Capecitabine side effects are really tough: What helps?

@denise134, you may also be interested in these related discussions:

- Anyone taking Capecitabine Chemo for bile duct cancer? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-taking-capecitabine-chemo/
- After Bone marrow transplant: Mucositis, post care and follow ups
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/bone-marrow-transplant-mucositis-post-care-and-follow-ups/
I'm also tagging fellow members like @gamaryanne @stevm @wifemom3 @canfriend @martin77 @cjay who have experience with capecitabine and managing side effects.

Denise, how are you doing on the lower dose?

https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tumour-position/?pg=3#chv4-comment-stream-header
Hello Denise. There are some comments about capecitabine in the above thread which I hope may be useful.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. After my bowel cancer surgery in Nov 2022 and liver cancer surgery in August 2024 I'm now enjoying skiing in the French Alps and planning a long bike ride in June!
Happy New Year.

@martin77
So great to hear about your ski and bike trips. Absolutely my loves as well . What was your reaction to capecitabine ? After 2.5 days and half dose I developed a scarlet itchy rash across my chest , neck and face. Dr discontinued . Im taking 10mg prednisone and my face is better but the rash on my chest and neck persist. I am also awaiting results of a DYPD test to see if I am unable to metabolize the drug . Just a nightmare.

Hello @ogf78
Good to hear you also enjoy getting out on your bike and going skiing. My reaction to capecitabine was not severe - mainly tiredness which quickly improved during the week off in each cycle, 2 weeks on and one week off. That lasted for 3 months and I've had no chemo since.
Just starting some ablation of lung cancer now but looking forward to the ski season!
All best.
Martin

@martin77
Hi there. I saw your comment "Just starting some ablation of lung cancer now but looking forward to the ski season!"
Could you tell me more about it? I have multifocal lung cancer and have had two VAT surgeries and 3 days of SBRT to treat a total of 4 nodules. My PET yesterday shows another cancer in same lobe as previous SBRT. I developed radiation induced pneumonitis from the SBRT and lost lung function and more SBRT has increased risk for another pneumonitis. Ablation is a safer option for me. Chat gpt gives one a lot of info! Next week I will have to ask doctors what is the plan, but not to wait could you tell us more? What kind are you doing and where? What lead up to that choice ?
Oh, and about the skiing, I skied in Italy, know Cortina?

@vic83
Hello Vic. Good to hear from you. Sounds like you've been having a lot of treatment.
I was diagnosed with 4 small tumours on my lungs in Feb this year, 2 on each side. This follows surgery for liver cancer in August 2024 and bowel cancer in Nov 2022.
My oncologist in Cambridge UK thought that radio frequency ablation (RFA) would be suitable and so after a busy summer of cycling and walking (50 miles in 5 days in the Cotswolds only last week) we decided to book in the RFA last week at a hospital in Ipswich which is one of only 6 sites that undertakes the procedure.
The procedure itself went well - discharged the same day, last Thursday - but the aftermath has been absolute hell! I was rushed into hospital early the next day and then had 36 hours of excruciating pain despite a diet of morphine and other painkillers. Things seem to be improving at long last and so it will hopefully all be worthwhile. As they say, no pain no gain!
Other experiences from those on this forum seem to have been better and so perhaps I've just been unlucky.
Hope this helps in your decision making.
I haven’t skied in Italy but I've heard it's good. I ski close by near Chamonix where the snow is already falling, which augurs well for the season ahead.