[jojo]

Hi,

I have heard of Xeloda going lower on dosages, due to bothersome side effects, such as Hand / Foot Syndrome -- despite the fact that even 60% of the max dosage would still have the same effeciacy as the 100%.

Recently, I read one post (I forgot which website) that she started out on 4,000mg, got severe H?F, 3,500mg, H?F still lingering, so she took a brief break from Xeloda. Upon resuming the same chemo several days later, she started again on 2,500mg for 2 days, 3,000mg for the following 2 days, this pattern continued until 4,000mg. This time around, she didn't have any H/F.

Has anyone heard or experienced flunctuating your dosages of Xeloda over a period of time?

Also, when suspected failure on Xeloda, has anyone upped their dosage for a while to see if treatment has been more effective?

Speaking of which, my gut is telling me that Xeloda is not working for me, as I still could feel *new* nodes in the same supraclav node area, where I have been having active nodes for the past year. I mentioned that to my nurse practitioner as well as my onc, they just said that it was too early to tell, so let's meet in the next appt. So, I'll finally see them next week on Nov 3.

Such a CRAZY time, for me that is... I no longer like to put up with the waiting game!! :-( Anyhow, I am able to focus on things and do them during the day. Night time, though, is the hardest, I have been having insomnia; I usually hit bed around 3 or 4 am and wake up around 9-ish -- definitely not enough sleep hours! :-( This is not typical of my sleeping habits. I'd be a happy camper, if I went to sleep at 11-ish or 12midnight, and then got up around 7 or 8am.

If you remind me next month, I will send an update on the appt. I have a CT scan of torso on Nov 1, so I'll get the results when I go in for the appt on Nov 3.

Extra prayers would be much appreciated, thanks! :-)