Capecitabine and Pain: What Users Say

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 13, 2017

Capecitabine for Breast Cancer, Metastatic "I will be starting my 4th round next week of Xeloda (generic). I have stage 4 breast cancer that I have been battling for over 6 years. Tumor spread to the liver, some sort of tumors near my kidney pressing my urethra, and pleurisy. I was losing 1 to 2 lbs a day. This is only my third therapy in all those years. My first round was 4,000 mg per day for 14 days. We had to adjust as the pain in my feet became horrific after a week. I am now taking 3,000 mg per day for 7 days on, 7 days off. I am no longer losing weight so we know the Xeloda is probably working on the liver. The pleural area is not refilling (had surgery); kidney was saved with stents. Please do not be quick to jump to another drug (only when they stop working)."

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

Capecitabine for Colorectal Cancer "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."

• van...
• November 18, 2011

Capecitabine for Colorectal Cancer "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."

• PHa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2018

For Breast Cancer "I take capecitabine for 14 days with 7 days off. My dosage is 3000 mg per day (3 pills in the AM with food, 3 pills in PM with food). Side effects in cycle 1 were very minimal; mild fatigue and nausea that began toward the end of the cycle. Hand/foot syndrome developed in cycle 2: blistering on fingers, toes, discoloration on fingers, pain on the bottom of the foot that limited my walking. Side effects in cycle 3 were severe diarrhea and abdominal cramping, in addition to worsening of hand/foot. I am taking a 3-week break from the drug, and the dosage will be adjusted in cycle 4."

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

Capecitabine for Colorectal Cancer "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."

• che...
• April 4, 2016

Capecitabine for Breast Cancer, Metastatic "I've been on Xeloda for 5 months. I have extreme traveling pains. Once I woke up at 3 AM, and my right hand felt like someone had stabbed me with a knife, and the knife was still in it. This lasted for 3 days. Next, it was my left leg at the hip joint. I couldn't walk on it. Lots of pain when I moved it. It lasted about 4 days. Next was in my jaw joint. Painful swelling, couldn't bite down on anything... another 3-day episode. The pain is horrible. I go for scans in two weeks to see why my tumor markers went up. Could be from the inflammation Xeloda is causing, could be Xeloda is not working for me and the cancer is spreading. Will know soon."