About Breast Cancer About Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among women other than skin cancer. It affects millions of women around the world, and each year nearly 200,000 women get newly diagnosed. Breast Cancer is cancer that first forms within the breast. But it can grow into surrounding areas and, in later stages, spread throughout the body if left untreated.
 
Research has shown that if all women age 50 and older would have a mammogram each year, it would reduce Breast Cancer deaths by 30%. Certain risk factors may put you at a higher risk. These include getting older, a history of previous breast cancer, late childbearing, and other factors. Doing monthly self-exams of your breasts is the best way to find early warning signs. A mass or lump in the breast or underarm, changes in size, shape, color or texture of the breast, and blood or fluid leaking from the nipple are all warning signs of possible Breast Cancer.
 
Would you like more information about the warning signs of Breast Cancer, or Breast Cancer screening and diagnosis? Download the free "A Patient's Guide to Understanding Breast Cancer" brochure. And be sure to visit our Resources section for links to Breast Cancer Resources.
 

XELODA and Breast Cancer

XELODA is used to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, which is called metastatic Breast Cancer. To treat this type of cancer, XELODA can be taken together with another medicine called Taxotere®1 (docetaxel). It has also been approved to be used alone ("monotherapy") to treat this type of breast cancer in certain patients. Sometimes Breast Cancer that spreads to other parts of the body is treated with other medicines. These medicines include paclitaxel and anthracycline-containing medicines such as Adriamycin®2 (doxorubicin). If the patient's Breast Cancer has not improved after treatment with other medicines, XELODA may be taken alone to treat it.
 
In this section of XELODA.com, you can find out more about Breast Cancer and how it is diagnosed. You can also learn about diagnostic tests and the types of treatments available, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment. For the latest information about Breast Cancer, browse the Web sites listed in our Breast Cancer links.
 
FOOTNOTE
1. Taxotere® (docetaxel) is a registered trademark of Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc.
2. Adriamycin® is a registered trademark of Pharmacia.
Indications:
XELODA is used to treat:
 
Important Safety Information:
WARNING:
XELODA may increase the effect of other medicines used to thin your blood such as warfarin (COUMADIN®). It is very important that your doctor knows if you are taking a blood thinner such as warfarin because XELODA may increase the effect of this medicine and could lead to serious side effects. If you are taking blood thinners and XELODA, your doctor needs to check more often how fast your blood clots and change the dose of the blood thinner, if needed.
 
  • The most common side effects of XELODA are: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sores in the mouth and throat (stomatitis), stomach area pain (abdominal pain), upset stomach, constipation, loss of appetite, and too much water loss from the body (dehydration) (These side effects are more common in patients age 80 and older). Other common side effects are hand-and-foot syndrome (palms of the hands or soles of the feet tingle, become numb, painful, swollen or red); rash; dry, itchy or discolored skin; nail problems; hair loss; tiredness; weakness; dizziness; headache; fever; pain (including chest, back, joint and muscle pain); trouble sleeping; and taste problems. Tell your doctor if you have heart problems because you could have more side effects related to your heart.
     
    These side effects may differ when taking XELODA with docetaxel (TAXOTERE). Please consult your doctor for possible side effects that may be caused by taking XELODA with other therapies.
     
    If you are concerned about these or any other side effects while taking XELODA, talk to your doctor.

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  • Do not take XELODA if you are nursing a baby. Tell your doctor if you are nursing. XELODA may pass to the baby in your milk and harm the baby.
     
    Women should not become pregnant while taking XELODA. XELODA may harm your unborn child. Use effective birth control while taking XELODA. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant. Men should use birth control while taking XELODA.
     
    Do not take XELODA if you are allergic to 5-fluorouracil, capecitabine or any of the ingredients in XELODA. Do not take XELODA if you have been told that you lack the enzyme DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase).

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  • Stop taking XELODA immediately and contact your doctor right away if you have the side effects listed below or other side effects that concern you. Your doctor can then adjust XELODA to a dose that is right for you or stop your XELODA treatment for a while. This should help to reduce the side effects and stop them from getting worse.
    • - Diarrhea: if you have an additional 4 bowel movements each day beyond what is normal or any diarrhea at night
    • - Vomiting: if you vomit more than once in a 24-hour time period
    • - Nausea: if you lose your appetite, and the amount of food you eat each day is much less than usual
    • - Stomatitis: if you have pain, redness, swelling or sores in your mouth
    • - Hand-and-Foot Syndrome: if you have pain, swelling or redness of your hands or feet that prevents normal activity
    • - Fever or Infection: if you have a temperature of 100.5°F or greater or other signs of infection
Please be sure to talk to your doctor if you have any questions about your condition or treatment.
 
Please see accompanying patient information and complete Prescribing Information.
 
Adriamycin is a trademark of Pharmacia & Upjohn Company.
Coumadin is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
Taxol is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
Taxotere is a registered trademark of Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC.
 
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