[al from Canada]

Lolly,

Everyone has now excepted the fact that the dosage from the phase 1 xeloda trials was a little high. I believe that the best for most women is 1500 mg BID, or 3000 / day. Linda has been on this for quite a while and has had no hand / foot syndrome, etc. Is far as counts are concerned: neupogen, neupogen, neupogen,....that's what's it there for. In fact....recent studies have indicated that neupogen actually has some cyto-toxic effects on its own! Linda and I found that 14 days xeloda + 5 doses for neupogen on days 16 - 20 will have counts way up for your blood work on day 21. Again, the drug works; so use it! The only side effects from neupogen is bone pain and elevated Alk. Phos.; so what else is new??

My other question after re-reading your post: what makes your onc think that reducing navelbine by 50% will not impact outcome, or make it work well enough to the point where it will not jepordize your life;, because at the end of the day....isn't that what matters? Xeloda is another story, where dose reduction has not been shown (and documented) to impact overall survival. That said, I also don't believe everything I read these days. As far as your gusto move....that may turn-out to be the most effective as it almost resmbles a continous infusion. Question about the doseage.......3000mg ,14 days / 21 = 42,000 mg. OR, (42000 * 4) = 168,000 mg / 12 weeks. as opposed to (1000mg * 7 * 12 weeks) = 84,000 mg or 1/2 of the reduced doseage. However, if that's what it takes...go for it. Remember, I don't think there is a clean formula where you can extrapolate out continous dosage form one with regular breaks. My thought is that if they offered that to Linda, I would recommend it over the 14 day dosing. (remember, I'm not a doctor)
The question remains: will daily dosing cause a significant drop in your blodd AND if it does....is concurrent neupogen possible....
Again, good luck;
Al