Throat issue/ Xeloda/Radiation

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MKC70
Posts: 25
Joined: Sat May 20, 2017 8:39 pm

Throat issue/ Xeloda/Radiation

Postby MKC70 » Wed Dec 13, 2017 9:46 pm

I just finished the second part of my journey. I finished 5fu/oxipalatin every other week (5 sessions). Right now I am tired, not a lot of energy, but usually only happens for a day or two. Received Neulasta shot after my first session. Boosted my white blood cell count . The only side effect this time is my throat. I feel like I have something stuck in there, always needing to clear my throat, almost like a phlegm feeling. It doesnt hurt, just awkward, any ideas for this?

Also I am starting part 3 of my journey on Jan. 2. I will be taking xeloda 5 days a week with radiation (also 5 days a week). I am a little nervous since it is new. I was told Xeloda is a lower dose, and it is the only drug I will be taking. When having Chemo infusions, they gave me anti nausea/steroid, etc, and I wont be having those this time around. I know every body is different, but do any of you have any tips, things to prepare for? I have a temporary ileostomy, so I am aware of the possible diarrhea etc. thanks for any input.

Stage 2 rectal cancer
No lymph node involvement
Surgery Aug 30th, 18" colon removed
Age 47

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: Throat issue/ Xeloda/Radiation

Postby Aqx99 » Thu Dec 14, 2017 12:31 am

I didn't have any major issues when taking Xeloda during radiation. One of the big side effects is hand-foot syndrome. I encountered that while taking the pills along with the oxaliplatin infusions for my adjuvant chemotherapy. My dose was lowered twice because of it. I never had an issue with nausea. The key is to take the pills within half an hour of eating. I kept a journal while I was in chemo. I tracked what I ate, side effects I encountered, etc.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

MKC70
Posts: 25
Joined: Sat May 20, 2017 8:39 pm

Re: Throat issue/ Xeloda/Radiation

Postby MKC70 » Thu Dec 14, 2017 12:33 am

Thank you so much :D

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susie0915
Posts: 945
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:17 am
Facebook Username: Susan DeGrazia Hostetter
Location: Michigan

Re: Throat issue/ Xeloda/Radiation

Postby susie0915 » Thu Dec 14, 2017 9:41 am

I did pretty well with xeloda only during chemo/radiation, but that was before surgery. During my chemo after surgery I did have diarrhea which was prob from the xeloda. My ileo was reversed early due to bowel blockage so made chemo tougher. I didn't have any hand and foot syndrome, I did notice my hair felt like straw when it was wet. I think most of the side effects beside diarrhea were caused by the oxi. I tolerated the xeloda pretty well. My oncologist prescribed zofran and compazine for nausea but I never needed it. I would take the zofran since it slowed down my bowels but not for nausea. Good Luck
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Throat issue/ Xeloda/Radiation

Postby NHMike » Thu Dec 14, 2017 10:33 am

I did Xeloda 5 days a week for 28 days along with the radiation. The Xeloda made me feel more tired but I worked full time (mostly from home), ran a few miles a week and typically got in 4-5 miles walking or running per day. I also played 50 minutes of moderately intense tennis once a week. Though I was pretty tired after those 50 minutes. I could typically go for a few hours. I've been getting lots of opinions on Neo-Adjuvant (Xeloda/Radiation) vs Adjuvant (Xeloda + Oxaliplatin) and what I'm seeing is that Adjuvant is tougher than Neo-Adjuvant.

The radiation was moderately more difficult to deal with than the Xeloda for me as it burns things (mainly skin for me) and made it complicated in going to the bathroom and in dealing with incontinence. I used some of the Depends thin pads for men for several weeks as I had some leakage in the latter weeks.

Everyone is different in how they are affected, but, overall, I think that your Xeloda 5 days/week will be a lot easier than your Xeloda 14 days on, 7 days off + Oxaliplatin. The unknown is how the radiation will affect you.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Throat issue/ Xeloda/Radiation

Postby NHMike » Mon Dec 25, 2017 9:25 pm

My voice sounded raspy for about four days after the Oxaliplatin to the degree that my wife mentioned it to me. I think that it's related to cold sensitivity since it's rather cold in my area and I'm breathing in cold air. If I take a cold drink, it feels really awful. I think that it is fading now until the next infusion cycle. I don't look forward to any of this stuff.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT


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