New to Board - Xeloda and Side Effects

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juliej
Posts: 3114
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 12:59 pm

Re: New to Board - Xeloda and Side Effects

Postby juliej » Thu Mar 08, 2018 5:36 pm

Robino1 wrote:I've just recently discovered that folic acid can hinder chemo. I'm trying to cut it out but damn! There are sooooo many things that have added it to their product!

Yes, most grain products in the US and Canada are fortified with folic acid. Folic acid allows 5FU/Xeloda to remain in the body longer, which means the drug builds up in your body and causes some very uncomfortable GI problems. It doesn't mean you can't have any folic acid, but don't ingest too many supplemented products - crackers, pasta, bread, even breakfast cereals (which are super-fortified with it!). Check the labels on all grain products and if you're taking a multi-vitamin, make sure it doesn't contain folic acid.

Why is folic acid added to so many foods? It's because researchers found that low levels of folic acid in pregnant women led to a higher incidence of spina bifida, anencephaly, and other birth defects so it was easier to supplement grain products than target this select group. But it's bad for 5FU/Xeloda patients. If more oncs told patients about the correlation, it's likely there'd be fewer adverse GI effects.

Most of the gluten free pastas don’t have folic acid. And I second the recommendation of Bob's Redmill organic flour!

Juliej
Stage IVb, liver/lung mets 8/4/2010
Xelox+Avastin 8/18/10 to 10/21/2011
LAR, liver resec, HAI pump 11/2011
Adjuvant Irinotecan + FUDR
Double lung surgery + ileo reversal 2/2012
Adjuvant FUDR + Xeloda
VATS rt. lung 12/2012 - benign granuloma!
VATS left lung 11/2013
NED 11/22/13 to 12/18/2019, CEA<1

Caat55
Posts: 694
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: New to Board - Xeloda and Side Effects

Postby Caat55 » Fri Mar 09, 2018 12:10 am

:x We can spread the word but it's just not enough.
Susan
Do at 55 y.o. Female
Dx 9/26/17 RC Stage 3
Completed 33 rad. tx, xeolda 12/8/17
MRI and PET 1/18 sign. regression
Surgery 1/31/18 Ileostomy, clean margins, no lymph node involved
Port 3/1/2018
Oxaliplatin and Xeloda start 3/22/18
Last Oxaliplatin 7/5/18, 5 rounds
CT NED 9/2018
PET NED 12/18
Clear Colonoscopy 2/19, 5/20

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Robino1
Posts: 463
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 12:09 pm
Facebook Username: Robin.lawthers
Location: Florida

Re: New to Board - Xeloda and Side Effects

Postby Robino1 » Fri Mar 09, 2018 6:12 am

Hubby will be researching bread makers and thanks for the tip on the flour. :D

Rick (hubby) loves gadgets so we now have a juicer, veggie pasta type machine, super blender for vegetable smoothies, food processor... my pantry is starting to look more like a kitchen gadget store instead of a food store! LOL!

Very interesting and important info on Folate! I don't remember reading about it in the papers I was given in regards to all the chemo drug info.

Grrrrr
At 54 2014 1st colonoscopy colon cancer detect
Colon resect margins clear. No chemo Stage II
2017
Distend abd, pain in intestines.
CT scan seeding & Ascites
Lap diag - cancer on the omentum
CEA 217; 219
FOLFOX started 6/17
CEA 202
8/29/17 CT melting of tumor.
Latest CT scan shows 2 new tumors and return of ascites.
CEA: (2017)9/30 -109; 10/12 -99.1; 11/4 -90.7; 11/30 -70.7; 12/14 -83.4; (2018)1/4 -73.3; 2/1-84.2; 89.2; 89.8; 88.5; 81.8: 93.5; 107; 119
BRAF V600e

Caat55
Posts: 694
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: New to Board - Xeloda and Side Effects

Postby Caat55 » Fri Mar 09, 2018 7:00 pm

I found a ton of breads, crackers and pastas at natural food store without folic acid. Many of the brands are also at the regular grocery stores. I indulged in frozen yogurt after dr's appointment and a cold sour at the pourhouse last night. I hardly ever have an interest in alcohol since my diagnosis but its the thought of not being able to have them adds to there attraction. Its kind of like lent, Catholics will understand. I am grateful it isn't summer yet and hope to be through this before the temperatures reach the 90s here.
Susan
Do at 55 y.o. Female
Dx 9/26/17 RC Stage 3
Completed 33 rad. tx, xeolda 12/8/17
MRI and PET 1/18 sign. regression
Surgery 1/31/18 Ileostomy, clean margins, no lymph node involved
Port 3/1/2018
Oxaliplatin and Xeloda start 3/22/18
Last Oxaliplatin 7/5/18, 5 rounds
CT NED 9/2018
PET NED 12/18
Clear Colonoscopy 2/19, 5/20

margiej
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 8:46 am

Re: New to Board - Xeloda and Side Effects

Postby margiej » Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:09 am

I was not aware that folic acid was problematic when taking Xeloda. I didn't take vitamins and ate mostly organic foods but I am sure that I might have had some folic supplements in bread or cereal. I was definitely quite ill throughout the course of my chemo. Does the folic acid just increase nausea it does it affect the effectiveness of the chemo? I am hoping I didn't somehow sabotage my chemo and am looking for reassurance!
Dx CC 12/2015, age 57 at Dx
Stage IIIb: T3N1b
Adenocarcinoma, sigmoid colon, 2.5 cm - low grade, moderately differentiated
3/6 positive lymph nodes
laparoscopic colectomy 1/20/2016
Capox started 3/4/16 - Six rounds
CT-suspicious lymph 2/22/16
PET scan 2/24/16 clear
CT 6/8/16 clear
Clear Colonoscopy 3/2017 and 1/2020
CT 10/3/17 clear
CT 10/17/18 clear
CT 10/17/19 clear
CEA 12/17 1.7
5/16 3.8
7/16 1.9
3/17 1.3
10/17 1.2
4/18 1.6
11/18 1.2

Caat55
Posts: 694
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: New to Board - Xeloda and Side Effects

Postby Caat55 » Fri Apr 20, 2018 5:16 pm

The folic acid is a problem with the Oxilaplatin. It increases the risk, effects of peripheral neuropathy.

S
Do at 55 y.o. Female
Dx 9/26/17 RC Stage 3
Completed 33 rad. tx, xeolda 12/8/17
MRI and PET 1/18 sign. regression
Surgery 1/31/18 Ileostomy, clean margins, no lymph node involved
Port 3/1/2018
Oxaliplatin and Xeloda start 3/22/18
Last Oxaliplatin 7/5/18, 5 rounds
CT NED 9/2018
PET NED 12/18
Clear Colonoscopy 2/19, 5/20

margiej
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 8:46 am

Re: New to Board - Xeloda and Side Effects

Postby margiej » Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:08 pm

Thank you for clarifying that for me. I do have neuropathy from the oxy but it is tolerable. I am certainly going to mention it my doctor though, with the hope it will help others. It was nothing she ever mentioned to me.
Dx CC 12/2015, age 57 at Dx
Stage IIIb: T3N1b
Adenocarcinoma, sigmoid colon, 2.5 cm - low grade, moderately differentiated
3/6 positive lymph nodes
laparoscopic colectomy 1/20/2016
Capox started 3/4/16 - Six rounds
CT-suspicious lymph 2/22/16
PET scan 2/24/16 clear
CT 6/8/16 clear
Clear Colonoscopy 3/2017 and 1/2020
CT 10/3/17 clear
CT 10/17/18 clear
CT 10/17/19 clear
CEA 12/17 1.7
5/16 3.8
7/16 1.9
3/17 1.3
10/17 1.2
4/18 1.6
11/18 1.2


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