Onc appt

[beach sunrise]

Hi, had appt today. Asked about doing 8 days on 6 days off or 7 days on 7 days off with the xeloda. Answer was to keep going with 14 days on 7 days off as my bloodwork is not concerning. They always say "bloodwork looks good" (but really it doesn't to me anyway). OH and, weight is up to 100.5!!! Just 20lbs more and I'll be back at my normal weight. So, that's my update for today.
On aside: Looking forward to IVC tomorrow and appt with Lexington on Monday.

[boxhill]

beachsunrise, I have 20 lbs I'll happily give you. Would you take 30?

[beach sunrise]

YES YES I would!!!! Thank you for offering

[boxhill]

Now all we have to do is invent some way to effect this transfer and we will both be not only at a better weight but unimaginably rich!

[NHMike]

You sound like you're doing great. Yes, your bloodwork does look scary but the Oncs say it's okay.

I gained weight during chemo which happens but most seem to lose weight through it.

[beach sunrise]

Ya, I feel great! Bloodwork is scary concerning. I wanted to move to less days of xeloda for a lil bit anyway because WBC, RBC, neutrophils and platelets are taking a hit and afraid it may mean stop completely for a while to let them rise. My logic was 8 or 7 days on to give my counts enough time to recover but onc decided to continue with 14 days on 7 off and recheck the first of Sept. So ya, I'm concerned but what do you do!

[NHMike]

Ya, I feel great! Bloodwork is scary concerning. I wanted to move to less days of xeloda for a lil bit anyway because WBC, RBC, neutrophils and platelets are taking a hit and afraid it may mean stop completely for a while to let them rise. My logic was 8 or 7 days on to give my counts enough time to recover but onc decided to continue with 14 days on 7 off and recheck the first of Sept. So ya, I'm concerned but what do you do!

I let the onc worry about the numbers and I focused on the side-effects. You want the side-effects to clear up in the rest period. If they don't, you get a cumulative effect and they may become permanent. It's tricky to time it and you have to let your onc know what is happening with the side-effects. I have some permanent neuropathy and probably should have dropped the Oxaliplatin or taken another break week.

[Rikimaroo]

Beach,

I am going to be starting xeloda/avastin this week, wednesday 7 days on 7 days off on the xeloda, every 3 weeks on avastin. I will let you know how it goes, but from what I understand the side effects are minimal to none, but I know I will have hand feet syndrome with the xeloda, as I did before with Chemoradiation, but that was higher dosage.

I will keep you posted on if any side effects doing it this way. I too would be concerned about CBC Panel testing, but let our Oncologist worry about that.

Keep strong and keep fighting, lets win!!

Riki

[beach sunrise]

Thank you, Riki! Please let me know how its going with you.

[Rikimaroo]

Hi Beach,

I wanted to update your on how things are with Xeloda/Avastin. I started 8/19 got Avastin infusion in the AM and took 3 pills Xeloda that night, since I didn't take in the morning, was ok to skip one. Took it from 8/19 to 8/25 basically 7 days on 7 days off, I am on the break now from it. Other the the anxiety of taken the pills, no sides effects have been present. Well my hands are getting a bit darker from pigmentation, I am a brown man LOL....I don't know how it affects white people, or black people, but brown guys hands start to get hyper pigmented dark. It is so much easier to tolerate this then FOLFIRI or FOLFOX. I really hope and pray it works cause I am ok with this to keep everything at bay. Some folks stopped xeloda after a year or two and just do avastin, maybe that is an option down the road.

Hope your doing ok, hang in there we are all in the same boat, keep paddling

Riki

[beach sunrise]

Thank you for the update, Riki! Thanks for sharing the side effect of hands getting dark. I was wondering why lines on my palms are dark. No pigmentation on the back of my hands yet. I didn't have that with the pump.

[NHMike]

Thank you for the update, Riki! Thanks for sharing the side effect of hands getting dark. I was wondering why lines on my palms are dark. No pigmentation on the back of my hands yet. I didn't have that with the pump.

It's a common side-effect. Back of the hands and top of the toes.

[beach sunrise]

Looking at my toes now, nothing there yet. LOL
Glad to know its common!

[Rikimaroo]

Beach,

Did they include Avastin with your Xeloda therapy? I noticed in your other post you mention CEA 8.8 which went up, CEA is such an anxiety booster. If you are not doing Avastin, perhaps that regimen can be added, hoping that it doesn't have any side effects which i why perhaps you didn't mention?

Let me know.

Riki

[beach sunrise]

Hey Riki, no avastin at this point. The PET will determine whats next or just continue on with xeloda.
How are you doing with xeloda 7 days on 7 off? Is it keeping cea stable, do you tolerate it better?