how long does it take for zeloda and tykerb to kick in
 

I started my z/t combo on Tuesday. Today is day 3. The only side effect I have had so far was 5/6 trips to the bathroom on day 2. So far so good! The combo is to take care of my local recurrence in skin. I am getting a bit anxious as I haven't had the positive rash myth which is supposed to be a positive indicator of tykerbs efficiency. For those of you who had or are having the same combo how long does it take to see any improvement? Thanks! I am on 3000mg zeloda and 5 tablets of tykerb

Re: how long does it take for zeloda and tykerb to kick in
 

Yanyan,
That's great! I curbed "it" with lentils, tea, bananas.
Love
Karen

Re: how long does it take for zeloda and tykerb to kick in
 

As with any chemo it might take awhile for enough of the drug to build up in the body before anything noticeable happens.

Re: how long does it take for zeloda and tykerb to kick in
 

Thanks Ladies. I hope this combo will get the skin under control. I saw my surgeon today. He wants to see me in another month. If there is no regression he wants to do the surgery as he is not going to watch this thing growing. What concerns him is that my skin recurrence is on the lower part of the breast and he thinks the skin below my breast could be affected as well. If there is not enough skin to seal the wound when he takes the expander out, we would have to use skin graft which can be disfiguring. And this more than a non skin sparing mastectomy. But i guess even if this combo works, he still wants to do surgery.

Re: how long does it take for zeloda and tykerb to kick in
 

I have been on this combo now for just over 8 weeks. I started getting a rash last week. I saw almost immediate improvement (within first week and that was just on Xeloda) of my skin met. I had a scan this week and I have had a substantial reduction in most of my lung mets. My axilla node is gone as is my skin met (a little scarring but doesn't look active). I started on Xeloda - 8 tabs a day and tykerb 5 tabs a day - I have adjusted to 7 and 4. Now barely any gut issues at all, fatigue improved - just the mild skin reaction. This is the first combo I have had a decent response to so I am hoping it continues! Hope you are doing well.

Re: how long does it take for zeloda and tykerb to kick in
 

Hi amanda! Great news that this cocktail is working well for you! I am on 6 xelodas and 5 tykerbs. It has been 10 days and so far so good. I have some tiny zits on my chin and peeling skin on the right side of my nose, some trips to the bathroom but nothing intolerable. I have also seen improvement on the skin. Redness has faded a little, the nodule patch feels smoother now. My oncologist is less worried now as he has also seen the improvement and we don't have to rush for surgery. Thanks for sharing your experience on the drug. I hope this will continue to work for you.

Re: how long does it take for zeloda and tykerb to kick in
 

Hi Yanyan,

I was on the Xeloda/Tykerb combo for about a week when I started to notice a reduction in my skin mets. After a few months now, there is nothing visible. My tumor markers have also dropped significantly along the way. I had a rough time with side effects initially (GI issues mostly as I had experiencing all the other fun stuff already with a year on Xeloda before adding in Tykerb) but we reduced my Xeloda intake and now I'm feeling much better. I hope that you find the same dramatic results in your experience.

All my best, Jen

Re: how long does it take for zeloda and tykerb to kick in
 

I have also seen improvements in my skin met. Just finished 2 weeks of t/x side effects are zits around my chin and trips to bathroom and one episode of nose bleed.The rash has flattened and the color has become lighter. I am happy with the results.

Re: how long does it take for zeloda and tykerb to kick in
 

I second the acne! A painful truth, but I feel like an adolescent again. I've actually tapered down to only 3 tykerb (with Herceptin) and the GI stuff is almost non existent. When I was on xeloda and tykerb, I noticed my tumor markers drop within the first month, and bone pain improved within the same time frame.

Re: how long does it take for zeloda and tykerb to kick in
 

I am now on my 4th cycle of Tykerb and xeloda - my current does is 7 xeloda and 4 tykerb. I now have very little GI stuff going on at all. Fatigue is also more manageable.

The itch I was experiencing is definitely worse on xeloda weeks but I have continual dry skin that no amount of moisturising seems to touch! My hand foot issues are mild with some cracking in my thumb and sore feet at the end of xeloda cycle if I have been walking or standing too much.

My CT scan after 2 1/2 cycles showed a substantial reduction in my lung mets - I clarified with my oncologist and she said many, many mets are gone! (I have loads) - my axilla node is gone and my skin met is also gone apart from a pale pink scar like appearance. My tumour marker has halved (I never get very high - have gone from 40 - 33 - 20). It seems I have had a very impressive response. I don't know what this means going forward but we are hoping to continue to have a good response. The radiologist who has looked at all of my films over the past 12 months was apparently gobsmacked at the change in the 12 weeks since my previous scan!

FYI - to add Herceptin into the mix here in Australia I would need to self fund to the tune of $60 000/year. I did approach Roche quietly who felt that there was not enough evidence of efficacy for using Tykerb and Herceptin together to justify self funding (or compassionate use). Will have to keep a look out as it seems I respond well to Tykerb and Xeloda is also obviously the right chemo too (as none of the others have done much for me).
So for now I am hoping that this is going to last a while for me. Hoping others get such a good response.

Re: how long does it take for zeloda and tykerb to kick in
 

Hi Amanda ! Very happy to hear your response on T/X. It is natural that we want all the weapons to fight cancer but I understand why many of us are not given the option to add herceptin alongside tykerb. Since you have responded so well on T/X only, there has to be enough solid proof that adding herceptin will benefit you. Maybe you can talk to your oncologist about reducing the tykerb dosage and add herceptin? i know some take 3 tykerbs/day while on herceptin.

I had terrible itch on my scalp on round 1 Xeloda. I am starting round 2 tomorrow. I know i responded to this combo but not sure how well i responded. It is definitely good not to lose hair on this !