xeloda - 1st dose today

I was on herceptin/zometa only for 6 lovely months, but the latest pet scan shows more activity in bone mets. So, it's more chemo. I started xeloda today: 4 - 500 mg. pills in the morning; 3 - 500 mg. pills at night. I've read on this site that people usually do well with s/e on this chemo. Hand/foot problems & diarrhea being the most common. If you have experience with Xeloda & can offer any tips of what to look for, do, or avoid, that would be great. Thanks. Pam

[Patty H]

I've tried xeloda twice. The first time I wanted it to be the drug for me, and I knew I had a scan coming up so I didn't report the side effcts and ended up in the hopital in ICU for 4 days and another 7 days in the hopital. We tried it again this year and at the first sign of hand and foot and diarrhea I called the Dr. and we stopped early and were going to lower the dose when we started back up. But still the diarrhea got me and I ended up dehydrated even though I had went into the office for fluids twice that week. But only ended up in the hospital for 6 days this time. Xeloda was easy to take and I really wanted it. No minor side effects just major ones. So if you get diarrhea make sure you head it off right away. I was taking 8 imotioms a day but when it couldn't come out of the bottom half I started vomitting. It is really an easy chemo to take and I really wish I could have. So this week I start on abraxen. Good luck with it. It would be my drug of choice. Patty H

I'm in my second cycle of it, and am doing fairly well. I have only the occasioanl diarrhea, and no nausea. The h/f syndrome is starting, perhaps - my hands and feet aren't cracked and peeling, but they're a little swollen, and I just have to watch which shoes I'm wearing, and I have to walk slower than usual. I also have a rash which isn't painful, just unattractive. My counts are low, so I'm taking an iron pill daily for RBC. Some people mention also taking B6, but I haven't done that yet...

My scans are next week, and I'm hoping this is working for me... I'm in the phase III clinical trial of xeoloda with or w/out lapatinib - are you participating in that as well?

Good luck with it--
Shell

Shell -- No I am not in a study, I'm just doing the xeloda.

Patty -- I'm sorry to hear your body didn't tolerate the xeloda. Did all your major s/e start right away or did it take a few weeks to have the problems you had?

I took my morning dose of day too just. So far no nausea or diarrhea. Yesterday day I did feel that my feet were "hot" from the inside. Is that what it feels like? (Or am I imagining the sensation because I'm over focusing on a potential problem. I'm not trying to dismiss a symptom, but I know I can do the over-stressing stuff too.)

Pam

My sister tried it, Pam, but the diarrhea got the best of her! It was recommended that she lower the dose but by then she felt she simply needed a chemo break...Herceptin alone has kept things stable.
It was diappointing that she couldn't stay on it because it is an effective combo.
Stay hydrated....at LEAST 2litres of fluids a day and use Immodiom as needed. Best of luck.