I Have A Question -

[IRENE FROM TAMPA]

I have been on the Tykerb/Xeloda trial since August/2006.

I have the normal side effects of loose bowels and hand/foot from the Xeloda.

A couple of months ago I started experiencing a lot of dryness in my nose and the worst is my eyes are extremely dry. So much so that it is now affecting my job. I have lots of blurring when I try to read something, especially at work which I assume that all of the florescent lighting does not help.

I had my eye doctor check my eyes and he says I actually have flaking on my eye balls from the severe dryness.

I was thinking that all of this is from the Xeloda but now am wondering if maybe its coming from the Tykerb. I never had the nose/ eye thing before when I took Xeloda.

Has anyone on this trial experienced any of this. I am really getting very fustrated with the eye thing. I can cope with everything else but the vision problem is really irritating. I am on all kinds of eye drops and my eye doctor has suggested maybe plugging my tear ducts to see if that helps. I have added a glare screen to my computer, put a lamp on my desk, had my boss taken out some of the flourescent lights over my head, all to no avail.

Just wondered if anyone has had this problem and what you did.

Thanks

[Sheila]

Irene
I have extrememly dry eyes from the Xeloda, to the point where they continually water trying to moisten themselves...I don't go anywhere without a kleenex. The cold air makes it worse. I also have a very dry nose, especially on the inside corners of the nostrils...since the nose thing strted and the eye thing worsened when I started Xeloda...it must be it. I have not taken Tykerb.

[IRENE FROM TAMPA]

I have the same thing with the nose but my eyes are not tearing this time. My vision is very affected making reading very blurry. When I was on Taxol I had the tearing eyes like you stated.

My lids literally stick to my eyeballs. It must be the Xeloda. I wanted to see if anyone else had the same thing happening since I don't know which way to go with this with the drugs and the doctors don't seem to know.

I am almost sitting in the dark at work trying to avoid glare.

Thanks for your response. This helps

[Shell]

Irene-

I was on tykerb w/ xeloda for 5 months, and I didn't experience your issues with the severity you have - I wear contacts and was able to keep wearing them. However, my eyes on different chemos have often gotten blurry, and sometimes I need reading glasses, but other times not.

I am thrilled things are still working for you - best of luck!

Kind regards,
Shell

[rinaina]

Irene, my eyes were very affected from my chemo txs...A/C 4 dense doses and have not fully recovered yet and chemo ended the end of July. My eyes, which are normally somewhat dry due to my Sjogren's Syndrome, (auto-immune disease), because so dry that I did have plugs put in and my cornea became badly abraded due to the severe dryness. I had blurriness from after my second treatment until this past September. It was awful and scary. I could handle the dryness aspect but the blurriness drove me crazy. It was so bad for the entire last 3 treatments that I was afraid to drive. I could not read most of the time and even watching tv became unenjoyable. My eyes are better now but not 100%. They still get very dry and at times but not to often I have slight blurriness. My opthomologist said it is due to the dryness and how it has changed the surface of the cornea. I use artificial tears and a prescription drop as well to keep them lubricated. I also keep getting a calazion on my left eyelid, which is similar to a sty. I feel your frustration and worry. Good luck to you. I also feel that even though they say my vision is still the same, I don't see as I use to.