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About Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.
Expertise
I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience with regards to this cancer.

Experience
I'm a Doctor of Medicine. Licensed/certified physician and surgeon and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation therapy in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and the European Union. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps. Now in private practice in Stockholm, Sweden.

I also answer questions in these categories: Oncology (General Cancer), General History, Military History, Brain Tumors, Breast Cancer.

You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Cancer > Colon Cancer > Radiotherapy and Xeloda

Colon Cancer - Radiotherapy and Xeloda

Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 11/1/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello ! Thank you for taking your time to read and answer my question.

I would like to know if it's ok to take Xeloda whilst undergoing radiotherapy. I am asking because some doctors say it's good to take it, and others say that under no circumstances should you take Xeloda whilst you're having radiotherapy. I've also read about some studies on that - i.e. How Xeloda and Radiotherapy work together, but I didn't understand whether it was good or bad in the end.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Liz

ANSWER: That depends on which tumor or tumors we are discussing. Colon cancer? Anything else?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The tumors in question are rectum tumours (not spread throughout the colon nor the stomach), which have also affected the vagina and a part of the uterus, as well as some pulmonary tumours. The patient has been undergoing treatment with Oxiplatinum, Avastin and Xeloda for more than a year (in phases) and has just started radiotherapy. Also after a while some tumours decreased a lot, whilst others stopped growing, and then they started to grow again.

She went through five radiotherapy sessions so far (particle accelerator), out of twenty, and stopped for a short while because of a hemorrhage. The radiotherapy resumes on Monday and she's confused about the Xeloda and radiotherapy combination.

Answer
Well contrary to most other colon cancers cancers of the rectum are usually sensitive to radiation. They also seem usually to be sensitive to Xeloda like most colon cancers. So at least theoretically there is a possible gain by combining these 2 treatment methods. This is also supported by case studies both for other cancers and for rectal cancers. So there is nothing strange in this combination. Since it is very advanced (growth into her vagina & uterus) in her case rather drastic treatment measures are necessary for local control (rectal-vaginal area), so I'm not surprised that this combination is used. However since it also seems to have spread to her lungs her cancer is now a stage 4 case and therefore in principle at present incurable. It may however be controllable with chemotherapy even for that but for how long is impossible to say. And of course I can not guarantee success on any point here unfortunately.

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