Oxaliplatin and capecitabine.................now the fun begins
Less than one minute read time.
FormerMember
I will be starting my chemo 25th August, oxaliplatin and capecitabine. I've been given a file of reading material from the Cancer Centre and find the list of possible side effects a bit daunting to say the least! Does anyone have any tips to help with these side effects? Any suggestions would be gratefully received.
Angela (trying to be a brave soldier) xxxx
FormerMember
Hi Angela
The list of side effects for all chemo drugs is pretty horrendous . . . but to put things in perspective, read the possible side effects for a paracetamol tablet! They have to list anything that may happen, so it always looks far worse than it is. And although most of us do get side effects, it's highly unlikely that you will get all of the ones mentioned - they are only 'possible'. I haven't had either of the drugs you will be getting, but I think nausea is fairly common to most; you will be given anti sickness tablets and the important thing is to take them regularly, even before you start to feel sick (its easier to stop you feeling sick in the first place than cure the feelings of nausea once they've started). It's also quite helpful to note how you feel and when - usually your side effects will follow a pattern - for example, sleep problems days 1-2; nausea days 3-5, joint ache days 5-7 (that's totally off the top of my head, just an example). But usually you will have the same effects at the same time each cycle, and it can be useful to know so you can plan activities for the days you are feeling fine. I think what I'm trying to say is don't worry! Take your sickness meds, see what side effects you get and plan round that. As I said, I don't know your drugs but there will be plenty of people to help and advise you. Oh -my dentist recommended Corsodyl Daily to help keep my mouth healthy and ulcer free! Best of luck and let us know how you get on
I had 4cycles of oxy + cape, then I had surgery (bowel +liver together ) and now I am on 4 of 8 cycles of capecitabine only. I had really minimal side fx. A little nausea after the oxy and I worked thru the 4 cycles. Occasional tingling in my fingers after the infusion but no longer than 2 days. The capecitabine is fine, no nausea but my hair is thinning a bit. I feel very tired today but that is not usual, perhaps it is because I just had 4 hectic days in Paris.
I had no mouth problems and I used sea sickness bands for the nausea. I think I have been very lucky but the oncologist told me that I would be OK so I believed him. I hope you will be too. Have you had any surgery? Let us know how you get on.
I have had seven of the capecatabine on its own and to start with I had no problems but it is cumulative and by the seventh cycle my feet were bright red, peeling and very sore. I had a little sickness but the anti sickness pills di work extremely well. If you read my blog (and there is a lot of it unfortunately - the demise of Roland Ratso) about my adventures with bowel cancer, chemo and radiotherapy there are some graphic descriptions of what happened to me. I actually put weight on during chemo much to the amazement of the doctors. We are all different so it is very difficult to give advice but what I would say - and this was not conveyed to me until my feet were radioactive, is that it is cumulative and you may start offwith little or none but beware of it creeping up on you.
