@grandmakat5

How did yesterday go?

I have been on capecitabine for almost 3 years due to my pancreatic cancer with metastasis to the liver and bones. I now have my routine down, but each cycle can be a little different. When I started, I was on 2500 mg daily. I was also on another oral chemo called temozolomide for the last five days of the capecitabine 14 day cycle. I then took two weeks off before starting again. The combination of capecitabine and temozolomide is called CAPTEM for short. I took Zofran before taking the temozolomide at night. It REALLY helped with the nausea. The eating before and laying down is just a habit now. They really still help me. That's what I took for the first year. Afterwards, I stopped my TEM part of the chemo regimen and have been on only 2000 mg of CAP since. I still take it 14 days on, 14 days off. The cancer lesions on my liver are still decreasing, I have less in my bones, and my pancreatic tumors are stable. I know the capecitabine is still working.

I have to commend you. The preparation, planning, and execution of the plan is what makes taking capecitabine tolerable for me. You seem to have yours in place. I still get skin issues, if I don't properly "moisturize". Initially, my monthly visits with my oncologist frequently started with, "Hi Tom. How many times have you moisturized today." I still get some dryness, but it is way more tolerable. I keep cerave lotion conveniently available at all times. Same with mouthwash for the mouth sores. I still get some body aches and pains, but I stretch a lot to manage them. Everytime I get in and out of bed, I stretch. I also walk with my dog everyday. You guessed it. I stretch before and after. Being active and stretching really makes a difference for me. There is no getting around the tiredness. I have learned to nap. I have never really done that in my life. I just couldn't nap. I can now. I also stick to a nightly sleep schedule. That has helped me so much. Capecitabine requires rest. Get it the best way you can.

I am a big fan of it capecitabine especially since my ability to tolerate it is mostly manageable. But, I needed to change some behaviors. As an added bonus, it also resolved several squamous cell skin cancer lesions. Capecitabine is kind of a wonder chemo for me. I have to admit, I am fan of it.

Any other questions? How are you feeling today? Do you do anything physical to help with the aches and pains? How are you handling the mental and emotional sides of having cancer? At times, they have been way harder for me to deal with than the physical issues. I can't be the only one that feels like that?