Capecitabine (Xeloda)
Capecitabine (Xeloda) Hello all,
I will be starting the second part of my chemo in a few weeks time and will be taking Capecitabine ( Xeloda ) in tablet form.
I was wondering if any of you ladies had been on or on these tablets and what the side effects were. I hope they are better than the Epi the thought that they may be better is keeping me going.
Any feed back good or bad would be much appreciated.
Best wishes to all.
Candy.
Started today Hi Candy,
Had meeting with onc today and picked up the xeloda pills today so don’t know what they are like yet, but will try and keep you updated.
Tracyx
reply Hi Candy
I have finished my chemo but was on the Tact 11 trial (4xepi and 4x xeloda). I found the xeloda okay.
No nausea or sickness. I did have a problem with my hands and feet, which did not happen until about three quarters of the way through. The skin went quite thin and split on my fingers and I took a couple of blisters on my feet. My nails were also in quite poor condition. I kept putting loads of hand cream on. I used rubber gloves quite a lot. I also had quite a lot of heartburn, but I had that on the epi anyway. Other than that I really did not have a lot of side effects.
Once I had finished it didn’t take too long for things to clear up although my toenails and fingernails are not just quite back to normal yet. I finished the tablets in March.
I found it helped to take the tablets about ten minutes after a meal.
Hope this helps
Take care and love
Thistle
thanks for replying Dear Tracey and Thistle,
Thank you for replying to my post.
The tablets don’t seem that bad to the Epi, as i am suffering quiet badly with that.I’ll keep an eye on my nails and start using rubber gloves and loads of handcream as soon as i start.
Good luck with your treatments.
Candy.
Also on TCT II Trial Hi Candy
I am also on the TACT II trial group 3 and am in the middle of my second lot of Xeloda. Like Thistle said, side effects are minimal compared with the epi, at least that is the way it has turned out for me, we are all different though.
I am suffering really bad heartburn and am considering shares in Rennie’s! My oncs SHO suggested fresh pineapple and it does help. My hands and feet are going very dry but my nails are OK so far. I am keeping nail varnish on as it does seem to give them a bit of strength.
I am lucky that I haven’t realy suffered from diaorrhea which I believe is another possible side effect.
I have to say that compared to epi Xeloda is almost a walk in the park but that’s probably because there are no needles involved! I have developed a deep phobia of all things sharp and pointed!!! Positive points are of course that you hair will start to grow back almost immediately, sadly in all the places it was before - just when you get used to the benefits of not shaving legs etc etc!!
Chin up Candy we are all here with you and just think you are half way through!
Take care
Chrisjo
not for cows udder cream I’ve had just one cycle of xeolda (with vinorilbine.) so far.Difficult to separate the side effects but even together for me much much better than AC or taxotere. Diarrheoa is a common side effects but I only had it mildly once.
My hands and feet are OK so far. I am smothering mysefl in some cream called not for cows udder cream (yes it was developed to stop cows udders cracking.) Got this tip from someone with mets who has had a lot of xeloda. You can buy direct from:
best wishes
Jane
Good to hear all the comments about the Xeloda… I’ve drawn Group 3 of the TACT2 trial… the tablets sound easier to deal with than the Epi. I’ve only just started on the long road, having had the first chemo session a fortnight ago… so far, so good… nothing too awful to deal with yet… sick the first night, nauseous for a few days, horrible mouth/tongue, but fine now… whew!
Look forward to hearing others observations… it really does help put the whole thing into perspective.
Xeloda Dear Alis, Chrisjo and JaneRA,
Thanks for all your comments about Xeloda, Iam also on the Tact" 2 , trial on arm 4 so the Epi is given every 2 weeks instead of every three, three down one to go! then on to the tablets.
Before this i didnot mind needles but now i have a phobia about them.
Just off to start a pile of ironing now, oh joy, please keep in touch and let me know how you are all doing, best wishes to you all.
Candy.
tact 2 Hi Alis
Im on group 3 of the trial and started chemo on Apr 5th. Am due my last epi on 5th July before changing to xeloda.
Ive been very lucky on the epi the first one knocked me out for a few days and i felt sick but havent suffered too bad on 2 and 3.
Looking forward to ending the needles as my veins are protesting now and my arm is quite painful. Looking forward to the tablets that means im halfway through as well.
Only thing ive suffered with throughout is indigestion which i was given tablets for and they’ve really helped.
Hope you carry on to be well.
Is your hair falling out yet. My started on day 15 and by day 19 i shaved it all off as it was getting everywhere.
Jackie
xx
How is it going? Dear Candy,
I am on the arm 4 of the Tact 2 trial too. I have only just had the first Epi so you are ahead of me. How is it going? How have the side effects been? Hope that you are OK
Best wishes,
Victoria
Hi Jackie,
You seem to be several weeks ahead of me on the TACT2. I have my second Epi tomorrow and am feeling OK about it, I guess because I know a bit of what to expect this time. I just hope they don’t keep me waiting two and a half hours like they did last time. Plenty time for me to get in a state! I’m having my treatment at the Beatson in Glasgow and it had only opened about two weeks before I went, so things seemed a bit disorganised, needless to say… surely they’ve sorted things out now?!
I’m just on the way up after a big downer for a few days… it really is a big roller-coaster, isn’t it?! I thought I was doing really well and on quite an even-keel for the first two weeks after chemo… then on Saturday my hair started to come out… that was day 17 for me…Thought I was ready for it, but obviously not. I still have quite a good covering, and I doubt anyone would notice, but have no idea how long for and when to just get rid of it all.
It really is good to hear first hand from those who have been there. Try hard as friends/family try to say the right thing, often they don’t!!
All the best for now,
Alison
RE Epi Hello Victoria,
Sorry the reply is a bit late in the day, but i’ve not been too good this time round.
You asked how it’s been going and i won’t lie to you, i have had every side effect going i think and then some!
I haven’t been sick with it but constantly feel sick right up to the next one, i think it probably builds up in you system so the side effects seem to last longer with me .
My arm is very sore at the moment (number 3 last Wednesday ) as my viens are really hurting so i’m glad i’ve only one more to go.
As you have probably read before not everyone suffers quite so badly and i hope you don’t, it is “do-able” and there is only 4!!.
I don’t know if you have lost your hair yet as you have only had one, i lost mine after the second, i did get upset but it will start growing back once the Epi is finished, it will be at the top of my list to Santa this year (ha ha ).
Let me know how you are getting on i will look out for your posts, and if i can help in anyway, even just to have a moan at i will be here, take care Victoria, i will be thinking of you and wishing you all the best in fighting this.
Candy.
Dear Candy,
Sorry to hear that you have been having a tough time. I really appreciate your kind words and offer of support, particularly as you haven’t too good. Partners and friends try so hard to say the right thing (what ever that is) but the old cliche is true isn’t it - that only another person in the same shoes can hope to understand? I haven’t lost my hair yet although I notice every stray strand that comes out and have a momentry little panic that ‘this is it…here we go…’ but its just a few stray hairs, probably the same amount as I normally have!
Did you have any trouble with the white cell booster jab after the Epi’s? My skin became tight and oversensitive and my lymph glands in my neck became very sore for a couple of days. I wasn’t sure if that was the Epi or the white cell booster we have.
Generally, do you think that your side effects got worse the more treatments you had or was it pretty horrible from day one?
Best wishes
Victoria
Good to hear how others have got on, on the TACT2 trial. I had my second dose of Epi on Thursday and disappointingly it hit me harder than the first… just starting to feel better now. But then it seems to hit everyone differently. My big dilemma now is what to do re the hair… coming out in handfuls… to shave or not to shave?!! There is still a good covering, but I know how much it has thinned… maybe I can get away with it for a few more days, but I’m going back to see my wig girl tomorrow and she’ll take it all off if I want… what does anyone think, from their experiences. Daft isn’t it, but losing my hair is worse than the rest of it… and I don’t consider myself a very vain person… aagghh!
AliS
Hi Alis
I had my hair shaved of by the girl who did my wig as soon as it started to come out in handfuls. I found it was falling all over everything and was even finding it in my cups of tea.
I found it strangely liberating not having to worry anymore about it, the only thing was it was during the winter and I didn’t realise just how warm my hair kept my head! Everyone is different and might not feel the same about having it shaved.
I was on the TACT2 trial as well and shortly after I started the Xeloda tablets my hair started to come back again.
It is nothing to do with being vain, it is just quite a shock when your hair starts to fall out even though you are expecting it.
Take care and love
Thistle
Just had a shower and washed my hair for the first time in 5 days (yuck, but avoiding the inevitable!)… hair came out en masse… so think that’s maybe made me decision for me… why have the stress of anticipating it, next time I have to wash it. So it could be taken off tomorrow morning… wish me luck!
Alison
Hi All
I’m also on the TACT2 Trial arm 4 and started losing my hair on day 20. Hair has been coming out in handfuls but still looks OK and if I don’t move my head too much!! I’m avoiding washing it every day (used to wash it every day so this is hard not to do as it looks horrible). I think some of you ladies are so brave to take the step of just shaving it all off once and for all but I can’t seem to make myself do this. I don’t think it will be lasting much longer though (Day 23 for me now). This is probably the only thing that has been making me feel really low since the weekend and seem to be able to cry at anything at the drop of a hat!
It was also good to learn that hair will start growing once the Epi part of chemo has finished. I’m due my 3rd Epi on 10th July and finish with last on 24th July. Apart from the hair loss I haven’t done too badly with side effects, no sickness but a couple of mouth ulcers and a touch of heartburn that Rennies seem to sort out OK.
Alison, you mention you’re attending the Beatson in Glasgow - I think I’m due there for Rads after the chemo. I’m having my chemo at Wishaw and it does generally take the whole day with most of it waiting around! It’s good to know there’s someone close by who understands and is going through exactly same regime as I am.
Take care everyone.
Carol
Hello all
Hello ladies i haven’t been on here for a few days as i’ve not been feeling too great.
Jimmer, i did feel sore down my arm, around the back of my neck and down my back a day or two after the booster injection, so i asume it is a side affect.
The side effects did not necessary get worse but they did last longer, so probably felt worse. The one i felt bad with was the awful feeling and taste in my mouth, this used to make me feel really sick and didnot go between treatments.
I finished the Epi part today so not feeling too good at the moment, the good side is no more canualas!! but i will be on TEN tablets a day for 14 days then a week off. I shall rattle but at least they are not pointy or sharp.
Best wishes and take care.
Candy.
Tact 2 trial
Hello all,
I’m about to start on the Xeloda tablets and suffered badly with nausea constantly, did anybody suffering the same find the nausea a bit easier with Xeloda?
I look forward to your replys.
Candy