Hiya,
Has anyone had any reactions when you started taking Xeloda?
Im scared to death of starting mine in case I have some kind of adverse effect to it.
I have seen people have reactions to intravenous chemos which is instant and can be dealt with there and then, but im scared to death of having a reaction to these tablets after it has got into my blood stream while not being in the safety of the hospital.
I have a fear of taking tablets due to the chance of a reaction and side effects.
(after chemo I shouldn’t be worried about anything!)
I suppose I just want to hear that no one has had problems and that I will be fine!
(Im going to start taking them tomorrow morning…pooping myself big time!)
Julie
X X
Hi Julie
I was on xeloda for 2 years had really good shrinkage for over 12mths then i stayed stable Oct last year my tumours grew again. Some ladieshave been on it longer and its still working for them. It is a nicer chemo you can still have a life and plan hols and stuff. I suffered with dry feet at first but soon trained my hubby to rub them each evening with e45 that sorted it out I was on 2300 twice a day but dose varies and will be reduced if you have problems. Try not to worry Im sur other cyber buddies will be along soon.
Love Debsxxx
Hi Julie
I started on xeloda about 2 1/2 weeks ago so have only done the first cycle so far. It did seem a bit odd taking the tablets home and then a little scary taking them the first day or so. But my understanding is that the kind of reaction you might possibly get would not likely be the instantaneous type of severe reaction. So much more like taking any prescribed drug from the dr where you might get some kind of reaction but most probably won’t and if you do it will be relatively mild.
I’ve been absolutely fine - though he has started me on a 3/4 dose (1800 twice daily). Have trained my husband as well, Debs, to massage my feet each evening which is great!
So try not to worry, Julie. Lots of hugs
Kay x
Hi Julie
I did 9 sessions of xeloda and didn’t get an allergic reaction…I think Kay’s right that you wouldn’t get the kind of reaction that sometimes happens on intravenous drugs.
6 of my cycles were combined with vinorilbine so difficult to separate the side effects but judging from the 3 cycles when I was just on xeloda it was by far the easiest of all the chemos I’ve done. (AC, taxotere, vinorilbine, carboplatin, gemzar)
I did get very bad diarrhoea on cycle 2…had been told to stop the tabs if I ‘went’ more than 4 times in 24 hour period. After that my dose was reduced.
I avoided hand and foot syndrome by using Udderley Smooth cream (google it…you can buy it off the internet.)
My onc told me to ‘treat the tablets with respect’…and remember they are chemo…I did find it strange swallowing tabs at home or in a restaurant after dinner…talk about integrating cancer treatment with the rest of life. After a while I grew to really dislike the salmon pink colour of the tabs…completely irrational I know.
Hope you feel better once you’ve started the tabs Julie
best wishes
Jane
Hi Julie
Just adding my reassurances to everything Debs, Kay and Jane have said – I’ve been taking Xeloda for over 4½ years since my bone & liver mets dx, starting on 2000 mg x twice a day, then had two dose reductions in the first 18 months after developing hand/foot syndrome; been on 1000 mg x twice a day for 3 years. I didn’t have any side effects for the first few courses, and now hardly notice any effects at all when I take it. Xeloda really smacked my liver mets very quickly, and (along with an aromatase inhibitor, first Arimidex, then Aromasin) has been keeping me stable and symptom-free. Hope it works well for you – remember to take Vit B6 and slather your hands & feet with nice creams.
Marilyn x
Hi Julie,
I’ve been on Xeloda for 14 months now. No bad reactions at all. It’s by far the best of the 3 chemo’s I’ve been on and is keeping my liver mets stable.
As has already been said, you can live a much more normal life on Xeloda. Makes my feet a bit sore occasionally and feel a bit tired for a few days but my friend has the symptoms and she’s not got cancer-she says that’s one of the things about being 50!
Good luck,love Jackiexxx
I’ve been on xeloda about 18 months and I don’t notice I am taking anything. Hope it will be the same for you.
Jenny
x
Hi Julie
I have been on Xeloda for 2 years, and have had no allergic reactions. I do find my feet and hands get sore but I have been trying lots of different creams, also I sometimes have a weeks break which the hospital are quite happy with. Its an easy chemo to take it travels well I have been to Canada and Europe and had no problems.
I always have my fingers crossed that it keeps working.
All the best I hope it works well for you.
Beli x
Hi
I started yesterday so no reactions so far! My dose is 1500mg twice a day. My chemo nurse who I saw yesterday to get bloods done says that she has ladies who have been on it for years so I’m really crossing everything that it is going to have a good result
Kathryn