Anyone taking Capecitabine Chemo for bile duct cancer?

Posted by sunflower88 @sunflower88, Aug 18, 2024

My spouse recently diagnosed with Bile Duct Cancer, he had the left lobe of his liver removed due to malignant lesion/tumor on his liver on 6/24/24. He started taking chemo drug Capecitabine 2000 mg twice a day. No bad side effects yet. Is anyone else taking the same chemo?

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@denise134

Sunflower88
Thanks for reply - I'm on same regimen but having trouble side affects so not sure if I will still be on a different dose or new treatment and I don't see doc till 16th of Jan then see results DPD gene too.
Happy you are doing well with pills. Keep in touch

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I hope all goes well with you too. His blood work did not look good. Too many red blood cells, he may be anemic or it is the chemo that is showing way too many High levels. He goes back on January 23 for more bloodwork, MRI, and CT of his chest.

Keep in touch.

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I took capecitabine in three different times.
In 2023, after I finished chemo and started radiation, I took oral capecitabine 2000 mg twice a day while continuing radiation.
Then, re-started it while I was waiting for liver transplant for 2 months.
Third time was in 2024, four months after my liver transplant to minimize risk of recurrence, for 6 months same dose..
Mikd side effects, compared to infusion chemo.
Good luck for you.

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@sunflower88

I hope all goes well with you too. His blood work did not look good. Too many red blood cells, he may be anemic or it is the chemo that is showing way too many High levels. He goes back on January 23 for more bloodwork, MRI, and CT of his chest.

Keep in touch.

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I had too many bad side effects from Capecitabine so after 3 doses and 2 ER trips doc said pill doesn't like me.
Choices are Gemcitabine IV once a week min 3 months or no chemo at all. The IV chemo side effects I read about seem worse than pill so thinking just hope it doesn't return. They will monitor blood and scans. Don't feel like I have a choice. Hope your hubby ok

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@kimia2000

I took capecitabine in three different times.
In 2023, after I finished chemo and started radiation, I took oral capecitabine 2000 mg twice a day while continuing radiation.
Then, re-started it while I was waiting for liver transplant for 2 months.
Third time was in 2024, four months after my liver transplant to minimize risk of recurrence, for 6 months same dose..
Mikd side effects, compared to infusion chemo.
Good luck for you.

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I had too many bad side effects from 3000 mg capecitabine said pill doesn't like me.
Choices are Gemcitabine IV once a week min 3 months or no chemo at all. The IV chemo side effects I read about seem worse than pill so thinking just hope it doesn't return. They will monitor blood and scans. Don't feel like I have a choice. Hope your hubby ok

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@kimia2000

I took capecitabine in three different times.
In 2023, after I finished chemo and started radiation, I took oral capecitabine 2000 mg twice a day while continuing radiation.
Then, re-started it while I was waiting for liver transplant for 2 months.
Third time was in 2024, four months after my liver transplant to minimize risk of recurrence, for 6 months same dose..
Mikd side effects, compared to infusion chemo.
Good luck for you.

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What are you taking now and how are you doing

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@denise134

What are you taking now and how are you doing

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Nothing now.
Screening every 3 months.

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@denise134

What are you taking now and how are you doing

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Hepatocellar Carcinoma has a high rate of recurrence, that is the reason to either take chemo orally or by IV. It kills any cancer cells floating around your body. It also killed the skin cancer my spouse had (went to dermatologist every 3 months and has had 7 MOH’s surgeries). Today, we are going back to Mayo for blood tests, CT Scan of chest thru pelvis area and MRI. Then appointment with PA from oncologist office for results of all tests. Another side effect is happening where his fingers and thumbs are all cracking the skin at the top, painful. But, the good news is he will be done mid March with oral chemo. 🙏🙏🙏 All goes well
With test results today.

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@kimia2000

Nothing now.
Screening every 3 months.

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Doc wants me to start Gemcitabine IV soon, so I agreed to try and see how side effects are with this med
Once a week for 3 weeks on and 1 week off - minimum 3 months or could be 6 months.

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I hope you are able to tolerate it better than the oral chemo.

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@sunflower88

Hi Colleen, please see my recent reply to Kimia where I have added the treatment my husband is doing and side effects. He had liver resection on 6/24/2024 removing the left lobe of his liver. Surgeon’s told us that cancer shows no sign in lymph nodes or other organs. Surgeon’s decided oral chemo of Capecitabine 2000 mg twice a day (2 weeks taking chemo, followed by 1 week no chemo, repeat for 6 months) 6-8 weeks after surgery in case there’s any cancer cells floating around. The plan of treatment includes blood work every 3 weeks, CT Chest and MRI of abdomen every 2 months for the first 2 years. ICC recurrence can happen.

He is not on any other chemo or radiation.

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@denvergirl here. I had surgery in Oct 2024 for bile duct cancer. I just completed my 2nd cycle of 3500 mg Capecitabine a day. In others' experience, are the side effects like diarrhea cumulative with increasing cycles?

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