Xeloda

[Antares12]

I start xeloda tomorrow. Are the side effects worse than ibrance?

[Fiercefighter13]

Hi there, I just started my third month of Xeloda (metronomic dosing, one week on, one week off). My first week I got very nauseated so my doctor lowered my dose. I upped my dosing back up to the full dose week by week. This is my second week in a row on the full dose. I’ve been on Ibrance/Letrozole, Verzenio/Faslodex, and Faslodex/Aromisin, with no side effects at all. Xeloda, for me has been a bit of a challenge. The nausea finally subsided on its own, my feet hurt constantly, as well as the palms of my hands (no cracking or dryness or blisters though). I also got a lot of inflammation from the cancer kill off. But it’s working really well. My doctor had me change my diet to an anti inflammatory diet and so far it’s helping a lot. Exercising helps s lot as well quelling the joint pain and the hand and foot pain. Everyone is different, I hope you do well on it, with no side effects. If you do have side effects there are a lot of ways to combat them. Wishing you well on your journey, take care!!

[Antares12 in reply to Fiercefighter13]

Thank you for your input. I had a horrible start to ibrance and have been really anxious about starting this new on. So far, I'm extremely tired, but no real nausea. They have me taking anti-nausea meds before I take the xeloda.

[Fiercefighter13 in reply to Antares12]

I hope Xeloda works as well for you as it does for me so far. When these meds do their jobs really well, I think it gives us the stamina to keep taking them and work on the side effects any way we can. It’s not an easy road, but with great doctors who listen to us and care, it makes this journey a little easier.

[Jansurvivor]

Hi. I have done both drugs. I was on Ibrance for 3+ years and now on Xeloda, working on year 2. Both have been pretty easy until this past holiday season. The dr raised my dosage and I developed hand/foot syndrome. If I may offer advice… if your dr. Tells you to used lotion on your hand and feet, use it even if you don’t have symptoms. Good luck to you.

[Antares12 in reply to Jansurvivor]

Thank you for input. My skin is dry to begin with. I've been slathering on the lotion already.

[Chamisa]

I was on Ibrance + Fulvestrant for four months. I had constant background, low-grade nausea which killed my appetite. My hair really thinned on it also. I had a lot of fatigue but the cancer itself might have been the cause of that. My experience with Xeloda has been much more positive (on my third cycle). My appetite is back and I have a higher level of energy (cancer burden is lessening so once again that might explain my energy level). I have had hand/foot syndrome. I moisturize constantly. My feet peeled a bit and they’re red, as are my hands sometimes. My feet hurt during my first cycle (2 weeks on, one week off) but after my oncologist changed my schedule to week on, week off the pain is gone.

Hope it works for a long time because it’s very tolerable for me!

[Antares12]

Thank you. I'm really battling being tired, but I was anemic going in, and I think it isn't helping that. I get a blood draw on Monday, so hopefully there will be something they can do about the anemia.

[Buffwright]

I had a tough time on 3000 a day for my first round. My doc quickly reduced it to 2000, 2 weeks on, one off, and it has been pretty easy. Hair has grown back thick and curly and no HF. Some diarrhea but not bad. I sleep through the night!

[Antares12 in reply to Buffwright]

I wish I could sleep through the night. I'm always having to get up in the night and go to the bathroom.

[Buffwright in reply to Antares12]

😟

[Buffwright]

it may depend on the dose. It has been pretty easy for me on 2000 mg. 14/7. My hair has grown back! Little nausea.

[Antares12 in reply to Buffwright]

My dose is much higher. The diarrhea just started in. On to the immodium and gatorade