[KristinSchwick]

This has been a wonderful combination for me, my cancer antigens decreased ALOT. However you can't inhibit human epidermal growth factor (HER) 1,2 without causing some annoying side effects (so says my doc). First and foremost, stock up on anti-diahrrea pills and always have some on you. Second, track the foods that you eat, esp dairy and salads- they tend to aggrevate the diahrrea. I switched to soy milk and the diahrrea is so much reduced. If it seams unbearable, think BRAT- bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Also and this I wish I knew ahead of time, during the days your on Xeloda and even a few days after you stop- do not do anything strenuous with your feet/hands. I wouldn't jog or spend a ton of time walking around on them. The more friction to your hands and feet, the more the xeloda will leak out of those cappillaries and make the hand/foot syndrome much worse. For me, the hand and foot syndrome was torture about 3 days after I went on vacation, (zoo, museums, ballgames, walk, hot and walk some more) and similarly peaked just at the finish of my cycle of xeloda. Also you can always ice your feet/hands when it gets really bad- that does help. Hope that helps.