Hi All, finished peachy pills this morning & saw Onc today for results of CT scan - much the same as before the tumour & fibrous tissue are stressing the right kidney during the day which resolves overnight (up for a wee every couple of hours). For my sort of tumour they are keeping close eye on tumour markers, how I feel & 3 monthly CT scans.
So far feet are feeling leathery but not sore, hands are fine. Red blood count good for me as have always been on lower side of normal!!
The tiredness & breathlessness I have had since this started last year, which is why we knew something was wrong with me a few months before I was diagnosed.When out with my sister she is often way ahead otherwise if we chat I tend to walk at her fast pace, 18 months ago I frequently walked a 20 minute mile!!
Blood test Friday late afternoon, Chemo dept next Monday for next pills from Pharmacist but won’t get markers as they only report them on files on Friday mornings!! On the Monday after I get pills I can ring BCN to check my file. Back to Onc in 6 weeks
Just a question ladies. Ive been reading a doc about how Capecitabine works and it destroys the dna in the metastatic cells preventing them growing and multiplying and thus causing them to die.
So…how do they still spread to other organs if the cells are being killed?
Sorry if i sound dumb!!
Hello Bev, it’s strange you don’t know about your red blood cells - did your hospital not give you a patient record book? My hospital did and there is a section for the chemo records, a section for my blood results and a section for radiotherapy records. I have to take it with me each time I go for an appointment. I always make a point of checking my blood results. The only thing I don’t get is a note of the calcium in my blood and I have now been told that it is quite low, so will have to restart taking the calcium tablets. Best wishes to all. Barton.x
Hello Helen. I’ve never asked about my tumour markers either. To be honest, I never knew that something like that existed until joining the forum here. After my second cycle (I think), my Onc.asked me to go for a special blood test but I never got up the nerve to ask what it was for. I haven’t had another of those since, though, so I don’t know what it was telling him. Best wishes. Barton.x
Hello, Daisy, so sorry to hear you have had such a rough time! Poor you. I hope you are taking it easy now. And hope the new chemo goes easy on you. Best wishes. Barton.x
Hello Helen and Bev, I had an Onc.appointment last week and I asked him about the possibility of having a chemo break in the future (hoping for a breast reduction op on the remaining one sometime in the future), but was worried that the cancer would then act like bacteria that becomes resistant to antibiotics. He said that yes, it could do, but certainly not at the speed that bacteria become resistant. So, presumably, the cancer does become resistant to the chemo, but over a much greater (hopefully) time period. Hope this makes sense. Good luck to all the Cap gang. Barton.x
Thanks for the info Barton…will ask about a card when i see Onc at clinic tomorrow…or at least about my red blood cells. After I’ve had my bloods done and then go in to see him he looks at the computer and just says “all your bloods are fine”. Should i be asking for individual results? xxxx
Have a lovely holiday smartie…just what the doctor ordered! My pulse rate is always just under 100 around 96 or 97 resting! And my sats are 97. Yet I’m not anaemic. I have asked occasionally but they say I’m not…so does that mean the high pulse and breathlessness is not all down to low red blood count?
Mrs blue. .Thanks for the link.
Had my CT scan this afternoon. …have asked if i can have result at clinic tomorrow otherwise will have to wait till next tues!
Love and hugz to all…bev xxx
To 2catlady & Bevlaar a friend / nurse who works on the chemo ward told me sometime ago that she explains how chemo works to older children/teenagers as being like weedkiller. You spray it on & it kills the weeds but does not kill off any tiny weed seeds in the soil that have not germinated. Hope this helps.
Oh Helen! Wouldn’t that be something if the little uggers WERE on our side! I love that idea. Good luck to all Cappers, and so sorry to hear so many of you are having painful trouble with your big toes! So far, I seem to have managed to miss that se (thank goodness). I have, however, developed one of the “uncommon” side effects of the Fragmin injections - I have a lovely red, itchy rash across my tum! Went to Boots yesterday and asked Pharmacist and she recommended Aveeno cream. It helps for a little while, then the itching starts again. You can apply as often as needed, though. I have found it a very nice hand cream as well. Have been greasing my feet with the Vaseline, too. (My sister absolutely HATES me saying “greasing my feet”!). Have a great holiday, smartie. Best wishes, everyone. Barton.x
Good morning Cape ladies…wonder if anyone can help with info on eating before taking cap tabs. I believe this may have been discussed before but not sure on which thread…never know whether to use this one or the bone mets one which everyone with SBC seems to use…
I have problems with the spacing of the tablets and what to eat beforehand.
I try to have at least a 10 hour gap between doses but this doesnt fit with meal times so often find myself having to eat extra…this isnt usually a problem but for the week following my iv chemo/cap i feel really sick so dont feel like eating at all.
i only have toast or cereal for breakfast most mornings before i have my tablets but seem to remember being told that having some cake or a few biscuits wasnt enough so am now worried that my breakast isnt enough . I know the tabs are most efective after food so wondered if anyone can tell me what they do. Sorry if this sounds daft but i’m sure you know the feeling of worrying about everything! x
I think I remember being told by onc team that the gap between taking cape doses should be at least 8 hours. But if in doubt please check with your own medical team.
As to why Cape should be taken after food… again I think I’ve seen somewhere that all the research (clinical trials) was done on patients who took their tablets after food. I don’t think it’s because of problems as can happen with ibuprofen and other related painkillers, these should always be taken with or immediately after food.
Nooo! I won’t be part of the Cape gang anymore…boohoo! But I’ll still post on here with you as a docetaxel gal!
Helen hope both you and your sister are doing well. Im sure your heart will be fine…they just like to check absolutely everything. I remember having an ecg 9 years ago before my FEC. Just precautions.
I heard today that my friend’s sister has just been dx with brain mets …22 YEARS after her primary!!
Seems we’re never in the clear. …oh well onwards and upwards.
Love to you all ladies…bev xxxxxxxx
Long before i started on Cape I had a badly bashed & non growing big toenail, it got sore around it after 4 cycles & i also had blisters. GP offered to remove it but referred me to the Podiatry unit at a local hospital. No pain when nail removed & given subsequent appts to check my feet & dress any blisters. If I needed to go between 3 wkly appts I only had to ring & was usually seen same day.
Oh helen. …Shame about your neutrophils. Never mind you get another chemo free week instead! Go out and start some xmas shopping maybe? Hope all will be ok for next week xxx
Thanks for the tip Jo, toegate indeed! Helen hope you’rs is soon better sounds nasty! Bless our little piggies going to market (they should have stayed at home) x
Katherine…dont think it’s gastric flu…one of my main se’s on cape was gripping stomach cramp pains followed by diarrhoea. I had this each time on my week off the tabs. It made me go quite hot and “flushy” as well. It probably is the Cape. Think a lot of other ladies get the same too.
Hope it gets better for you love xxxxxx