Xeloda vs. Taxol

saw1019

Hi everyone, it's been a long time since I've posted anything here. I had to take time off the computer as it was consuming all my time. I was hoping to get some feedback to help me in trying to decide my next form of treatment.

After 6 1/2 years "cancer free" I was dx with mets to the bones...heavy in the hip/pelvis area, spots on the spine & in the ribs (2/07). I had my ovaries removed & went on Femara. That seemed to do well untill this past March 08 when I noticed some hip pain. A bone scan confirmed there was some slight progression. So, to be on the safe side they did some radiation in the hip  & I started Aromosin. I have been on it now for 2 months & done with radiation since early May. A recent bone scan shows more progression so it appears the radiation has not been very effective and the aromosin does not appear to be working.

I met with my onc today and she is suggesting I start chemo. Her first choice is taxol which I am really dreading. I did that the first time around and although I fared it pretty well, I am very upset to lose my hair again & having to go in for weekly treatments. The other option is Xeloda. To me this seems more tolerable mostly because I don't have to go in weekly for treatment, and I don't think you lose all you hair??  Do any of you have experience with these & if so what are your side effects?? and thoughts??

Part of me wants to start with the Xeloda and see how that goes. If it's not effective then start of the taxol...but if it's not effective have I wasted too much time?? I am 42 years old and have girls that are 10 & 13 years old. I want to do all that I can to be here for them & make life as normal as feasibly possible for all of us. I'm stuggling with the vain side of me & the impact it will have on my kids & husband. I've been there before and I know it's not easy.

Any thoughtsssss and/or words of wisdom?

Thank you all so much for being there & listening. You guys are amazing!

Blessings to all of you. Sheri

Gitane

Just sending hugs.  I don't know about the treatments, but I'm sure others will be here soon who do.  Gitane

LuAnnH

Sheri, I did almost exactly what you did.  I was dx two years ago mets to the bone, sternum & ribs.  I did arimidex and had to stop because side effects were too awful.  Tried aromasin and that failed.  Since it was still bone only and not too widespread we went to faslodex.  It is a hormonal and a once a month injection.  So far I have been on it going on 15 months and holding.  I'm hoping for alot longer because I am dreading chemo also.

LuAnnH

Also, I almost forgot here is the link to a trial for a new drug for bone mets, might be something you want to look into  http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00410813?term=breast+cancer+IV+and+Cincinnati&rank=3&show_locs=Y#locn

lemonld

Saw1019,

I was diagnosed with recurrence to my mast site on 4/17/08 and saw my onc on 4/18/08 to discuss my treatment options.  He started on Xeloda to weeks on ans 1 week off (3600 mg to start) by the end of the week I had a lymph node swollen in the right clavicle and then on Sun I passed out in the middle of the kitchen floor, not sure, just woke up in the floor and immediately got sick and vomited.  I called the onc on Monday and had a MRI of the brain and a bone scan done and then saw the doctor on Tuesday.  Because of the swollen lymph node he wanted to add taxotere and he wanted to start the next day.  They first cycle of Xeloda and Taxotere went okay and the lymph node had swollen to half the size.  My onc discussed with me that we stay at the same level and try the drugs again on the next cycle.  Well that was a little rougher on me due to the mouth sore and not being able to eat.  He reduced the Xeloda to 2900 mgs per day same cycle as before along with the taxotere being reduce.  Well that didn't help and I ended missing a week of work due to being dehydrated and needing IV fluids for three days in a row.  When I went to see my onc before the fourth tx and we continued with the dosage.  I didn't have to have IV fluid, probably should have.  When I went to see him before my fifth tx he asked how I was dealing and I told him I had no energy, couldn't eat or drink, even forcing myself wasn't working, my stomach was nauseated, had mouth sores that also went into my throat.  Needless to say he stopped me and said "I get the picture".  I told him that I could not keep on this course of action, where was my quality of life I didn't feel bad until I started the chemo again, even I know it's the lesser of two evils.  So since I had not be on either drugs without the other, he felt that it was the Xeloda and told me not to take it with the next cycle and that I would only receive Taxotere only. When I saw him before my sixth tx, he stated he would increase to 75% and see how I did and the go to the full dose on the seventh tx.  He said we would leave the Xeloda for later if needed.

I have felt amazingly better off of the Xeloda.  After my last tx I did not have mouth sores only the nasty white tongue that left me with limited things that I would eat.  Everything taste the same.  But after that disappeared the next week I built myself and have been able to eat pretty much everything about my meal, and have eaten quite a bit in the past few days.

I will be scheduling scan tomorrow, CT and PET, and will see my onc 8/25/08, but my DH and I have scheduled a vacation for 8/16/-8/23.  I was a little apprehensive a the start but I have decided after reading Randy Pausch's, "The Last Lecture" that I need to be more like him, and like every day to the fullest and be happy, so that's what I am going to do.

If you have any questions please feel free to PM me....I wish you luck in treatment.  Remember we are all different in how we respond to tx, but if not working for you let your onc know, that can't help if we don't tell.

Hugs,

Linda

ozzie2

Well I kinda had the same response as you Sheri I did Arimidex made things heaps worse with bone mets I only had one to start with , with Arimidex they are now all over the place...and spread to nodes in the chest etc and axilla and arm ...did Aromasin till I learnt there was a trial for Faslodex here , I only had two injections as My TM went throught the roof...( I now wonder if it was a  tumor flare?) so then I went on xeloda well my dose was 4000mg and the main prob was the hand and feet blisters etc and sensitivy.. horrid...the toilet was my best friend, nausea was ok due to the fact I have a wonderful nausea tablet one a day Kytril is the bran name here...I am now doing my 7th cycle of Xeloda and its now been droped to 3000mg two weeks on a week off...I feel 100% better with the Side Effects..so I would say try xeloda before u do the taxols.. u have nothing to loose or try Faslodex if u can get it...also u dont loose the hair on xeloda it might thin out a bit but u wont notice it...

good luck in what ever u decide to do..

hugs

oz

saw1019

Thank you so much for your responses and sharing your experiences. It certainly makes me dread chemo more than ever. 

LuAnnH you mentioned your situation was very similiar to mine. When you failed on aromosin did the doctor immediately go to the next line of hormonal treatment or did he also suggest chemo? I was expecting to go to Faslodex next as we had talked about it before. I was shocked when she suggested chemo first. I know my onc is nervous because I have numerous mets in the pelvic area and she is fearing a possible fracture if we don't get it under control so she wants to be aggressive with it. Since aromosin didn't seem to work she is not sure that continuing hormone therapy is the way to go right now, although that is still a possible option. Do you or anyone else have any thoughts?

hutspa

my mom just finished her first cycle of xeloda.....2 weeks on, 1 week off 3500mg a day....its convienent cause she takes it at home.....you must take with food (shes not a breakfast eater so thats been hard for her)....she has been putting on the udderly cream lotion every day so no signs of hand/foot yet.....her hair is beginning to fall out, she is also taking abraxane but xeloda can cause hair thinning & loss as well.....she is tolerating it well so far, no nausa, no diarrea...may be to early, but well see.....alot of people are on it and have done well with actual tumor shrinkage/ned....go with your gut instincts....good luck.....xoxoxoxo        dana

LuAnnH

I am her2 pos so my onc took me straight to faslodex and we added herceptin at that time.  I know others who take faslodex without herceptin and do well.  It is your choice ultimately what you prefer to do.  Ask to get a 2nd opinion about this before going to chemo.  The nice thing if you save the faslodex is you have a hormonal to go back to if you ever need a chemo break.  I am happy with the route I went putting off chemo as long as possible.  The longest person I know of on faslodex is at 3 years now and still on it. 

Fitztwins

I went through this exact same choice today! We were debating Xeloda vs taxol/taxotere. Last time (over 3 years ago) we did taxol/then 1 year of Herceptin.

I didn't want Taxol for a variety of reasons. Vanity (hair) and the side effects. I thought xeloda would give better quality of life. *By the way my mets are in the pelvis and 2 small spots on the spine.*

Well, I asked the doctor what was his reasoning to for taxol route? was it because he wanted to be more agressive out of the starting gate? He said yes. Then I thought, well, I am pretty healthy now. (blood counts, fat of land to live off of for a while) I am probably better equiped to deal with that crap now.So I said, lets get the party started.

He then said that we could go 6-8 treatments, take scans and drop back to herceptin, zometa and arimidex only if things look good. That I could do.

Off to look at wigs and scarves.

Janis

CapeCod89

Hi! I have been on Taxol once a week since August 1st, I did not lose any hair thank God because of Dignicap (freezing scalp). It has helped immensely, this treatment with cancer, neuropathy is hard though, but I am treating it.

ABeautifulSunset

there are so many other choices before you go to the heavy hitters. You should save that for down the road, when you really need it. Celoda is a great choice, so is Faslodex with femata or Afinitor. Or Ibrance. There are also chemo options that don't involve hair loss, like Doxil or Gemzar. I appreciate that my ONC is aggressive too, but sometimes you've got to reign them in a little. After all, it's your body.

Sunset