Oxaliplatin and capecitabine

Hi there, 

My husband is currently on his last cycle out of 4 on capox. He has done really well. He gets very tired in the few days following the IV infusion and also gets cold sensitivity in his hands and feet, but otherwise he's been OK. His hair has thinned ever so slightly but nothing I've noticed to be honest. 

During the week off, he is totally normal, you'd never know he was ill. 

All the best for your treatment, I hope it works well for you

Hi Ladygardener

I’d like to say “hello” and welcome to the forum.

It is quite normal to be apprehensive about starting chemo, the thought of it really freaked me out when I was told I needed it, but I to through it and you will too.

You don’t say which drugs you are to be given, but most of them do have side affects which will be explained to you -  although many people sail  through chemo without too many problems.

I found that tiredness was a big thing for me, and the more chemo I had the more tired I became.  It also took quite a few months for me to regain all my strength again.  My chemo was scheduled to be  over six months - but with a couple of breaks went into eight months.  A little light exercise of going for a walk and doing a little more each day was good for me, but this is more difficult now that we are in the midst of the Covid crisis and you must take extra care when you are having chemo, so perhaps try walking around the garden or the house every day if you can.

Diet again differs so much from person to person, I had colon cancer and found that I had to cut high fibre fruit and veg, spices and red meat from my diet.  I found that porridge (made with water) and honey was good for breakfast, both said to be good things to eat during chemo and porridge is a slow burning fibre that means that it is better for the colon than other high fibre breakfast cereals. 

The 15th Oct will soon be here, and I hope you’re first session goes well.  After my first iv session (I had iv and tablets) I though every possible side affect would effect me, it didn’t of course, but I did worry.  

The best advice I can give you is to try not to worry too much,  but if you have any problems - however small, - speak to your chemo department or your GP.  Get as much rest as you can, eat when you feel like it (I was told to eat little and often rather than big meals) and keep posting on here to let us know how you are getting along.

Macmillan have an excellent help and advice line - the number is 0808 808 00 00 - it is available from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday to Friday and you can speak to someone for support or help and advice with any cancer related matter.

Take care,

VkckiLynne

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply.   If I react as your husband I look forward to the 3rd week!

The drugs I am going to be given are oxaliplatin (iv) and 2 tablets a day of capecitabine.  I had put the names of the drugs in but obviously not in the correct place!  Thank you very much for replying.   I have been told about possible side effects but to be honest that freaked me out also the fact that I was supposed to start treatment tomorrow but now it has been postponed until Thursday.  I had got myself all psyched up for it to be tomorrow now have to wait a few more days.  I will try to take the advice and not to worry too much.  Thanks once again for replying and the useful informatiion.

Hi lady gardener 

I've just done 5 weeks of taking capecitabine and having radiotherapy ,had a couple of days of feeling a bit sick  I had no other  side effects.My diet didn't change and I had a good appetite,I was taking 10 tablets a day.I had no hair thinning either.Hope all goes well xx

Hi ladygardener, I had the same chemo that you're about to start. The main side effect I had was peripheral neuropathy in my hands and I had to wear cotton gloves for the first week or so after the chemo. It wasn't only cold things that affected my hands but almost everything. Make sure you wrap up warm and cover your nose and mouth when you leave the hospital. Be aware you may get first biteyndrome which is when you get a sharp pain in your jaw when you try to eat something. It only affects the first bite so try to make it a small one. The IV chemo absolutely knocked me flat for about e first week so make sure you rest as and when you need to. I used to just manage to get out of bed to go and lie on the sofa dozing on and off all day The second week was better and then I was almo totally back to normal for the third week ready to start again. Make sure if you get any diarrhoea that you let your chemo helpline know straight away. When it comes to eating try to avoid high fib healthy food and eat as much storage (cakes biscuits ice cream etc) as and when you want it. I had to undergo radiotherapy as well for 5 and a half weeks and eventually had my surgery in January ofhis year. They got clear margins and I have had my follow up scans and they have come back clear. I'm now just waiting to hear about my stoma reversal and then it's the usual follow up scans. As of w I am cancer free. Sorry tried to put a hurray emojis in and its put them everywhere. The chemo is very doable and I wish you well on your journey that nobody wants to be on. Keep letting us know how you get on and always asked any questions someone will always answer. Take care.

Should read stodge not storage lol!

Hello Thanks for replying.  Sounds as though you are doing well.  I am having oxaliplatin (iv) as well as tablets. Hopefully I will get on ok.  Good luck

Good luck with your treatment just rest when your body tells you too as that helped me loads xx

Hello Rita Thank you for replying, lots of information.  I had right hemicolectomy in August in layman's terms the right side of my colon removed now I will have  chemo and tablets for 3 months.  Congratulations on being cancer free now, it must feel good having that weight taken from you.  Enjoy life is my motto.