Capecitabine for Colorectal Cancer User Reviews

• MeM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 22, 2020

Capecitabine "I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in January 2020. I underwent 6 weeks of Xeloda along with 6 weeks of targeted radiation. The combination shrunk my tumor by 1.5 inches which was considered a great success when I had surgery in July 2020. I had a bit of nausea and was very exhausted. Some tingling in my thumb and fingers. I also had some diarrhea occasionally. My hair has never been healthier, zero hair loss. At one point, I had some mouth tenderness but never open sores. I have recently finished 4 months of follow-up chemo (Xeloda) and am currently recovering from side effects such as extreme fatigue, muscle aches, limited nausea, and diarrhea. Also, I’ve had split and peeling skin on thumbs and fingers. All in all, my experience with Xeloda has been good. I’ve been told that there is zero sign of any cancer left, CT scan last week will tell the tale. Will know more early January but feeling very optimistic."

• Daw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2024

Capecitabine "This is my 5th round of this medication, some side effects are diarrhea, dry mouth, dehydration, severe nausea, freezing feet along with some numbness. My very first round of this was great, no side effects at all. I hear the more you take it, sometimes it can affect how you feel. I have medication for the pain and nausea, however, I wish it lasted longer. I just finished my 2 weeks on, 8 pills a day and am on my 7-day break. I will try eating differently as I have been taking the pills first, then eating. I will eat first. I wish everyone tippy the very best in your journey."

• GIL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2023

"I was admitted under an emergency procedure for bowel resection, where it was found I had cancer. The surgeon who operated said that he was confident that he had got it all out but suggested a colonoscopy, which I had, and this came back clear. I was referred to an oncologist who said he would like for me to have some adjuvant chemo, which would be capecitabine pills. I am halfway through the treatment, and in all honesty, it has not been that bad. No hair loss or sickness. Just fatigue, BIG TIME. I am about to start cycle five, so fingers crossed."

• Jim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2013

Capecitabine "Found out I had colon cancer and thought that was the end of me. Xeloda was very easy to take, twice daily for two weeks. One week off with testing. A small amount of tenderness in the mouth was the only problem, and that was minor. Only noticed it when I decided to try one of my diet favorites, which is hot sauce."

• Rob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 13, 2024

Capecitabine "I took it back in 2014 along with radiation. I did not lose any hair. My biggest problem and gripe is that I suffered, and it is getting gradually worse, pain in my feet starting out with numbness. As the day goes on, it's unbearable, and this only happened since my six-month use of this medication. Doctors are saying now that it is because of Xeloda, and there isn't anything they can do. It took care of the cancer, but my quality of life is decreasing every day. Pain meds do not touch it."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2025

"I have colon cancer. A growth on my colon that narrowed it, causing difficulty in bowel movement. Placed on capecitabine. This helped, and the colon opened and allowed bowel movement. Critical side effect was that I became anemic. PCV dropped from 35% to 18%. I was always blood on transfusion. I lost appetite, emaciated. I am to go for the third cycle. I am scared. Thanks."

• van...
• November 18, 2011

Capecitabine "My father was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer one year ago. I'm thankful for Xeloda, it has worked in shrinking the tumor on his colon. He has not lost hair, does not vomit, or have constant diarrhea. He is eating well and can still taste flavors of the food he eats. I thank God for this. However, he does have other symptoms like pain and peeling on his hands and feet, blackness on his hands and the bottom of his feet. I do notice he has chills, feels weak and disoriented at times, body aches, and his hearing is not as good as it was before."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2021

"They found a fairly good-sized tumor in my colon in Dec. 2020. Had it removed on Jan. 26, 2021. All other CT scans, blood checks, and urine tests returned negative, as did the pathology on the lymph nodes that they sent out after the operation. They have me on capecitabine for six months as a precautionary measure, the choice to take it was mine. I am on the three-week schedule - take medicine for two weeks, off for one week. I take 2000 mg with my morning meal and 2000 mg with my evening meal. I am in my second session and have had little or no side effects as of yet. Some upset stomachs and tiredness, that's about it. Just wondering if anyone else is taking this much without having problems? Stay safe and be careful and don't get lax about the COVID situation. I just had my first vaccine two weeks ago."

• Oos...
• October 25, 2008

Capecitabine "This drug saved my life. It eradicated my tumor and made it possible for me to have a much less extensive surgery than anticipated. I had very few side effects and the ones I did have were easily managed with medicine."

• Lon...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 7, 2022

Capecitabine "Vietnam combat veteran exposed to Agent Orange - began treatment for large tumor colorectal cancer while undergoing 9 weeks of radiation treatments (took Xeloda for the 9-week period - eight 500 mg tablets daily). This was followed by 4 months of recovery from radiation. Then, 11 hours of surgery during the pandemic lockdown in April 2020, followed by an additional 10 months of chemo/infusion treatments (took Xeloda during this 10-month period - same daily dosage). I am now recovering from surgery and treatments and consider myself very fortunate. Thanks to my oncologist, my surgical team, and Xeloda!!!!"

• Anonymous
• February 4, 2012

Capecitabine "I have been on Xeloda since October 2011 and haven't had any of the side effects listed. I have been able to maintain my appetite and haven't lost my hair. Actually, my hair has thinned just a little, gained a little bit more body and is getting lighter. This has been a very positive experience as far as chemo goes. I definitely will do Xeloda again (if I have to). There is a questionable mass on my lung...surgeon says cancer...oncologist not sure...and it is shrinking. I'm unsure if it is related to the combination medication I was on or Xeloda. I will hopefully determine that with this cycle of Xeloda on its own."

• And...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2014

"Only on my 3rd week of this medicine, but finding it far less intrusive than the Folfox (5FU) treatment I had 4 years ago via drip and permanent line, with a pump for 48 hours each treatment. Some thinning of hair, not really noticeable, and lots of my friends have less hair than me anyway! I'm a keen runner and cyclist, and do find that I can't push myself as hard anymore, get very short of breath on uphills. But at least I'm still able to lead an active lifestyle, hill walking causes no trouble at all. Feel slightly nauseous quite frequently, but not been sick yet, and brush my teeth half a dozen times a day to ensure no soreness (which I had with 5FU). Slight soreness on soles of feet, particularly after long runs or walks."

• Roz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2017

Capecitabine "I am in my 2nd month of taking Xeloda after going through 36 rounds of chemotherapy since 2013. My intake of Xeloda is 3 pills every twelve hours for 7 days and off 7 days. The side effect I am experiencing is the discoloration of the inside of my hands and the bottom of my feet, they also tingle and are painful at times. I am often tired and have also had pain in my shoulder and chest. I don't know if this medicine will keep the cancer from coming back, but I'd rather deal with these side effects than the chemo."

• Ver...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2021

"My husband was started on 1500 mg twice a day of this while also receiving radiation for rectal cancer when he developed life-threatening problems. It causes dehydration, horrible diarrhea, weakness, and fatigue, kidney functions declined (he has kidney problems), and the combo with radiation caused severe radiation burns internally and enteritis. He recovered from the first infection, started the chemo/rad combo again, his dose of this was dramatically decreased to 500 mg twice a day and continued his radiation. He got sick again in a little over a week and again ended up in the hospital with enteritis and blood infection! To make a long story short, he had a heart attack from this medicine! Thankfully he was in the hospital with these other infections and was rushed to a larger hospital where two stents were put in his right coronary artery and there will be another stent procedure on the left side very soon. This is a horrible medicine and cannot take any chemo now!"

• LIN...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 7, 2023

"My mother, who is now 92 y.o., was diagnosed with originally stage 3 rectal cancer. The first scan after surgery came back negative for cancer. Three months later, the scan showed recurrent cancer in the rectum and mets to her liver-three lesions. Initially, she was given 2000 mg per day, two tabs in the am and pm, one week on and one week off. A follow-up scan showed all lesions had shrunk. She developed neuropathy in her hands and feet. Ulcers were treated by a wound doctor while the oncologist gave her a 5-week holiday to allow for the ulcers to heal, which they did. The oncologist reduced her dose to 1500 mg, 1 in the am, 2 in the pm, one week on, one week off. She is now on her second cycle. She is fatigued, weak, has vision problems, and is anemic. She received iron infusions. She has good days and bad days. Most likely, she will be on this regimen for life. However, she has sleep apnea, which is being addressed in hopes of helping with the fatigue. It is difficult to delineate what are Xeloda side effects."

• ted...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 18, 2017

"85-yr-old white male in good health. Although symptomless, I failed two fecal occult blood tests (at home). When I came to after the follow-up colonoscopy, the doctor told me, 'You have an appointment with a surgeon tomorrow morning.' A week later, I had a resection of the descending part of my large intestine, eliminating a good-sized tumor. Because two of the removed 18 lymph nodes also tested positive, I was rated stage 3b (possible undetectable 'mini-metastases'), so my oncologist put me on capecitabine as adjuvant therapy. Three pills, 2x a day, two weeks on, one off for 6 months. Because of a bad rash on my forearms, he cut me back to two pills. Still some fatigue and dry fingertips. Finished 4 weeks ago. Success? Testing starts soon."

• pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2025

Capecitabine "This drug has a safety warning as of Dec 2022 that oncologists are supposed to share risks if a patient is DPD deficient (1 in 20 people are) and inform patients that there is DPD deficiency testing available. My oncologists did not share risks if DPD deficient or inform me of DPD deficiency testing. I learned from a patient advocacy group to ask for DPD deficiency testing and not start treatment without the results. My oncologists pushed back and did not want to give me this test - said it wasn't in the guidelines. I pushed back and said I am not doing treatment until I receive results from a DPD deficiency test. The results came back and I am DPD deficient. The oncologist reduced my dose. The first round of 2000 mg per day could not be finished due to white blood cell count. I will start again in a week. Get DPD deficiency test before treatment with Xeloda. The advocacy group that helped me was Advocates for Universal DPD/DPYD Testing - all who have lost a loved one who was not tested."

• oma...
• July 19, 2008

"My mum was on this medication for approximately 12 months. Compared to the Folfox-4 protocol, this medication delivers the same effectiveness with significantly less side effects in addition to the convenience of being in tablet form. The only side effect that caused mum to discontinue the treatment was decreased white blood count causing reduced immunity (similar to other protocols)."

• ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2024

"I had colon cancer that metastasized to the liver. I am on IV and capecitabine. Day one is IV and 3 pills in the morning and 3 pills in the evening. I have needle pain in my fingers and have mild paralysis in my hands. I also have fatigue. I am on a 14-day on and 1-week off. The IV is only on day one. I think the majority of my symptoms are the results of the IV because I start feeling better 5 days after the IV even though I am still taking the capecitabine. The lack of appetite and fatigue continues. My insurance denied my scan, so the doctor and I do not know the impact it is having on the cancer masses."

• Anonymous
• March 27, 2008

Capecitabine "I had little to no side effects. It eliminated one tumor and slowed the growth of the other."

• sac...
• August 22, 2009

"I am using this now, have already had 6 weeks treatment. It helped shrink the tumor before surgery. I am on a further 6 months course to eradicate any cells left and have had no side effects at all."