Tips for Xeloda

[Flower1513]

Mom is to start Xeloda next week . Looks like 1500 morning and 1500 night . I think that’s correct. She’s also on metformin right now from the anfintor and Faslodex spiking her sugar. She’s been off anfintor a week now but still doesn’t feel great . Awful taste in her mouth and not a great appetite. But she recently started the metformin a few weeks ago and that’s when I noticed her not feeling well the most. So not sure she tolerates the metformin very well. But I would love to know anything that helped you with Xeloda?

[PJBinMI]

I've been on Xeloda since earlier this year, after we discovered cancer was no longer E+, so my treatment had to change! My initial dose was alot higher than it is now and we had to drop the dosage two or three times as my hands became red with tender fingers and peeling skin on the inside of my fingers. Now I take 1000 mg twice a day, 7 days on, 7 days off. Cancer is mostly stable. I got a prescription for oinntment for my fingers and thhat helped. The week I am taking the X, I feel cold and have had to wear winter sweaters inside and out. That's gotten somewhat better since the dosa was reduced, but my palms are pink and my fingertips tender, even though I don't feel things well. I'm a long timer with MBC and I've found the oncology nurses to be really helpful about what to do about side effects, symptoms, too. If you Mom has side effects, even mild ones, she should call her onc right away (or you can!). Better to call a little too often than not quite often enough.

I may have told you that my Mother died from Lung cancer, nearly 40 years ago and I was lucky to able to be with her several times during her 5 months and for nearly two weeks right before she died. Mom's cancer was in some ways harder than having this MBC has been! My body wasn't effected, but my emotions were harder! Our mothers are such important people in our lives!

I hope your Mom does well for a long time. Be sure to take care of yourself, too! Sending love and best wishes for you both!

[Flower1513 in reply to PJBinMI]

Thank you so much❤️ Yes, will meet tues with her team to go over her new med. I’m sure that will be a big help. She soared thru her ibrance with no issues. Hated her infinitor which I think is making her worry about new med.

[PJBinMI]

I've been on Xeloda since earlier this year, after we discovered cancer was no longer E+, so my treatment had to change! My initial dose was alot higher than it is now and we had to drop the dosage two or three times as my hands became red with tender fingers and peeling skin on the inside of my fingers. Now I take 1000 mg twice a day, 7 days on, 7 days off. Cancer is mostly stable. I got a prescription for oinntment for my fingers and thhat helped. The week I am taking the X, I feel cold and have had to wear winter sweaters inside and out. That's gotten somewhat better since the dosa was reduced, but my palms are pink and my fingertips tender, even though I don't feel things well. I'm a long timer with MBC and I've found the oncology nurses to be really helpful about what to do about side effects, symptoms, too. If you Mom has side effects, even mild ones, she should call her onc right away (or you can!). Better to call a little too often than not quite often enough.

I may have told you that my Mother died from Lung cancer, nearly 40 years ago and I was lucky to able to be with her several times during her 5 months and for nearly two weeks right before she died. Mom's cancer was in some ways harder than having this MBC has been! My body wasn't effected, but my emotions were harder! Our mothers are such important people in our lives!

I hope your Mom does well for a long time. Be sure to take care of yourself, too! Sending love and best wishes for you both!

[Widdershins3 in reply to PJBinMI]

Could you please share the name of the prescription ointment you were given? I have very severe h&f syndrome with open sores and a lot of pain.

[Bettybuckets]

hi Flowers! I’m similar to PJB in MI in thst I started at the dose they are starting you on… and am now on the 1000mg (2 pills) morning and night sith 7 days on then off. My hands have mostly been fine but the HFS has badly affected my feet and my ability to walk. So my suggestions is to ask what cream is best. I used a 40% urea cream at first for several times per day. Thst wasn’t best. My recent foot dr appt- he suggested 5% urea cream and that has been great. I put it on and then put gel socks over thst in bed for a few hours. Hope that helps. Your dose seems large but some people don’t get HFS so if so then thst dose is reasonable. But if your QOL is affected speak up. They are used to dropping the dose and will work with you. Then you can just get on with things

[Flower1513 in reply to Bettybuckets]

Thank you so much!!! I’m praying my mom does just great on this. And we can’t get back to a little normalcy . As you know med changes take a while to get back in the groove. She did so good on ibrance. Anfintor didn’t work great and she didn’t like the way it made her feel. So I’m praying Xeloda will begin to get things going in the right direction again !!

[fancydog]

Metformin alone can make someone feel sick and watchout for severe diarrhea!