I am currently on Xeloda/Avastin. It is much easier than the FOLFOX that is for sure.
For me they started the dose high - 4x500mg twice a day for a week and then an off week. It took about 3 cycles for the hand and foot syndrome (I like to call it hoof and mouth) to get so bad they reduced the dose to 3x500mg twice a day. After about three more cycles they reduced it again to 3x500 in the am and 2x500 in the pm. I was getting a bit of queasiness every so often bit a zofran always took care of it. Had a bit of the 'dire rear' usually on the Saturday after but again not as bad as FOLFOX. I have tried every cream and unguent on the planet to help with the hand and foot - but really the only way to combat it is to reduce the dose. My fingerprints disappeared - can't use the them to open my computer or phone and have to use my eyes for CLEAR at the airport. Thinking about a life of crime.
The Avastin is very easy, at least for me. I have a port and it only takes about 30 minutes to run it in. The only real thing that I notice is it makes my nose run like a faucet. Took to carrying a bandanna in my pocket so as not to snot on everything.
I didn't lose my hair on FOLFOX but it did thin pretty bad - and turned snow white! After I finished it turned back to salt and pepper (distinguished grey) and got a bit thicker - but I am at that age where it's never going to be the flowing locks I used to have.
I have noticed on this new regime that my hair and beard grow slower but I haven't noticed any more thinning...
The good news is that I had a complete metabolic response - there is no activity on PET after six months and its hard to find the lesions on MRI. So it can happen! I am having laparoscopic ablation on Monday and the surgeon said he will rummage around in there but if he can't find anything to zap he will just zip me back up.
That's about it.
Good luck and remember - the only bad day was yesterday
-Andy