’m going to be there!!!!

[MacroMom in reply to MMMP]

So nice to read of your long success on Xeloda, thanks for sharing that. I hope you get a nice long run out of Afinitor too. Will you also be taking Exemestane? That combo is one of the options my oncologist suggested. And of course you'll be at that wedding next May, and dancing with your son! What a lovely event to look forward to.

[KarenHale]

I have been on it for over 6 mts 1500 mils am & Pm. 14 days on 7 off. No real side effects. My tumor markers went down to 24.8!!! I didn’t even know they could go down that low. I’m praying it works for a long time.

[Zennia in reply to KarenHale]

Thanks Karen for your reply. Hope I works for me too.