my aunt…who has BC sce’s to bones and cells in stomach finished her first course of Xeloda last Tuesday, she was suffering nausea but then last Wednesday started suffering from severe diarreha [spelling] this continued and Saturday we had to take her to oncology where she was admitted.
She is still suffering severe diarreha…everything is just pouring out of her…they have been giving her liquid immodium, now codine, plus she has had two bags of potassium as her levels were low.
Has anyone else suffered to this extent after one course.?..my aunt has decided not to continue with treatment now…the implications of which, besides the fact the the stomach cells won’t be being treated and probably will continue to progress…I do not know?
I suffered a bad experience with Xeloda the first time round, I became Neutrphenic (no immune system waht so ever), a high temperature and bad dioreaha. I bacame really ill on the third week when i wasn’t actually taking the drug- to the extent where I couldn’t eat or drink.
I was admitted to hospital and had antibiotics (because they thought i had a temperature which meant and infection somewhere). I was given so many drugs including potassium and 2 bags of blood along with a central line put in my neck. My oncologist was really concerned and has since told me that it could have been fatal.
However on a good note it shrank the cancer by 48%. My oncologist said that because of my reaction to the drug i really should never be given it again but she knew i wouldn’t accept that due to the results.
It has taken quite some time to sort out my dose but it is worth giving it another try. My onc halved my dose and when i was okay with that put it up 20% (which again ended up with me being unwell).
It is a bit a trial and error but once you’ve got the dose correct it is a really good chemo - I am now an my cycle 6 and we are trying another dose again so here’s hoping. Unlike other chemo it doesn’t make your legs ache and feel like a 90 years olds.
Obvioulsy it’s your Aunt choice but it might be worth giving it another go with a much lower dose. I was given 2000mg twice per day to begin with and am now trying on dose of 1150 and one dose of 1300 which is quite a difference from the original amount but is still managing to keep the cancer from growing.
Hope all goes well
Diane