Maintenance

Today, February 4 I began my chemo maintenance. It has been a long road. I had major surgery five months ago after enduring almost two months of radiation and chemo therapy at the same time. I have detailed the effects of that and will do so no more. In October I went through a reversal surgery to reattach my small intestine to the large intestine. I work a iliostomy bag for over ten weeks. That in itself was an adventure.

The reversal surgery was good, I recovered swiftly and feel as good as I've felt in years.

The oncologist recommended I have follow up chemo to kill any guerrillas. At first the insurance company refused to pay for it saying it was not necessary and that chemo maintenance for recurring colorectal cancer is experimental. Then the oncologist had his financial person contact the drug companies to see if they would donate the medicine. I was to take two types of drug, oxyplatin and Xeloda. One of the most often used drugs in fighting my type of colon cancer, which is a basal cell or Sauamous cell, a drug called 5 FU. It was the drug used in my initial round of chemo because it works in conjunction with radiation to make the radiation more deadly. It also is used in treatment of metastasized colorectal cancer. So that was one drug. The other drug is used when the cancer has spread and if more effective for that type. There is no indication that the cancer has spread anywhere, however, it did recur when I was pronounced "cured." I did not qualify for the second drug. So I am taking only Xeloda.

I take four 500mg tablets twice a day Today, day 1 I have no effects that I can tell. The side effects are numerous but the Dr. told me this drug is well tolerated so I hope things will go OK.