Hello ladies,
I found out yesterday that the bc has gone to my liver and nodes in neck. Originally diagnosed in 1997 (at the age of 28) with primary bc which had node involvment(was treated with FEC and had lumpectony)was in remission until, 2008 when diagnosed with sedondaries to bones and lungs (was treated with Taxotere and had great response, tumour markers started to creep up so had oopherectomy) and here we are in 2011 now I am going for the full house, liver and nodes in neck have decided to join the party!!!
I am starting capecitabine next week (hopefully…I think) so am on here looking for any help and advice. I am open to anything, conventional and complementry therapies I will try the lot. I am not fussy…
So if any of you lovely ladies can give some of your expert advice it would be very gratefully received.
Hi fayjay69
So sorry to hear that you are now going for the ‘full house’ of mets with your latest diagnosis. I can’t help you with info abut capecitabine (xeloda?) but I know there are many ladies with mets on here that are currently taking this chemo. Some, including our very own ‘xeloda queen’ Marilyn, have been taking this for many years with excellent results. I hope one of them will come along later to give you some advice, if not try searching, especially in the secondaries part of the forum, for any threads related to this. Good luck with your treatment.
Nicky x
Hello fayjay69,
Sorry to hear about your recent news. I have bone mets, and did 6 months of capecitabine recently. It worked initially for me but then mild progression, so I’m now starting Paclitaxel. However there are quite a few ladies on here that are having good responses to it & have been on it for some time.
I found it a very doable chemo - infact hardly knew I was on chemo. Main issue is the hand & foot problem - can make the skin red & sore but I managed this really well with Udderly Smooth cream & Flexitol. Both worked well & I had hardly any problems. Also felt quite tired at times. Other than that felt pretty normal.
I hope it works for you & you find it as easy to cope with as I did.
Good luck.
Dugsy x
Hi fayjay,
Sorry to hear your cancer is back:-(
I was dx’ed just over 2 years ago and now it’s back for the 2nd time:-(
I’ve just started this chemo today - This morning. I was prescribed tablets to help with my digestion, anti-sickness tablets, cream and also for diarrhoea.
I know another lady who just started on the this chemo this week, (hope she will see your post), so that’s 3 of us! Hopefully we can compare notes and help each other along.
Keep in touch. xx
Hi Fay
Here is a fantastic link posted by Mrs Blue last month (Thank you so much!) in which she has collated a few threads relating to capecitabine. I think m1yu was referring to me as I started this on Tuesday (so far no problems!)
breastcancercare.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=32608
I hope the link works and these threads are of use to you,
xx
Hi there
I have just started my 3rd cycle of this and its not been too bad. Worse thing is tiredness, haven’t had any sickness or diarrhoea in fact the opposite. This is my first chemo, had my initial bc back in 1986 but have had 3 recurrences since 2005, why I haven’t had it before I have no idea, its still confined to my breasts but have had nodes affected.
I find my first week of taking them is not so bad but towards the end of second week and the first part of my week off I am really tired.
Have had sore eye which I was told is a side effect, and have been given eye drops which help a little. Hands and feet so far are fine.
Hope you get on all right with them at least you get to keep your hair.
Jan
Hi, I’ve been on Capecitabine, 3 weekly cycles, since April 2008, have never had a break and will stay with it for as long as it’s working…I’ve had no real tiredness, no tum troubles, I’ve just had the usual foot side effects but nothing too awful…Good Luck…xx
Hi I’m just starting my 3rd cycle! I’m finding it ok just tired and a few mouth ulcers. It has stopped the tumor growing and now waiting to see what happens next. I have secondary cancer in bones and previous chemos worked v well but as soon as I came off the chemo it started growing again in the breast.
Not sure how long I will be on it so v similar to you just got to wait and see how it goes. I hope it works for you xxxx
Thank you ladies, I am not dreading it as much now after reading your expereinces, of course I will let you know how I get on.
I have to go for an appointment with the chemo nurse on Monday to find out the dose etc…
Lets hope it works for all of us and we have many many years ahead of us…
Fay :o)
Thank you nicki65 for your link from Mrs blue, I found that very helpful indeed.
I collectd the pills today and start tomorrow…
Apparently 1 it 4 it can push the cancer back to NED…Lets hope that we are those one in 4 people…I am bit nervious and scared but just want to get on with it now…
Thank you ladies
I will try and get on secondary chat tomorrow…does it start at 8 or 9 cant remember?
fay :o)
Hi Fay
Secondary chat is 8:30 - 9;30, I will hopefully be on Tomorrow, it would be nice to talk to you! I have had 6 days of doses, mine is 4 X 500mg and 1 X 150 mg twice a day. I am not good swallowing tablets, but am trying different ways to find something that works for me. I haven’t yet had any side effects, but I have found that I have to have an early evening snack before tea to keep me going, as if I get hungry, I start to feel a bit weird.
Here’s to being that 1 in 4!!!
Stay strong xx
Hi fay, hope you are feeling OK first day on those tablets… and yes, hope we are those 1 in 4.
Hi Nicky, glad to hear you are not having much side effects. My dose is 3 x 500mg and 2 x 150mg twice a day. I’m not too bad so far. On max dose of anti-sickness tablets (tried to reduce the dose but then feeling nauseous by the evening!!), tired and thirsty. Guess it’s early days, but already feeling the lumps going down (or is that psychological??)
I’m always busy on a Tuesday evening, so won’t be joining you in the live chat. But will keep in touch on here.
xx
Hello Fay
How you doing - hope my text helped you and that we can catch up soon. I hope that xeloda works wonders for you like it has done for some of the others on here. Will keep everything crossed for you - we been through so much in 4 years together, and you are a fighter so keep yer chin up matey and remember even though I am not on line much at the mo (kids back 6th) you can always text or fb me and I will reply.
Loadsa love coming your way. Big hugs too and take care. Drop me a line and let me know how it is going and order that cream for your feet.
xxx
Hello all – “Xeloda Queen” here (almost 8 years on capecitabine) - hope you are doing well on this treatment, and not suffering too many side effects - spread that Flexitol on your feet!! Much love, Marilyn x