Thanks Belinda!
I’m due to start cycle 3 tomorrow and have also just been prescribed vitamin b6 (pyridoxine) for my sore hands. I know a few people here have mentioned taking this, wondering how effective is it? I’m slightly wary as read some posts on an American forum about people using it and then finding the capecitabine doesn’t work. May be rubbish/coincidence but just wondered about others experiences or if anyone else had heard this?
Also wondered, am halfway through cycle 3 and my neck lumps have become quite tender ( they weren’t before). Does this mean the xeloda is doing something? They don’t appear to be either growing or shrinking just yet.
Hi scaryfox. The tablets don’t seem to give such instant results as IV chemo so a softening of lumps after just 3 cycles sounds, to me, good news…x
Don’t know if they’re softening, just a bit sore if i press them? And the skin is red over the biggest one, hope it’s not escaped into the skin as skin mets! Guess I should see my onc :-s
Hi again S.Fox…it sounds as though things are happening and hopefully this is a good sign as the lumps are not growing. I would see Onc so you can hopefully be reassured…x
Hi Scaryfox, I did take pyridoxine Vitamin B6 when I was on capecitabine although my Consultant Oncologist said there didn’t seem to be much benefit in taking it in the info she had. But as I suffered badly at first I gave it a try, as anything was worth trying as hands and feet so sore. If you moisturise you feet DO NOT RUB IN any cream you have. It makes the cappileries bleed and that causes the soreness to worsen. I just plastered on the cream on my feet at night then put on cotton socks ( to save the bed linen and alllow the cream to be absorbed). If your feet become very uncomfortable the only thing that really made a huge difference was reducing the dose but you witll need to consult your doctor about this. My hands were not so sore. Once I came off the chemo my feet and hands got better. Good luck to you and Hayz with your treatment. After my first lot of treatment my tunmour markers actually halfed and this gave me the courage to continue on it. Good luck girls. Love Val
I have been on this for my bone mets for nearly two years now for my bone mets, it’s good to read that it can be working for quite some time. I started on 2300mg and had every side effect going but thought I just had to deal with it! Sick, runs, feet blistered like bubble wrap!
My dose is now 1600mg and has been for over a year. Two weeks on and a week off. I am generally ok but have to plaster feet with creams to stop cracking: Cetraben works well. I sometomes get a bonus week off if I am suffering as things do accumulate.
I hope you get a dose that suits you soon.
This forum is great for tips, when I started on this drug I got loads of advice… such a great support
Keep smiling 
Loux
Hi all
Just for your interest, BCC have a fact sheet on capecitabine, if anyone would like a copy or to read this on line just follow this
link:-
breastcancercare.org.uk/upload/pdf/xeloda_jan_2006_0.pdf
Best wishes
Sam, BCC Facilitator
Hi Lou, it’s good to hear you too have found Capecitabine a longer term chemo. I’m only a few months ahead of you and hoping I have (we all have) much longer with these peachy tablets…x
PS now looking up cetraben and have just read some good reviews…thanks for the tip!
Hi,
I am wondering if I will be kept on capecitabine as my right foot has got really bad. Lots of sores underneath. I am seeing my GP tomorrow for something else and see my Oncologist next week, so will discss with them.
snoogle
x
Hi Snoogle
Sorry to hear u struggling. I use udderly smooth and also my neighbour is a chiropodist and gave me some FS3 cream (think it called that) and has worked. He also gave me foot emery type board and said should rub them down where my splits are to get rid of skin and it has worked quite well actually. I got some cotton socks and put loads of udderly smooth on every night, sometimes forget though.
Hope u are ok otherwise though. I am not posting much since Kay died, as so sad and upset. Didnt really think Kay would go before me.
Take care all
Dawn
xx
Hi, I will be starting Capecitabine this Friday and would like to thank everyone for the information on this thread. I thought I would share some information I got from my Chemo chat appointment last week.
My named chemo nurse is a bit of a expert on Capecitabine and had been to Roche’s Capecitabine conference last week. What she told me was reassuring regarding side effects and lowered doses of Capecitabine. Most people are started off on a the highest dose also this adjusted for height and weight. 50 percent of people will suffer significant side effects and need changes to the dose. The reason for this is the chemo effect is triggered by three enzymes in the stomach. The tablet then activates and becomes chemotherapy. Everyones enzyme reactions differ so some people will activate the chemo effect more then others and vis versa. The effect of the chemo is not lessened by lowering the dose. It is just as effective as the highest dose.
I hope that makes sense. The drug works at all doses as the dose needed is determined by how your body breaks down and reacts with the tablets. I hope that makes sense.
Paula x
Hi Dawn,
Thanks for that. I saw my gp this morning and she has prescribed hydrocortizone cream. Also I am waiting to find out if I can be referred to a chiropodits. The local hospice is making the referral.
Snoogle
x
Hi Dawn and everyone,
I’m not on capecitabine, but I like to look at the posts to see what’s being said etc. I thought I hadn’t seen you recently and I haven’t been on as I’ve been on a hol to Rhodes. However, I’m very sad to see that you’re not posting because of Kay’s death. It’s all very sad for everyone to hear about her and Jayne but I think that they would be unhappy if they thought you were becoming depressed and not keeping in touch. I do hope that you feel better soon and that you will keep posting as I know you’ve been using this site for a long time and it’s reassuring to everyone else (including me!) when we see messages from you. Take care of yourself and your lovely family and hoping to see you on here again soon. Have a great weekend.
Lotsa love to all, Dianne x x x
Hello
WOOOOOHOOOOO!!! Im havin a break from capcitabane!!! never thought id ever be in this situation and i know it comes with big risks!!
In the last couple of months Ive had 3 tumours in my liver and 3 tumours in my lungs zapped by rfa. and now just hav 3 tumours less than 5mm in my lungs and the tumours in my spine are stable.
Ive now been advised to try letrazole (hormone drug) for 3 months and see if it will hold the cancer as the tumours left are small so hope in 3 months they wont grow too much if letrazole fails. its worth a try!! then i still can go bac on capcitabane as it was still working well as shrunk my tumours by over 50% and got rid of a lot of small nodules, if the tumours grow too quickly then i can have a blast of taxotere so there is a plan should the plan go wrong! (i hope not!)
its so fantastic i can come off capcitabane !! cant believe it!!
R
Good for you, Zippy. Good luck with the Letrozole, hope it holds things in check for along time. Great timing too, holiday insurance should be cheaper now you are not on chemo.
All the best
Linda
Hi,
Mixed results from latest ct scan, some shrinkage and some growth. Growth needs to be investigated so having another ct scan in 6 months. Feet are in such a state that onc is taking me off capecitabine for at least one cycle. Saw a complementary therapist at the local hospice this week and she made up a cream for me feet, so hoping that will help.
Best wishes to all,
Enjoy the lovely weekend.
Snoogle
x
Good news Zippy, fingers crossed that the Letrozole does the job and you can have a nice long break from chemo.
Snoogle your poor feet, lets hope the cream works.
On my first day of Capecitabine today, mouth ulcers already appeared. Thankfully because of the thread I have ulcer gel and foot cream to help deal with side effects. Its been a very helpful read.
Best wishes to all.
Paula x
hi my wife has been having lots of skin rashes,dry skin. we have found that on its own Aqueus cream which she was given was of limited use so in desperation she mixed up aqueus with hydrocortisone cream and lavander oil and it seems to be helping alot
Hi Paula
Thanks for that info from your chemo nurse, I’m not on Capecitabine but I have friends that are so I’ll pass it on.
Sue