Capecitabine for Breast Cancer, Metastatic User Reviews

• car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2023

"I have been taking Capecitabine for 3 months now. It's working really well for me with absolutely no side effects. I hope it continues this way. I have just had a CT scan to see how it's working, so I'm waiting for the hopefully good news. Good luck to everyone out there who is battling with this horrible disease. Stay positive, ladies. We can do this."

• Sue...
• December 12, 2016

Capecitabine "I have been taking Xeloda 500mg for approximately 5 months with only a few side effects. I am on one week and off the next. I am tired during the week I am on, with occasional diarrhea. I have noticed my hair thinning more, but not too extreme. I don't have any hand or foot peeling as others do. I sleep really well, and my appetite has not been affected. On occasion, my gums feel a little tender. The best part is my tumor markers continue to drop in number! This is working for me."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 13, 2017

Capecitabine "I will be starting my 4th round next week of Xeloda (generic). I have stage 4 breast cancer that I have been battling for over 6 years. Tumor spread to the liver, some sort of tumors near my kidney pressing my urethra, and pleurisy. I was losing 1 to 2 lbs a day. This is only my third therapy in all those years. My first round was 4,000 mg per day for 14 days. We had to adjust as the pain in my feet became horrific after a week. I am now taking 3,000 mg per day for 7 days on, 7 days off. I am no longer losing weight so we know the Xeloda is probably working on the liver. The pleural area is not refilling (had surgery); kidney was saved with stents. Please do not be quick to jump to another drug (only when they stop working)."

• Anonymous
• May 3, 2009

Capecitabine "I have advanced breast cancer in treatment. Xeloda has been better than being stuck in the chemo suite at my oncologist's office all the time. I just take the pills and they are pretty easy to take, compared to the infusions. Now I just have to go once a month to get my Taxotere. My nurse also has me putting lots of lotion on my hands and feet to prevent side effects, so far my hands are just dry sometimes. The best part is my hair is coming back. If I'd known this drug was available earlier, I'd have asked for it."

• Ali...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2019

"I was diagnosed with liver mets in May this year. I also have had bone mets for 5 years, all from my breast cancer. So far, capecitabine has worked fantastically. I have had 2 scans since starting, and both are very positive as tumors are shrinking. I feel great. Any side effects are very easy to treat."

• Sus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 7, 2022

"I have been on capecitabine (Xeloda) for 11 months with minor side effects in the beginning when on a higher dose (hand and foot syndrome, rash on chest and back) and really minor now since 1500 mg 2x/day, 1 week on and 1 off (minor cramps, diarrhea). I still put lotion on feet once a day. It took away 2 tumors in my chest (hila), but sadly, I now have a small mass on my breast. Triple neg. is the worst! It will be removed in a week, and I am still positive, and Oncol. is keeping me on the same dose. Don't give up and try to be thankful for the good days and enjoy life, like I am, till the good Lord takes me home."

• lor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2022

"I have stage 4 breast cancer, which has come back 5 times. I have just been put on capecitabine, and it has reduced the tumor under my armpit. I have had no side effects whatsoever. Hope it keeps working for me, I know it will."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 10, 2018

Capecitabine "Chemo pill that is so awful! I didn’t have as many side effects taking AC (Adriamycin & Cyclophosphamide) chemo. I do have so many side effects with these awful pills. The thought of enduring 5 more extremely awful months is almost unimaginable."

• dev...
• August 8, 2017

"I have been taking these pills for the past two months...one week on, one week off. 500 mg per pill. 8 pills per day, four in the morning and four at night, and so far this has been a godsend. I have MBC stage 4, as of today, I have had no side effects: no hair thinning, no diarrhea, no peeling of the hands or feet. I was given the option of chemo infusion but declined, as after reading all the side effects, I decided not to go that route. I just left my doctor's office this afternoon, and the news was good. The swelling and open wounds on the breast that had been bleeding profusely have stopped. Wounds are healing and some shrinkage of the tumor was seen. I can only tell you that it seems to be working for me."

• bjm...
• July 10, 2016

"I began this drug when diagnosed 9 months ago with Stage IV metastatic CA. I take 4 pills in the a.m. and 3 in the p.m. I began on the 14 days on and 7 days off regimen. Went ok with only a little nausea at first, but a few cycles in had severe diarrhea and stomach pain to the point of passing out on the toilet. The next day diarrhea with bloody stools. My oncologist changed the cycle to 1 week on and 1 week off, and I have had much less severe side effects. I do get a day or two with a bout of diarrhea and sometimes a day or 2 of foot redness, even with using creams faithfully. However, my CT scan confirms my cancer liver spots have decreased and shrunk. My bone spots are healing in places, and there are no new areas seen...so far, so good."

• BC ...
• May 18, 2016

Capecitabine "I am thankful this drug didn't kill me! After taking this drug for 8 days, the side effects started and went from bad to worse... blisters on hands and feet, as well as every fold in my skin turned black, and I had severe diarrhea that ended up putting me in the hospital for 6 days. The medicine reacted to my colon, and it was wide open, couldn't hold anything down. Lost 17 pounds in 7 days, although the weight loss was welcomed, I wouldn't suggest going about it this way. I stuck it out for the full 14-day regimen, and my doctor believes that with taking the drug for the first cycle, hopefully, it shrunk some of the tumors that are in my jaw, spine, collarbone, and left femur. New treatment coming after I recover from Xeloda!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2021

Capecitabine "My family member did 2 weeks of this drug. Was so fatigued, couldn't eat, and was underweight to start with. Hospitalized with green diarrhea and later discovered bowel damage. She later died. This treatment is dangerous at the prescribed levels. She may have fared better at a much lower dose."

• Hea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2022

Capecitabine "I had an allergic reaction on IV Cyclophosphamide, so my oncologist replaced it with the oral chemo pill Xeloda: 3 tablets 2x/day. I was advised to protect myself from the sun if I go out and report diarrhea exceeding 4x and the rest of the side effects on the packet. This drug gave me the following side effects: 1) stomach cramping and pain 2) diarrhea 3) heart palpitations 4) purple to black tongue 5) swelling of my buccal mucosa 6) sores on my lips, nose, and side of my eyes 7) swollen reddish face 8) feeling so cold and at times with chills 9) generalized body malaise 10) sensitivity to pepper, ginger, and anything spicy, my innards feel like it’s burning. I went through chemotherapy seven years ago, but this medicine tops it. I pray to God there’s another alternative."

• che...
• April 4, 2016

Capecitabine "I've been on Xeloda for 5 months. I have extreme traveling pains. Once I woke up at 3 am, and my right hand felt like someone had stabbed me with a knife, and the knife was still in it. This lasted for 3 days. Next, it was my left leg at the hip joint. I couldn't walk on it. Lots of pain when I moved it. It lasted about 4 days. Next was in my jaw joint. Painful swelling, couldn't bite down on anything... another 3-day episode. The pain is horrible. I go for scans in two weeks to see why my tumor markers went up. Could be from the inflammation Xeloda is causing, could be Xeloda is not working for me and the cancer is spreading. Will know soon."

• jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2016

Capecitabine "My husband is on it and is extremely fatigued, and I mean tired to where he can't walk without getting out of breath. He also coughs constantly and brings up white foamy phlegm. L girl, you said your mom passed soon after taking the drug. I'm so sorry. Did she have issues with lungs and/or cough? I hope you see this, but I'm not sure you will since we can't message people on here apparently."

• Rah...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2021

Capecitabine "My mother developed severe side effects to Xeloda after taking two cycles of this drug. She passed away within two months. I truly believe she would still be with us had she not started this toxic treatment."

• gpa...
• June 8, 2020

"I have metastatic breast cancer that spread to my liver and bone. My oncologist said it's inoperable. I've been on capecitabine and a new experimental chemo drug called tesataxal for approximately 10 months now. I'm on my 13th cycle. So far, my tumors are stable, some have shrunk. I'm getting a little anxious and was wondering how long I need to continue taking this drug. The protocol requires me to take it for 2 years. I'm asking if anyone has other alternatives to speed up the process?"

• TLa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2020

"My mom has taken this medication, capecitabine, for 4 sessions (2 weeks + 1 week break) now, and it was 1 tablet (500 mg) am and 1 tablet (500 mg) pm for 3 sessions. After the first session, she was not able to do most of her daily chores as she used to, but by the third session, she had a tummy so swollen (2x its original size). In the fourth dose, when it was 2 tablets (500 mg) am and 2 tablets (500 mg) pm, things just got out of hand with an exploding tummy, not being able to eat or walk, and excessive belching, passing less urine, trouble breathing, and severe leg, feet, back, and shoulder pain. I think this medication hits pretty hard on elderly people."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2025

"I am on my 2nd week of my first cycle of capecitabine and I'm still waiting for side effects. I have none so far. I have this fear of it not working as I feel fine and thinking they have given me a placebo haha. My breast cancer has metastasized to some lymph nodes in my chest wall - luckily has not gone anywhere else. I'm hoping I feel this way for the whole 24 week course."

• Joy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 26, 2018

Capecitabine "Wonderful drug for me. Brought my tumor marker blood test from 555 to 71 and still may be going lower. No side effects. Pray it continues to work."

• L g...
• November 19, 2015

Capecitabine "My mom took this medication, and not long after, she passed away. I think this medication played a good part. I wouldn't take it if I was anyone, but hopefully, it might work for you."

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2016

Capecitabine "Appears I have developed lactose intolerance on my third cycle."

• Won...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2021

"I've been on chemo last year, and the side effects on this are horrible! My life dwindle to nothing in one month! Never again, now I have to clean, detox my body of this stuff!"

• Anonymous
• February 27, 2021

Capecitabine "This stuff doesn't work, found a lesion on the liver. Made my daughter so weak. Don't take it!!!"

• Anonymous
• October 6, 2022

"Not effective, toxic, produce liver damage, hyperpigmentation of skin, tumor markers CEA increase with this drug."