long term use of capecitamine for breast cancer

Hi Everybody

I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer that has gone into my ribs and spine last september and have been on oral chemo - capecitamine with Avastin ever since. A scan in march showed that cancer activity had dropped from 5 to zero but oncologist says that i need to keep going with the treatment to keep on beating the cancer back.

I understand that is the policy now for cancer that has metastized… BUT he also says that one day the cancer will develop resistence to this drug and come back…

So what i dont understand is why with regular scanning you cant come off the drug and then hit the cancer back if and when it does come back. He says that honestly, as oncologists they dont know the answer to that and that it feels like a risky thing to do. which i understand and feel too…

Has anyone out there done this? - dared to come off the drugs with a view to hitting the cancer again with chemo should it dare to come back? 

I’m coping OK with the side effects but worry that it will damage my immunity badly, weakening my own resilience to the disease… 

Hi KF57,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your story. You might find it useful to 

post on our Ask the Nurse board or call our helpline on 0808 800 6000, who will be able to talk you through the questions you have about capecitamine. The opening hours are below:

Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Late opening Wednesday, 9am-7pm
Saturday, 9am-1pm

Best wishes, 

Bonita