hwr wrote:I so much appreciate your responses.
As for upcoming plans between now and year end, I wonder if I would realistically be able to keep any of them if I began chemo in late September.
1. 200 mile drive each way for a reunion on September 27-29. Low key event, mainly dinner with friends and gathering at local neighbor church where we all grew up a kids in the 50's. I would be travelling alone. I could always delay start of chemo to 9/30 rather than 9/23.
2. Annual beach fishing trip with son, son-in-law and wives week of October 12-19. Always a wonderful week. look forward to it all year.
3. Caribbean cruise December 9-20. We are looking forward to it, but this would be our 26th cruise so it's not the end of the world.
The oncologist said maybe to trips one and two, but no to the cruise.
weisssoccermom wrote:I was a stage IIA...rectal cancer and I did chemo. Now, I will say that I did NOT do the oxi. Personally, I don't know what your onc is talking about that XELOX is brutal. He may be referring to the fact that with XELOX being given it every THREE weeks as opposed to every TWO weeks with Folfox, the OXI dose is quite a bit higher and the side effects from that may be more severe. However, many people on this board have done it without complaint.
I'd like to address the Xeloda component. I know of many people who have taken or are taking Xeloda while covered with Medicare and yes, it DOES cover it. It does NOT cover it under the traditional Medicare prescription plan....Part D I believe BUT......it is covered under the Medicare Part B plan. It's not considered a 'prescription' like a statin or antibiotic would be. It falls under the coverage for the cancer treatment. Please check into that. My friend who has pancreatic cancer, is on traditional Medicare just picked up his pills and they were covered. Other members of this board, covered under Medicare have also used Xeloda and it was covered.
You could always do the Xeloda and opt out of the oxi. Honestly, the 5FU or Xeloda is the drug that does most of the work and I didn't have any problems with tolerating it. Not sure what your onc is talking about but I certainly would, at the very least, consider doing just Xeloda or 5FU.
weisssoccermom wrote:That was my point....I think it is the OXI that is the problem....not the Xeloda. I'm surprised that the onc didn't suggest just doing the Xeloda or 5FU.
weisssoccermom wrote:The Xeloda (pills) or the infused 5FU (if you chose to go that route) is the drug that does MOST of the work anyway. For a stage II, studies have shown that the oxi adds only an extra 2-3%...IMO, not enough to warrant taking it. You have to make that decision.
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