Effective Chemo in a Pill

Chemotherapy pills for metastatic breast and colorectal cancers and Stage III (Dukes' C) colon cancer

XELODA is different from most chemotherapy. You take it as a pill, instead of as an intravenous (IV) treatment. Your doctor will prescribe a dose that's right for you. It's important that you take XELODA exactly as your doctor prescribes it.

What is XELODA?

Most chemotherapy is given through intravenous (IV) tubes at treatment centers. XELODA is different. It's a chemotherapy pill that you can take at home or at work. If you take XELODA chemotherapy pills without other treatments, XELODA might reduce the time you spend at your doctor's office.

For example, Mayo Clinic's recommended schedule for treating colon cancer requires up to 30 clinic visits over a 24-week treatment course. Patients taking XELODA for colon cancer generally require fewer clinic visits.

DON'T FORGET!

CALL YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT ANY SIDE EFFECTS

Like all chemotherapy, XELODA has side effects. However, XELODA chemotherapy pills are generally well tolerated by patients, and side effects can generally be managed. Taking a pill is different from getting intravenous (IV) chemotherapy at a treatment center. In a treatment center you would interact with someone on your treatment team, who may ask if you have been experiencing side effects. In taking XELODA at home or at work, it's up to you to recognize that you may be experiencing side effects and to contact your doctor about them.

How does XELODA work?

XELODA is a drug taken by mouth and then converted by your body into an effective anticancer drug. Here's what happens after you swallow a XELODA pill:

XELODA passes through the digestive system into the bloodstream.
Once in the bloodstream, it reaches individual cells, including cancer cells.
Inside the cancer cells, XELODA is transformed into 5-FU — an effective cancer-fighting drug.

The two different strengths of XELODA chemotherapy pills

If you're currently taking XELODA, it's important that you follow your doctor's treatment plan exactly. Your doctor will prescribe a dose and treatment plan that is right for you.

There are two different strengths of XELODA pills — 150 mg and 500 mg tablets. Your doctor may ask you to take various combinations of both 150 mg and 500 mg tablets together for each dose. You need to know what each tablet looks like:

500 mg & 150 mg

The 500 mg tablets are peach in color with 500 on one side

The 150 mg tablets are light peach in color with 150 on one side

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.