My oncologist downsized my daily dose slightly from 3300 to 3000mg; he had me on the easier schedule (ONE week on/ one week off); I took a daily Vit-B6; and I used Uddercream on hands-feet daily. Good luck.

I was very fearful of going through the chemo regimen that was recommended (FOLFOX). I did some library research and found that Xeloda had the same benefits without the need for daily infusions and with fewer symptoms. When the oncologist refused my request for Xeloda, I switched to another doctor w...

My adjuvant chemo was Xeloda only, as described below. I had hand-foot syndrome which was not too bothersome, although it briefly became more severe during my final two rounds. A week after my chemo was completed the symptoms had disappeared, except that my left foot now has darker and drier skin th...

I agree that Microbiome research is very relevant for gastric disorders and has already led to some effective treatments. Who could have guessed that feces would turn out to be a potent treatment.

Although rectal surgery was 6 years ago, I still have alternating diarrhea & constipation occasionally, and it is not getting better. My gastroenterologist says the problem is primarily due to damage from the rectal radiation I received prior to surgery. He recommends symptom relief with Immodiu...

My dose was reduced because of bad symptoms, and I then remained on 1500/1500 for the remainder of my chemo treatment. The only symptoms experienced related to hand-foot syndrome, which were bothersome but bearable. GOOD LUCK.

All's well that ends well.

I have read that a Colorectal surgeon is highly desirable for a Rectal tumor, but a good surgeon not specializing in Colorectal tumors is OK for colon tumors. That is because rectal tumor removal is difficult due to the small space in which the surgeon works; and the rectum contains nerves, blood ve...

Xeloda adjuvant dosage is supposed to be based upon your " body mass "- the larger you are, the bigger the dose. The adjuvant dose is typically larger than the small dose that generally accompanies radiation treatment.

The standard schedule for Xeloda is two weeks ON/one week OFF. A newer schedule which has been shown to be as effective is : one week ON/one week OFF. I had the latter and my symptoms were not so bad.

I had hiccups while in the hospital after surgery, and would occasionally have a bad case of hiccups in the years prior to having rectal cancer. In both cases, I was given REGLAN. If that had not worked, the next choice would have been an 'anti-psychotic' in a low dose.

I had a colonoscopy while I had my temporary stoma---

For the lower area (rectum,etc.) the tube entered the usual way. I received no sedation and it was moderately uncomfortable.

For the upper area (cecum, etc.) the tube entered through the stoma. I received sedation and felt no discomfort.

Personally, I think it is a bunch of BS. Cancer just seems to 'like' us....PERIOD. DITTO. Many relationships between some variable (ex:height) and cancer which are shown in one set of data, disappear in future data samples. But there seems to be a market for articles based upon coincidental relatio...

My surgeon told me the radiation/chemo prior to surgery 'probably' resulted in a complete response, and he did not think that post-surgery chemo was necessary. My oncologist disagreed, so to be safe I took his advice and received 10 rounds of Xeloda (details on bottom of this message).

I usually take a 'preventive' Immodium when I'll be away from the house for more than a few hours. It works for me; the problem is that sometimes this drug will set off some days of constipation. As a substitute, I may occasionally take a percoset, which also works for me-- probably due to the oxyco...