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Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:59 am
by AJQ
Hi
I am new to this forum and been recently diagnosed of stage 3 appendix/CC. Had right hemicolectomy almost 4 weeks ago and now starting Xelox( Oxaliplatin + Xeloda pills) soon. I must work! Any experience and how to manage with Xelox and weather I can keep working office job full time.
Appreciate it.

AJ

Re: Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 10:51 am
by Aqx99
I'm about to start the same chemo as you. My oncologist said I would need a couple of days after each infusion to recover from the worst of it. I would suggest trying to schedule your infusions so you can make the most of your weekend for recovery. I work a rotating shift and always have Tuesday and Wednesday off, so she scheduled me for infusions on Monday.

Re: Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 11:20 am
by AJQ
Thankx aqx99!
I chose thursdays for my infusions and hope to go to work on mondays.

Re: Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 12:44 pm
by Basil
I worked through six rounds of FOLFOX. Missed a day here and there. Some cycles were just worse than the others. I'd get infusions on Wednesday and would feel pretty good Thursday and Friday, then feel crappy Saturday and Sunday. Could usually drag into work Monday and on the mend after that. Gotta admit, though, I spent a lot of time staring at my computer and not doing any actual work.

Re: Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 12:02 pm
by horizon
Everyone reacts differently, but for me I didn't miss an unplanned day of work through 6 months of XELOX. Took Wed off for an infusion and worked from home Thur and Fri. Monday I was back at work and the gym.

Re: Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 4:18 pm
by [Ana & Alex]
I'm on Xelox as well but unfortunately I cannot share the positive experiences described on this thread :|

After my two cycles I was admited in the hospital and was bed ridden for a week with massive nausea, uncontrolled shivering, fatigue, constipation and neuropathy. After day 10 I started cooking again and dong some house chores and playing with my daughter. I'm currently in my week off chemo and still have nausea.

I'm reducing the dosis to 80% next time around and I'm hoping that I too, will be able to spend the first few days resting and then have a taste of normal life and go back to Work again.

It was been difficult to figure what works for me, I've tried multiple drugs only with limited effect. This time around we're intreducing Dronabinol for nausea control, trying new laxatives and hoping for the best.

Staying on top of side effects and learning how to counteract them has been the greater challenge and the fact that I seem to metabolize oxaliplatin really slow and end up with a higher dosis of the drug in my body longer than planned.

I hope that you too, can maintain a normal life and work, as many people in this forum. And im hoping to join you soon as well.

All the best and good luck,
Ana

Re: Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 5:30 pm
by AJQ
Thank you Ana and all for your replies. I really
Appreciate them. Going for CT scan this Friday and then first Chemo doze next week. Will keep you all posted

All the best.

AJ

Re: Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 7:36 pm
by Brearmstrong
AJ, while I am going through 12 rounds folfox, I am still working full time but take Friday off as that is the day after pump is removed and I am down and out for at least 48 hours. Reason I am replying though is that our diagnosis is similar with exception of me having 8 positive nodes. Wanted to say hi and let's keep in touch as time goes by. Appendix cancer can be a different beast but hoping mine doesn't spread through peritoneal mets as that makes treatment more difficult. I wish you all the best with your scan!!
Brenda

Re: Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 10:51 pm
by AJQ
Brenda,
Thanks for your reply. Appendix cancer is rare and can be very aggressive and unpredictable. Let's stay in touch. You can PM me and I give you my email address.

AJ

Re: Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 5:08 am
by mpbser
A little off topic: How often do you get your ox- infusions? My husband's oncologist says 1x every 2 weeks but the NCCN guidelines say every 3 weeks. More specifically, this is what it says:

CAPEOX
Oxalplatin 130 mg/m2 IV day 1
Capecitabine 1000+- mg/m2 twice daily PO for 14 days
Repeat every 3 weeks

Re: Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 8:47 am
by LeonW
My infusions were all day sessions on Thursdays. Was pretty sick on Fridays/Saturdays but much better the Sunday. Then gradually better each day the folowing week and almost normal during week-3. Everyone reacts differently, but I was glad I just had retired before everything started.

Your planned schedule (chemo on Thursday - resume work on Monday) makes sense.
I hope you'll do better than I did; give it try and keep day-to-day record how you feel. Once it's predictable it feels *much* better.

Bets wishes, Leon

Re: Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 8:50 am
by horizon
mpbser wrote:A little off topic: How often do you get your ox- infusions? My husband's oncologist says 1x every 2 weeks but the NCCN guidelines say every 3 weeks. More specifically, this is what it says:

CAPEOX
Oxalplatin 130 mg/m2 IV day 1
Capecitabine 1000+- mg/m2 twice daily PO for 14 days
Repeat every 3 weeks


If you go the Xeloda (Capecitabine) and Oxi route that's how it works. If you go with FOLFOX you wear a pump for a period of time and then repeat in less than three weeks. For me personally I loved the third week where there was nothing to do. No pills and no infusions. I always called that my mini chemo vacation.

Re: Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 11:03 am
by mozart13
mpbser wrote:A little off topic: How often do you get your ox- infusions? My husband's oncologist says 1x every 2 weeks but the NCCN guidelines say every 3 weeks.


My understanding is every 2 weeks if considered curable, they tend be more agresive in that case.

Re: Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 11:32 am
by horizon
mozart13 wrote:
mpbser wrote:My understanding is every 2 weeks if considered curable, they tend be more agresive in that case.


I was given a choice of every two weeks with the pump and FOLFOX or every three weeks with XELOX. The stated goal was always a cure for my case.

Re: Anyone on XELOX and working?

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 11:51 am
by mpbser
Thanks for the input re: Ox timing for XELOX/CAPEOX protocols. It's good information to have at this point in time for us, so much appreciated.