You are almost at the end of your treatments. As you begin to feel better, choosing a prudent diet and exercising will not only help you feel better and perhaps lose the extra weight gained, but has been shown to reduce the risk that cancer will return.

Ask your doctor if a physical therapist could help you with the right exercise for your needs.

Information on diet and recurrence.

Information about exercise from Dr. Lenz.

The FDA-approved label for Xeloda lists cardiotoxicity among the “Precautions”. Xeloda label.

However, we at C3 are not physicians and cannot know if a particular drug might have caused a serious side effect for a particular patient.

Your own doctor is the best person to ask about the situation. Definitely discuss whether or not you should continue Xeloda in light of your heart problem.

We sincerely hope that you are recovering from your heart attack.

BUT, we are not doctors here at C3. You need to discuss the question with your own doctor.

Also, given the serious diarrhea and low blood counts, you might ask about being tested for Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase Deficiency (DPD). This is a rare genetic change that can affect how 5-FU and Xeloda are metabolized leading to serious side effects in about 1-3 people in 100.

Good luck with your treatment. Stick close to your doctor and report diarrhea, fever, or any other symptoms right away.

Xeloda often has more “hand-foot” syndrome (red,sore, and sometimes peeling skin). Keeping hands and feet well moisturized helps. Talk this over with your doctor, as well.

We are not doctors here at C3 and can’t give you a medical answer about your reaction to Xeloda.

You can report this reaction yourself to the FDA to help them collect evidence of bad reactions to drugs by going to the consumer page of Medwatch.

We hope that you are recovering from your heart attack and also from colon cancer. Good luck to you in the future.

We are not doctors here at C3, so can’t give medical advice, but wonder why the patient wouldn’t just continue on the 5-FU for the final two treatments.

Xeloda is not a substitute for oxaliplatin. It is a similar drug to 5-FU, but as Dr. Hennig’s research (above) showed, an immediate switch from 5-FU to Xeloda may lead to serious side effects.

If oxaliplatin needs to be discontinued because of neuropathy, the last few treatments can be given with 5-FU alone. This is not uncommon for adjuvant treatment for stage III colon cancer.