Postby Cj51 » Mon Jan 23, 2012 3:52 pm
Stage III RC here, too. I had Xeloda and Oxi during my radiation, and had a lot of cold sensitivity. I remember coming out after my first infusion. It was a warmish spring day and we had the fan on in the car. My eyes actually tingled when the cool air hit them, it was one of the oddest sensations I ever had. Even something like touching the metal IV pole during my treatment would make my hands tingle. I didn't find out about the Calcium/Magnesium infusions until it was time for my neoadjuvant treatment. My Onc was willing to try it, and it made a whole big world of difference, so I encourage you wholeheartedly to ask your Onc about it before you start treatment. It adds some time to your treatment, as it runs in before everything starts and after everything is done. I also have read that the effect wears off later in treatment, but I don't know about that. I got allergic to the Oxi a few treatments into my adjuvent treatment, so then just had Xeloda. You will be getting a bigger dose of Xeloda during your adjuvant treatment than you had during your neoadjuvant treatment, so the side effects might be a little more troublesome for you. Or, you may be one of the lucky ones and sail right through with no problem! I sure hope so!
I did not have the option of not getting the port, before I started treatment my Onc just said, "You'll be getting a port". At that point, I didn't know any better, just figured it was the way things were done, so I didn't even question it...but, knowing what I know now, I would have taken the port anyway. It made everything just so much easier, from blood draws to getting the dye injected for PET scans. The nurses loved it. It was a very easy and quick surgery to have it placed, and it never caused me any trouble while it was there.
Best of luck to you!
Cj
DX Stage IIIb RC, T3N1M0, April 2010, 51
6 wks Xelox/rad 6/10
resection, temp illeostomy 8/10 Complete response!
12 rounds FOLFOX for clean up 9/10, Allergic to Oxi, started Xeloda only 12/10
Ileo takedown 9/28/11
10/15 NED