I've had two types of chemo, AC when I was first diagnosed in November 09 and then Xeloda when the cancer spread in August 2011. The AC was difficult to tolerate, in fact the first dose gave me neutropenia and I was in hospital for 12 days. Each subsequent dose required an extra week for my white cell count to raise enough. Each of these made me quite unwell and exhausted for the first week of each three week cycle before I got back near normal but still tired. Of course I lost my hair two weeks after the first dose.
The Xeloda is much easier to take. It takes the form of tablets which are taken twice a day for two weeks and then one week off. The side effects are quite minor, although I find myself exhausted. This is something which I will be taking indefinitely until my circumstances change again which of course I hope won't be happening for a very long time. I was unfortunate enough to get hand and foot syndrome for a couple of months but this was eventually cleared up with antibiotics. Apart from that I've had swollen feet which has settled down, and pigment all over my face which hasn't settled. My appetite is very low and I find it hard to eat as much as I should..
Of course I know that my experience will be different to others who may have a greater or lesser tolerance to the chemotherapy drugs that thay're given, but hopefully this will give others an idea of what may happen.
Julia
