Taking Charge

Taking an active role is a good strategy

A diagnosis of cancer can be overwhelming. It's common for cancer patients to feel out of control and even a bit helpless. One thing you can do that will help you feel more in control is to take an active role in your cancer treatment.

Ask questions and take an active role in your cancer treatment

Taking charge of cancer treatment means being involved in all the treatment decisions that affect your care. Your judgment is an important part of the treatment equation. You can connect with other courageous people who are battling cancer, at American Cancer Society and Breastcancer.org.

Ask your healthcare team to explain to you each of the medicines you're taking and what they do. To help you, we've created a handy list of questions to ask your healthcare team about your treatment plan. Before your next call or visit with your doctor, why not download your copy of Cancer Treatment Questions?

DON'T FORGET!

CALL YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT ANY SIDE EFFECTS

Take charge of your diet and exercise to build strength and help manage cancer side effects

Staying physically active and eating well are options open to many patients. Scheduling mild exercise regularly might not only provide physical benefits, it might also give you a greater sense of ownership of your schedule. Similarly, buying and eating healthy food is something you can do that may help build your strength, and avoiding certain foods can help lessen some side effects. We've created a brochure that can help you manage chemotherapy side effects.

Keep track of the details with the XELODA Treatment Planner

If you haven't done it yet, collect all your medical records and family history in one place. Then, maintain records of your tests, medications, and treatment visits. You can track side effects in the easy-to-use XELODA Treatment Planner.

Indications:

XELODA is used to treat:

cancer of the colon or rectum (colorectal cancer) that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic colorectal cancer). XELODA is used as a single drug to treat metastatic colorectal cancer. You should know that in studies, other medicines showed improved survival when they were taken together with 5-FU and leucovorin. In studies, XELODA used as a single drug was no worse than 5-FU and leucovorin taken together, but did not improve survival compared to these two medicines.
cancer of the colon after surgery.
breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic breast cancer) together with another medicine called docetaxel.
breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and has not improved after treatment with other medicines such as paclitaxel and anthracycline-containing medicine such as doxorubicin.

Important Safety Information:

WARNING:

XELODA may increase the effect of other medicines used to thin your blood such as warfarin. 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: hand-and-foot syndrome, 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 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. 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.
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).
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.

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For more information about XELODA, contact your physician or other healthcare professional.