Why tycerb and xeloda why cant we just do xeloda

michelshelpformom

I've been reading so many of these success stories. .they want to start mom on xeloda and tycerb tomorrow, OR abraxane, mom has to make choice. . .why are so many of you on just xeloda. .i'm wondering why mom can't just take the xeloda and not both tycerb and xeloda (due to the h/f)? does anyone know? thanks!

Faith316

I don't know why they are taken together, but they are.  For most, it is an easy chemo combination.  I just finished 6 months of Tykerb and Xeloda and now continue with just the Tykerb.  I had no nausea, and it doesn't cause hair loss.  The only side effects have been hand and foot syndrome and some diarrhea although as my body got used to the drugs, that eased up a lot.  (Most of the h/f was from the Xeloda more so than the Tykerb.  I've been off the Xeloda for two weeks now and my hands and feet are already getting so much better.) 

A lot of people have really good success with this combo.  You can read my cancer history in the signature line below.  Tykerb and Xeloda kicked my cancer's butt when Adriamycin, Cytoxin, Taxol, Herceptin and radiation couldn't.  Good luck to your mom!

michelshelpformom

i just cant thank you enough, you know we hang onto any news from experience. .you are so precious. .good luck my dear for your surgery upcoming. .love to you, Michel

TriciaK

Hi,

Your Mom is having the tykerb because she's obviously her2+, tykerb, like herceptin is a targeted therapy rather than a chemo and has had brilliant results against her2+ cancer. Xeloda is the actual chemo drug and both together give her a better chance of beating this,.  You can get more info on www.her2support.org 

My best wishes and I hope she has a good response to both:)

Tricia x

michelshelpformom

You are a sweetheart, you helped me more with this simpleness than our onc did! thank you so much! luv MIchel

chainsawz

Michel - I stopped xeloda and continued with tykerb and don't have any h\f syndrome, so I don't think it will cause that to get worse.  The combo of the two has seen the most success with stage IV patients and the hope is with targeted therapies like herceptin and tykerb that they can teach our bodies to defend against these cells as well as target them.  Tykerb is also a smaller molecule and believed to be able to get into the brain, where other chemos cannot....good stuff!!!