Capecitabine as a Monotherapy!

Mariagr

Hi to all!

I am 39, and was diagnosed with a triple negative breast cancer (no metastatic).

A year ago I completed my chemotherapy and had radiation afterwards. A few days ago, my oncologist suggested that I should be on Capecitabine as a monotherapy for a year (as an adjuvant -extra - therapy). I begun taking four pills per day of 500mg each (five days / week). Can anyone tell me his/her experience being on Capecitabine as a monotherapy? Im worried about hair loss. My oncologist says that i will not lose my hair (again.....) but the SPC of the drug mentions alopecia as a common side effect. Can you tell me your story? Thank you and be well!

Trishyla

I was on a much higher dose, 4000 mg per day, for 5 months. I had zero hair loss. Actually my hair grew really well on Xeloda (capecitabine).

The major issues for me were hand foot syndrome and mild to moderate stomach upset. My understanding is that these are not as much of a problem with the lower dose regimen.

All in all it's a very doable therapy.

Good luck.

Trish

Mariagr

Dear Trish,

Cannot thank you enough for taking the time to respond! The truth is that I have been through so many during the classical chemotherapy that I'm so much worried about capecitabine. When did you first experience these gastrointestinal symptoms? Meaning, how long after the first pills...

Trishyla

It took a couple of days to hit. But I wouldn't use me as an example for anything stomach related. My family's running joke is that all you have to do is look at me funny and I'll barf on you.☹ I even told my oncologist that I'm a barfer.

I found that having the pills with yogurt helped tremendously. And chewable antacids were good to have on hand.

Hope it works out for you. I'm glad I did it. One more weapon in the arsenal.

Mariagr

Dear Trish,

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond and share your experience with me. I wish you the very best of luck. Be well, be strong!

ShetlandPony

I was on Xeloda for two years and my hair did great. I grew it longer.

You might be interested in reading and reviving the following thread about capecitabine for non-metastatic bc:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics/861900?page=7#post_5428464

Krissy37

Hello,

I took Xeloda for 6 months after IV chemo. I had minor stomach issues. I found I had to take the meds with food. No hair loss. My feet hurt if I walked around barefoot, but that went away after treatment. It is a doable chemo. I was on 3000 mg a day.

buttonsmachine

I did eight rounds of Xeloda, 5 pills per day (I think) and for me it was very tolerable. My hair grew back fantastically! I think it's worth a try. Best wishes to you!

Mariagr

Thank you for responding! Wishing you the very best ahead!

Mariagr

Many many thanks for your response. When did stomach issues begin? How long after the first pills?

Mariagr

Best wishes to you too! I wish you a healthy future ahead!

NorCalS

Hi Mariagr.

I had AC then Taxol from June 2019 to November 2019. My tumor shrank enough for me to choose a lumpectomy. I was supposed to go into a clinical trial for pembro (keytruda) after surgery (no PCR) but that fell through because my sample did not have enough cells to test for PD-L1. I started Xeloda after radiation in April of this year. I am in my 6th cycle - 3000mg/day. I was really reluctant to start Xeloda because of hand foot syndrome, but it has not been that bad. I initially had bad headaches and nausea. The headaches have been manageable after about 3rd cycle. Nausea is the same and manageable. I have not had severe hand foot syndrome. I try to stay off my feet for the first four hours after I take my pills and that seems to be working. My hair has been growing fine with no hair loss. I have two more cycles to go and I think that it’s worth doing the extra treatment to help prevent recurrence