New on capecitabine

Hi Onwards...

Do you have a pain specialist? It might be worth asking for one. There are much better drugs than co-codamol to help with the pain. My wife has Zomorph, which is a slow release form of morphine, to help control the pain, and also Oramorph which is quick acting to help with breakthrough pain.

Thank you, I'll ask my onc nurse about those. Co-codamol takes too long to work, their advice was to take it in advance of getting the pain, but that doesn't really work for me.

Onwards...

Hello to you. How are you finding the Capecitabine? 

Im on my third cycle of Capecitabine. Tolerated it well for the first 2 cycles and then this recent cycle i seem to be in pain (cancer in my neck lymph nodes) So this week the GP put me on cocodamol 30/500 whn i had been taking the over the counter dose of 8/500. Hadnt realised it was the strongest version so took 2 and boy did i have the worst night ever. Next night i took 1 and it was still bad so i started taking oramorph at night (made me sleepy duirng the day and im still working so cant take it during the day) and that was so much better with cocodamol 8/500 to top me up duting the day. its not as effective as the oramorph - I've taken it this morning but I'm still in pain. The GP also put me on steroids this week to reduce the inflammation to my neck and has also now put me on something to help with my tummy as i said i was getting a bit burpy - i dont know what yet as i havent collected from the pharmacy. 

I'm also under Pilgrims and the palliative care nurses are expert in managing pain and balancing the pain meds with reference to cancer. Perhaps try giving the macmillan nurses helpline a call - they should be able to help.

god luck - i hope you find something to help.

Hello, fhgirl, I've been following your journey on the capecitabine thread. I'm now half way through 2nd cycle, 1650mg, managing it much better this time round. I now take 2 omeprazole first thing in the morning with a metoclopramide and feel almost normal, just the metallic taste in my mouth. I still can't  walk more than 200m without getting pain but that's just my lung I think. I am also quite burpy but I'll take that as it's so much better than the heartburn. I am also avoiding animal fat in my diet as that seems to make it worse. 

I'm  hoping it's working as the nodes behind my collarbone are less swollen.

Good luck, I hope you find the one that works for you.

Morning Onwards...

That's great news that you can feel less swelling. And that you are feeling almost normal. hopefully normal comes soon! i'm also really burpy - little strange bubble burps that dont seem to get all the air out. but i think there is a tumour directly in front of the oesophagus as i really struggling to swallow food down. But thankfully I havent had an issue with heartbun but becuase i am now on steroids to reduce inflammation they have prescribed omeprazole as well.

Avoiding animal fat sounds like a good plan if it helps. Someone told me about someone they knew who was diagnosed with less than a year and is still around 10 years on. This lady followed the Budwig diet which is flaxseed oil mixed with cottage cheese and milk. I'm lactose intolerant and dont like cottage cheese so just take flax seed supplements when i remember. 

I met with the oncologist this week and they have taken me off the capecitabine as it just isnt working for me. I start Gemcarbo on Monday which will be an IV chemo. Gemcitabine and carboplatin on Day 1 and gemcitabine Day 8 and then a week's break. Not had IV chemo before so am a little anxious about that.

I hope you continue to tolerate the capecitabine. i was great for my first 2 cycles - really didnt feel ill at all. 

Best wishes to you.