Xeloda

I have mets from BC to my left hip, left subclavical node and right axily node. The last 2 were dx with a pet scan 4 weeks after my masectomy. Hip was dx through mri. I have been on xeloda for 5 months and my last pet scan in July show NED. I'm due for another scan in 4 wks. My questions are, could the first scans misdiagnose cancer? seems like it should take a little longer for the cancer to disappear? and I have experienced 20 pound weight gain, even though my activity level is actually the same and I am eating less food (side effects) in the same print of the xeloda is mentions weight gain, is there any way to lose it while I'm on the xeloda? Also they thought there might be spleen involvement because they saw something on the ct scan and US but not on the PET scan, I had no symptoms, what are the chances of it being there but the pet scan missed it? according to the ct and us it was about 3 x 2 cm. I have recently started having left side pain, but I can't tell if its from the xeloda which causing stomach pains and cramping. sorry for all the questions this has been a hell of a year.

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear Pitcrew, Different scans provide different pieces of information that are put together to help in the determination of extent of disease.  A PET scan is designed to detect areas of hypermetabolic activity - which is common in cancer. Having a negative (or positive) PET scan may increase or decrease the concern about cancer but no scan can guarantee that there are no microscopic cells.  Your symptoms (left side pain) would need to be interpreted in context of history and physical exam as well as information from the testing, to help to determine the most likely cause.
It is not uncommon for women going through chemotherapy for breast cancer to experience weight gain, this is particularly true of pre-menopausal women. The exact mechanism for this weight gain is not really known. Usually weight gain occurs when caloric intake exceeds the amount of calories utilized by the body for energy. So if a person is eating more or is less active this could account for some weight gain. The current thinking based on study of this issue is that the weight gain may be due more to decreased activity than to overeating as had earlier been thought the culprit. There is also some question if some chemotherapy drugs actually alter the way the body uses or stores calories? Or whether since chemotherapy frequently induces menopause or menopause-like symptoms in premenopausal patients, whether something in this process effects weight gain.

More research needs to be done about this issue, however to help you now at least to help halt some of the weight gain - moderate exercise may be your best bet. You may want to take a look at the website www.chemocare.com - look under managing side effects for "weight changes" there are more tips/suggestions that may be of help to you.

[pitcrew]

thank you... I have contacted my doctor and we are going to try to move the scans up.

[babs1]

This is my third time with Breast Cancer and I would strongly recommend your not counting on the pet scan as it did not pick up my metastisis in my liver. Certain kinds of cancer like Lobular are usually detected on a Cat with contrast. That is what picked up mine. My pet shows a person free of cancer. Scary but true. I am on Xeloda and am experiencing really bad stomach problems. Not sure whether it is from my tram flap had years ago or from Xeloda. Any comments?

[pitcrew]

I have severe cramping and bloating from the xeloda. I had an ultra sound yesterday and am waiting results. I honestly don't put alot of faith into any one test. For instances, none of my many mammograms ever showed cancer, even when the tumor was 3 cm, tumor markers done at the time I had confirmed Mets, was completely normal, Uptake on CT scans have showed things that turned out to be nothing and Pet scans can lite up areas that aren't cancer or like you said show no cancer where there is cancer. I trust what I feel, and now so does my doctor as my mets pop up in places they don't normally go....

[kklittleone]

A related discussion, Chemo & stomach pain was started.