Side effects of Xeloda

Popeye123

I have just been told that I have liver Mets and have been offered Xeloda for two weeks on and one week off. The side effects are my worry as if I don't have this they say only about six months to survive but if I have this treatment then on average two years survival. Can't make up my mind to have the last few months well, I have no symptoms at present, or to have about two years of feeling poorly can anyone advise. Was previously diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. DICU.

RosesToeses

Popeye, welcome!  There's an active Xeloda thread here were you can read about a lot of different women who are or have been on Xeloda.  I've been on Xeloda since early December.  Different women have different reactions and there are different dosing schedules (7 days on/7 days off, 14 days on 7 days off) and some oncs adjust the dose, too, but I can tell you that for me, the side effects have been really minor and I live my life pretty much as I always have.  I work still 5 days a week, I walk 10,000 steps a day, I cook and clean and care for my family same as I always have.  I have some foot pain towards the end of my "on" weeks and my hands are peeling and have some small broken lines, but by being very regular with urea lotion and wearing rubber gloves for wet work, so far it's under control and doesn't stop me from doing anything.  I had nausea at first but that was taken care of by a daily prilosc pill.

And the best news, my tumor markers dropped over 50% in two months on Xeloda!

Everyone's different and it's true that Xeloda might not be as easy for you, but if it's not you can always stop if you want to.  It's in no way a guarantee that it will leave you feeling poorly, for may of us it's quite easy to take! 

susan_02143

Shoot. Just lost a long post to you........ welcome to our forum, though I am very sorry to hear that you need us now. Don't have the time/energy to repost, but Roses' thoughts are spot on!

*susan*

Moderators

Hi Popeye -- we just wanted to send you a warm welcome to our loving community. As you can already see, we're full of others wanting to help, so we're sure you'll find lots more great support here. You're not alone!

Please keep us all posted on how you're doing. Check in often, ask lots of questions, and we'll be here!

--The Mods

Bestbird

I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis but am glad you found this site. I hope you do well on Xeloda, and please make sure to inform your doctor of any side effects.

I know of people with liver mets who have done very well for years, and hope that you respond wonderfully to treatment!

sandilee

Hello, and welcome,popeye. Try the Xeloda! You have nothing to lose in trying, and everything to gain.

I've been on it six months now, after discovering liver mets after four years of just bone mets. Xeloda has beaten back my liver mets by half, and they have remained stable since. Also, that "two year" average does not mean you only have two years. If the drugs work for you, there will more likely be many more years. Look into the liver mets thread and you will see women living with liver mets, and living well, for much longer.

Of course we do deal with some side effects. Mine on Xeloda mean tender fingers and toes. Seriously, I could easily stay on this med forever if it would do the trick. I can live with tender extremities. It hardly slows me down.

You can always quit the medication if it becomes intolerable (although I highly doubt Xeloda will be intolerable for you) but not even trying it seems like giving up unnecessarily. I'm hoping I can stay on it for at least two years, and then there are other things out there after this one. No need to give up yet--you've not even begun!

maryhh11

I also am about to begin Xeloda and concerned about the side effects. After being on 5 different chemos in al year, then on Ibrance for almost a year, I am about to go back on yet another chemo. On paper, it appears much easier than traditional chemos. What about the stomach issues? It sounds like the hand and foot irritation is bearable. Any thoughts would be very appreciated!

Peanut0110

I just started taking Xeloda on May 11. I am taking three tablets (1500 mg) twice a day for 14 days then off for seven days. I haven't had any side effects that are too noticeable. Just from reading previous post it sounds like the side effects are accumulative over time

Suefit

I too am starting Xeloda this week. I have tolerated Femara/Ibrance and Faslodex. Too bad I keep progressing. Bone and liver mets. I had my ovaries removed a month ago and my estrodiol went up? Wtf? Anyone have a similar issue

shirl5alive

Hi, I have been on Xeloda since April of this year, and I do have some side effects. Most of mine are the tender fingers and toes with my skin peeling off my fingertips. It is not unbearable. Sometimes I have some diarrhea, but not too often. I've experienced worse. My cancer has metastasized to my spine and ribs, some in my lungs and I had a brain tumor that was removed last November. I was wondering if there is anything I can do to reduce the finger problem or what people do to deal with it. I take four tablets, one week on and one week off. I started with two weeks on and one week off, but I had more side effetcs and my oncologist reduced it to one week on and one off.

JFL

I have been on X for 10 months and haven't had recurrent, problematic GI issues. Some changes and minor issues but nothing major and no diarrhea. I take a probiotic daily and eat yogurt every week day. I believe this helps. I had one painful GI bout several weeks ago, which came on after I went a week without yogurt. It was so painful I had to request prescription pain meds for the first time since diagnosis. Aside from the GI aspect, the bloating was pressing against my liver mets and spine/ribs mets which caused unbearable pain in each. Anyway, when I resumed the yogurt, the problem went away within a day. There must be something to it. I will not go a week without yogurt again.

Moderators

shirl5alive, welcome to Breastcancer.org. Sorry you have to be here for this reason, but glad you've found us and decided to post, and hope you find the support and information you're looking for.

Please keep us posted on how you're doing!

The Mods