Anyone taking Capecitabine Chemo for bile duct cancer?

Yes, the side effects of diarrhea will continue while on Capecitabine. My spouse continues to have diarrhea while taking the chemo. Sometimes during the day, but it mostly occurs at night when he goes to bed. Some nights 5-6 trips to the toilet or less. Some of the other side effects included the bottom of his feet became red and peeled off, recently his finger and thumb tips cracking and very painful. He is using lotion(O’keef’s working hands) for this and I ordered (arrived yesterday) hand gloves with moisturizer inside to be worn at night from Amazon (Aquaphor moisturizer gloves-pack of 6). He has already seen an improvement using O’Keef’s Working Hands. It is hard for him to use his hands right now due to this.

He had an MRI, CT of chest, lab work and met with the PA last week, everything looks good, no recurrence since surgery on 6/24/2024. Next appointment for MRI and CT Scan in April. He has lab work every month.

Wishing you luck with recovery.

@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?

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

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.

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.

Nothing now.
Screening every 3 months.

What are you taking now and how are you doing

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

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

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.