Capecitabine (Xeloda) for residual cancer cell in tumour?

I hope I can go onto the trial. It’s a double edged sword knowing early but I guess they can act on it quickly???? Or have I got this wrong?! Are there drugs involved or just monitoring?

thank you

Just to say that it's now 6 months after finishing treatment and I think I’m mainly back to normal with what I can do. The cape really didn't affect me anything like as much as the infusions. It did slow hair re growth but mine is now about 12cm long and very curly. I suspect it will go back to just wavy after the first proper cut. Also it came back very grey but there seems to be more ginger coming through again. I've just had the next blood test for the Zest trial and will post the results when I get them in case it helps anyone else. Himalaya, if they find you have the circulating tumour dna in your blood, i.e. the cancer has come back, you are given the drug they are testing or put on something which has no active ingredients so they can compare the results of the 2 groups. 
all the best to both of you. Sue

It sounds as though you are bouncing back well. Pleased cape didn’t affect you too badly….better to be on tablets than IV I would have thought.

so if you have cancer back in your DNA, you could be given tablets which are useless if you’re in the unlucky team? Hmmmmmmmm. How do you feel about that?

The thing is you're no worse off as even when they find the cancer has recurred, they can't start to treat it until the new tumour is large enough to be located, so you'd still get the mri or whatever maybe earlier. As I understand it, you're not excluded from any treatment that you would get because you're also taking part in the research trial but please check I’ve got that correct. It does make sense though, as otherwise no-one would take part. The tablets are already in use against other cancers, I believe, just like the cape has been used for quite a while for secondary cancers but only very recently for primary breast cancer. Hope this is helpful and hope your treatment is going well. 
sue

Thank you. I’m assuming I’ll be suitable…..worth a go I think. 

Hi Clare, I finished 6 rounds chemo, 3 x EC followed by 9 weekly Paclitaxel & Carboplatin 5 weeks ago, triple negative, all through treatment tumour shrunk 50% so partial response, I'm due surgery in 3 weeks time, was given a choice of lumpcectomy or masectomy have opted for lumpcectomy and pray my margins will come back clear, I've already been told it is likely I will have more chemo, they said (oral) am all over the place at minute, seems had same treatment as your mum and yet they say it will be of no benefit to her? I'm thinking maybe they are trying to stop me from freaking out? 

Hi JonesyS,

Im in exactly the same situation and was equally worried that I was having even more chemo. One thing I’ve learnt over the past year is that you can’t compare like with like….so many variants of breast cancer and the all important info after surgery.

Why don’t you give the helpline a call…they’re really good. By all means add me as a friend if you’d like to keep in touch.

Look after yourself

Himalaya

Very expensive, but worth it! Saved me! 7 pills a day for 14 days, 7 days off, start again. In 2012, I was informed of stage 4 and to get my affairs in order. Radiation, chemotherapy, PET, MRIs, X-rays, blood work, without Xeloda, I wouldn’t be writing this. Side effects, yes, but cancer-free since November 17, 2012. Cheap Xeloda - https://onlinecheappills.com

I've had Chemo, operation the radiotherapy, will be having Xelada but wondered if immunotherapy would have been better for TNBC ?

Hi! I’ve had immunotherapy, chemo, breast conservation op. I’m now having 15 rounds of radiotherapy. I had no tumour left in my breast after chemo, clear margins but had 10 lymph nodes removed. 3 still contained some  cancer. I was offered Xelada but told that there is now little evidence that it works to prevent cancer coming back and the side effects can outweigh the benefits. Research is updated all the time. I’ve opted for 6 months of more immunotherapy every 6 weeks. Immunotherapy for TNBC in the UK was only licensed by NICE for use in the NhS in 2022. So it’s relatively new and I feel I’ve benefitted. However as everyone says every cancer is different and how we respond can be different.