Xeloda Care tips from sisters and BCO

Does anyone have clusters of black marks on fingertips from xeloda?

I ran into that when I had left over Afinitor. Apparently there are all kinds of problems for individuals to share prescription meds or mail them. Best to let your Dr share it locally with one of their patients who could use the help.

I have been on xeloda now for three rounds I lost 21 pounds from lack of appetite and nausea. I am also suffering severe depression and mood swings. I havent posted in a while because it seems my life went nuts. After chemo, double masectomies, and 35 radiation treatments my tumor was finally gone but my cancer had advanced to five more tumors spread throughout my lymph system with one under each clavical bone, one behind my sternum, and two in my pleural cavity. I went from stage 2 to 4 in minutes it felt like. Xeloda has been the first drug of choice and it makes me sick, tired, and I hate it. I have already spent a week hospitalized for malnutrition and infections. I was reading through and was wondering how many have achieved remission with xeloda, I am trying to decide whether it is worth staying on or if I should change. I do know I am miserable and would really like to enjoy my life. Thanks for any responses.

Dear chemo friends,

I have mets to my liver diagnosed in March 2013 and have been on Xeloda since May with tumor markers down from a high of 2900 to 163 last week so it is working albeit slowly...cat scans last week showed 20% less tumor.

My main problem is diahrrea big time...so much so that My onc reduced my dosage to 2500 and again next cycle to 2000mgm. I have had to wait two weeks between the last two cycles until the big D subsided before resuming the 14/7. I may have to stay on the 14/14 regime to keep the diahrrea in check.

For the H/F syndrome I am using Pedi -Jams sole softening plush jel booties....they moisturizer and protect against drying. I wear them to bed at night but not during the day as they don't fit in most footwear. But I have no cracking whatsoever.the product is called Earth Therapeutics Ltd. purchased on line. I am on my second pair and have a third on hand.

My other side effect is lack of appetite and nausea....the prescription antiemetics have not helped and along with the Big D I was in trouble...losing weight, dehydration and so on.

So I resorted to a friends suggestion that I try marijanna....it was just made legal here in my state of NH but dispensaries will not be available for more than a year....too late for my prognosis...so I had to resort to buying it from sympathetic friends...the good news is that since smoking it I have no nausea and a good appetite...it also helps me sleep if I smoke it at bedtime... It is amazing how well it works for me...after not eating for two weeks in June with nonstop diahrrea I smoked for the first time in the presence of family and simply walked into the kitchen and began helping my sister in law with the meal prep, then I sat down and ate a full meal like there was no problem....and that has continued for the most

part....At first I was smoking once a week ....part of a joint only each time and now I smoke less but more often. Since I am a nonsmoker, the smoke was an issue and I coughed a lot....didn't like it...so again on the advice from friends (I am 69) old hippies....I bought a vaporizer which is another Name for a bong .....all new to me...and smoke is no longer a problem. I shared this with my doc who cannot by law suggest weed but who supports the use of it ....just not in my record. I did try the prescription drug which my doc did suggest called dronabinol but did not find it helpful and it is very expensive.

So that is my experience...is there anyone out there that shares this experience? I truly wish I had had it in 2007 when I first had chemo infusions.

Hey misszed. Most of us hang out on the All About Xeloda thread rather than this one. I'm not tech-savvy enough to post a link for you, but I just posted in the thread so it should be near the top of the list now. Hope to see you there! Good luck to you.

I have been on Xeloda since October. I have found that using aloe Vera gel when my feet get sore helps tremendously. I buy the 100% aloe vera gel. I tried using the plant, but it was a bit messy. Did not notice any difference as far as effectiveness between the plant and the bottled gel. It does not help with the tingling or numbness, but works on the soreness and peeling.

The Xoleda care bag I received when starting the drug included a sample of Udderly Smooth lotion. It works well for me. Dollar Tree (in the Houston area) sells the 2 ounce size, which is great for putting in the handbag and car. I have heard that Bag Balm is very good also.