Question

[mrsd]

Good morning, usually just a lurker and learner but today I have a question. I started Xeloda 1800mg twice a day yesterday and I'm wondering about the side effects. Although I have a good idea what to expect I'm wondering when I would start to notice them, so far after only three doses I am thankfull to say no side effects yet. Thanks to all you post regularly for all the great info and help.

[Julie2]

I had xeloda with Herceptin after mastectomy. The only side effect I had was pigmentation of hands and foot, it was very easy to tolorate.

Julie

[Bill]

Hi Mrsd! I hope you do well on this treatment. Typical side effects of Xeloda include hand and foot syndrome and diarrhea. Nicola, my wife, was on Xeloda and was told that if she had "uncontrollable" diarrhea, to stop the meds immediately and call her onc. right away. Her onc. had a patient who had really bad D and kept it a secret and tried to "tough it out", and died from renal failure. One great thing about Xeloda- if you have any adverse side effects, the dosage can be reduced. You don't have to stop the meds completely. Try to be proactive with your diet to stave off any possible diarrhea. I think there are a few women here on the site that are/were on Xeloda that can help. I know Hucklebuck is one. Warm thoughts and prayers to you, Bill

[mrsd]

Thanks Julie and Bill for your replies, I have just finished day two with no side effects other than a bit of nausea so I am hoping that will be the only problem from this new drug. I have whole summer to enjoy and don't have time for all this treatment stuff that seems to be getting in my way LOL, thanks again.

[SoCalGal]

Hi-I've been on xeloda a couple of times in the past. It is well tolerated. I used to get diarrhea but nothing severe. If it got severe I would cut down on the next couple of doses. I also felt tired. The hand-foot thing never bothered me on xeloda but now that I've been on tykerb for over a year I have some interesting symptoms at times but not all the time. Tingling. Terrible nails that just peal and are weak so I keep them polished. Sometimes the bottoms of my feet feel like I am walking on crushed glass. Oh well. lol.
Flori

[Sheila]

MrsD and Flori
I remember that crushed glass, hot coal feeling on the bottoms of my feet...I called it the flip flop syndrome, which looks pretty stupid in IL in the winter.....other than that, I had no problems...I felt Xeloda was a breeze!

[Sherryg683]

I had really bad hand/foot syndrome with Xeloda. My feet looked like I had walked on hot coal, my hands were blistered too. This can be helped by adjusting the dose, I had to take some days. It didn't start happening to me till about the second round of treatments, it took time to build in my system. It's a great drug though, it helped with my mets..sherryg683

[mrsd]

This drug has given me no unbearable side effects yet, but I have had nausea which I control with more drugs, this morning when I got up my feet felt like they were on fire, and I have developed a rash on my chest. My onc thinks the rash may have come from a reaction to the sun as it was nice on the weekend and we just lazed around the pool all day, but I did wear sun screen and didn't sit in the direct sun. I am hoping the feet cool down, I have been moisturizing them alot today and tonight they feel a bit better. I am just hoping that this new combo puts these pesty mets back to where they started and hoping the herceptin makes them stay there. Thanks to all you great ladies and gents for all the great info and support you give. I appreciate it so much.