Mop up Chemo

Hi DadPool40 I have just finished a 4 round course of CAPOX. Managed the first 3 rounds, only mild side effects, cold hands/feet, mild nausea etc , 4th round hard, 4 days of extreme exhaustion but finished it , Can't give you any medical advice as not trained but suggest you talk to your oncologist and maybe they can reduce the dosage. I was determined to complete the course, mine was adjuvant to mop up any stray cancer cells. Everyone copes differently and there is never one answer or piece of advice that fits all. Wishing you all the best and hope you manage to get an answer from your medical team that works best for you. Take care , Mel xx

I am in my weeks break after doing 6 of 8 cycles of capecitabine. My hands are dry and feel a bit more tired than usual but otherwise am feeling good and am going to continue. Just had my bloods done today so assuming they are all ok at my meeting tomorrow I am looking forward to doing two more cycles and then relax. They can give medication for some side effects so not sure in what way you feel crappy. I felt a bit nauseated at times, food and drink taste a bit different and wine for some reason tastes horrible so not the end of the world that I haven't felt like drinking. The nurse did give me something for nausea so I would suggest you talk things over with the nurse and check if there is anything they can give to help and weight up short term feeling crappy with long term benefits of continuing...or perhaps talk about a longer break until you feel stronger? 

Hi,

I should have completed 6 cycles but only achieved 5 as my platelets were down. I also wanted to be at my granddaughter’s birth and I was so it worked out. After the first cycle they reduced the dosage.  That was 10 years ago. 

Thanks for your advice Mel. I will keep going. 

Thank you. I won’t take any breaks if I don’t have to as I want it done and over. Thank you for replying 

My husband has been told he can't have any more chemo because it's done damage to his kidneys so if you can do it go for it. Don't know what is going to happen with him now which is a worry. 

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully the damage is reversible. 

Did I link in the lancet article in the last thread ? 
Court 

Hi DadPool 40

I have just started my 4th cycle of CAPOX (day 1) - 8 planned in total as a preventative/mopping up measure. I had a break from chemo after the third cycle as I had felt very fatigued and sickly and really hadn't recovered much in the respite week. I definitely felt stronger both physically and mentally going into this cycle than I was three weeks ago when I was absolutely dreading it. My oncologist has decided to reduce the dosage of oxaliplatin to 80% because of the side effects and I have been assured that the reduction won't have an adverse effect on my overall treatment. I have recently had a review with a specialist nurse and she told me that they like people to get at least four/five cycles completed, but I really want to have as many as possible. It is definitely worth speaking to your oncologist for advice.

Don't know how much help the above is, but I wish you all the best with your treatment.

No it isn't. He has been told his kidneys will never be the same again and now has to wear a urinary catheter. A bit of faff to navigate just now until we get into the way of it. Don't know what his treatment will be going forward now because they won't be giving him any more chemo.