Starting oral chemotherapy this week - Capecitabine

[BornInTheWrongCentury]

I will be starting a 6 month course tomorrow. 8 rounds of oral tablets, 2 weeks on and 1 off.
It is adjuvant chemotherapy following surgery for a bowel tumour removal.
I’m so nervous about how unwell I might be and much it will impact my life. I am only just starting to feel well again after surgery 8 weeks ago and I can’t bear the thought of feeling awful for the next 6 months 🙁
I know everyone is different and I won’t know how it will affect me until I start, but if anyone who has taken it is willing to share how they coped/felt whilst on capecitabine over a similar time period I would really appreciate it.
Thank you x

I noticed that no one has replied so I'm giving you a bump.

And also saying that I know of someone who has been having oral chemo for bowel cancer following an op, and it's apparently not too bad. She has felt tired and very cold, but has not lost her hair or felt particularly unwell.

Hope it goes well for you.

I start on the same thing tomorrow! Had surgery to remove a tumour in Nov. It was stage 2 but with some invasion into the veins (EMVI) so they are recommending chemo. It affects people in different ways and some get on just fine so we’ll see how it goes. Just a little sad I won’t be tucking into much cheese and wine over Christmas. And I’m going to do a lot of wrapping/sorting today just in case my energy gets in the bin.

Apparently these tablets look quite the thing…ridiculously massive and bright pink so can’t wait to see what I’m going to be up against.

Not sure if this is too late to mention but there is a trial going on at the moment which you might be eligible for. There’s a chance you could have less chemo if blood markers are negative.
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/find-a-clinical-trial/a-study-to-track-bowel-cancer-cell-dna-in-the-blood-to-predict-whether-cancer-might-return-tracc#undefined

How are you getting on with things so far?

I was recently on this for four months for breast cancer and had no side effects at all, except for a pulmonary embolism, but I have active cancer, this wasn't post main treatment. Other than that no hair loss, no appetite loss, etc. I didn't even get hand and foot syndrome or even dry feet. My oncologist called it chemo lite, so it won't be like a heavy infused chemo with significant side effects.

My only complaint was the number of pills I had to take ( 6 pills twice a day) and having to set a timer after eating so I took the pills in the 30 minute window.

I had 6 months on it, after bowel cancer removal.

I had 1 day off work, that was it.

Worst side effects were fatigue and my hands and soles got quite sore and blistered.

So not exactly fun but really no big deal.

Good luck with your treatment

My 70 year old dad has recently finished his course. Absolutely no side effects at all! Not even tiredness! Fingers crossed you are as lucky!