Let's talk about Xeloda (capecitadine)
*Remember this this my story. This is in no way meant to be medical advice.
I started Xeloda January 1, 2024 as soon as I woke up that morning. It was bittersweet to know I would be starting a new chemo drug but at the same time grateful this exists. I was most afraid of what “new” side effects I would get. My body seems to be that 1% that gets everything. All I wanted in the world was to feel better so I can be a more “present” mom.
Why Xeloda? Well after my mastectomy, the final biopsies came back positive for micrometastasis. My biopsy was reviewed in tumor board and decided that I definitely should get radiation and be treated aggressively as “true” refractory to chemo (aka did not work) and metastasis. Here was the article based on this treatment plan! Check out these other articles too!
Xeloda info: https://www.breastcancer.org/drugs/xeloda
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10549-019-05513-4?fromPaywallRec=true
Side effects? Fatigue seems to be the first thing that I want to scream out! But, let’s be real, I have 1,000 reasons to be tired! Second, my hands and feet turned a darker color. See the photo for a comparison between the golden/red color of my hands and that of my husbands’.
And lastly, I got hand foot syndrome.
Read about about hand/foot syndrome here!
This syndrome can get super nasty and painful! Thankfully I only got to stage 1. It still felt like I had several paper cuts all over my hands! My hands and feet where constantly dry (and still are a month out!). My heels would crack and would be painful to walk sometimes. It would especially be painful if my feet where inside the pool just for a few minutes.
These ointments helped me incredibly! Keep in mind ointments tend to be a bit greasy so careful with clothes and slipping. (Hence why I also recommend you cover your feet with socks too!)
Aveeno eczema therapy: https://amzn.to/4dW8yRK
Ora’s Amazing Herbal Salve: https://amzn.to/473csWY
I strongly recommend to wear socks all day and apply creams as often as possible! I even wore water shoes when going inside the pool to protect my feet!
Here is a picture of my foot about 2-3 months after taking xeloda. Although pictures don’t do it justice, they were usually very red, tender, and you can see some white patches of very dry skin. The heels where very hard to keep moisturized.
Here you can see these brown spots on the tip of my finder and on my middler finger. It was very random! Most of them are gone now but I still have some that have lingered. I also got them on the bottom of my feet. They didn’t hurt or anything at least!
In the end I am so proud of myself for finishing yet another round of chemo. I had a lot of fatigue and discomfort with this one! I dare to say it was WORSE than the red devil, however, likely because it was a much longer treatment. With proper (constant) hydration of hands and feet, good foot wear, rest, water, and love it can be done. And I hope, like me, one day you’ll blink and be on this side of chemo! DONE!