[hutchibk]

I am not a doctor, but I am a patient who has been on Tykerb for 2 years. I disagree with your doc that it is the Xeloda. I would surmise that it is a combo of the two or soley the Tykerb. I say that because I started Xeloda first for 3 weeks with no diarrhea at all. When I added in the Tykerb, that's when I had the initial problems, immediately. I am now on Tykerb/Herceptin and I never had diarrhea on Herceptin alone, but I did when I added Tykerb in. With Xeloda, I was on 5 Tykerb per day. With Herceptin, I am on 4 Tykerb per day. If it is a problem that does not correct within a month or so with good diet, then it is not unusual for your doctor to lower your dose by one or perhaps two pills. Many here have had to do that and have not lost efficacy by reducing dose a little.

In my experience, it took me about a month for my guts to settle down after I started the Ty/Xel combination. I have to eat very very clean and healthy. It really makes a huge difference. During that first month I ate the BRAT diet for breakfast everyday. (Banana, rice, applesauce, toast). And, my doctor told me to take 2 immodium tablets immediately when the diarrhea started, and then to take one after each subsequent episode, until it stopped. I worried about taking too much immodium in a 24 hour period, but I did let myself take a total of 6 in a day when necessary. It did work well for me. After about a month, my bowels settled down. But, it always comes back if I break down and eat unhealthy. I can't eat anything fried or any junk food (potato chips, candy, cokes/sodas). The cleaner and healthier I eat, the more regular I am. I only indulge in fast food maybe once every couple of months if I am in a hurry. Otherwise I eat very healthy... fresh, clean, no processed foods from boxes (except pasta), whole grains, non-fat organic dairy, very little meat/poultry, very sporatic alcohol. That's what works for me.