Adriamycin®
Adriamycin is the brand name for a drug called doxorubicin. This drug is a type of antibiotic used specifically to treat cancer. It works by stopping cells from multiplying. This helps keep tumors from growing and cancer cells from spreading throughout the body.
Adjuvant therapy
When a doctor prescribes a different treatment after the first one has been used (for example, when chemotherapy or radiation is used following surgery). The goal is to destroy any cancer cells that were not removed by the surgery.
Anthracycline
Any drug that is the member of a family of chemotherapy drugs that are also antibiotics. These drugs prevent cells from dividing by confusing and interrupting the DNA of the cells. Adriamycin® (doxorubicin) is an anthracycline.
Biopsy
When a doctor removes a small amount of tissue from your body to examine it closely for signs of infection or cancer cells. Biopsies are used to confirm whether or not a person has Breast or Colorectal Cancer.
Capecitabine
The generic name for XELODA. It is pronounced "CAPE-site-ah-bean."
Colonoscopy
A medical procedure where the doctor inserts a flexible tube into the colon through the rectum. This tube has a miniature camera in it to allow the doctor to see the inside of your colon. A colonoscopy allows the doctor to examine your colon for signs of Colorectal Cancer.
Coumadin®
Coumadin is the brand name of a drug called warfarin. This drug is used to reduce how fast and how often blood clots form in your blood.
DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase)
DPD is a type of enzyme that affects how the body absorbs and processes 5-FU.
Docetaxel
Docetaxel is the generic name of a drug called Taxotere®. This drug interferes with the growth of cancer cells, and it is used to treat Breast Cancer. It may be used in combination with other drugs, including XELODA.
Doxorubicin
Doxorubicin is the generic name of a drug called Adriamycin®. This drug is a type of antibiotic used specifically to treat cancer. It works by stopping cells from multiplying. This helps keep tumors from growing and cancer cells from spreading throughout the body.
Dilantin®
Dilantin is the brand name for a drug called phenytoin. This drug is used to treat seizures in patients with epilepsy. It is sometimes used to treat other conditions as well.
5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
5-FU was one of the first chemotherapy drugs available, and it has been in use for decades. It is used to treat Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, and certain other types as well. 5-FU must be given by intravenous (IV) injection in what is often a long, slow process. It is a very toxic chemical that must be handled carefully.
Gastroenterologist
A doctor who specializes in treating conditions of the stomach and intestines.
Hand-and-Foot Syndrome
This side effect causes pain, swelling or redness of your hands or feet that prevents normal activity. It is also known as Hand-and-Foot or palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia ( PPE). This is a possible side effect of some chemotherapies including XELODA.
Leucovorin
Folinic Acid. Commonly used in combination with other chemotherapies.
Lymph Nodes
Part of a body-wide system that filters fluid from cells. The lymph nodes are glands that make a fluid called lymph. This fluid carries white blood cells throughout the body through a series of connected vessels. Cancer cells can spread through the body by getting into the lymph system. If lymph nodes are found to have cancer cells, this means the cancer has spread beyond the original tumor.
Metastatic
When cancer cells are found in parts of the body that are far from the original tumor, the cancer has metasticized [meh-TAS-tah-sized]. If this has happened, a person is said to have metastatic [meh-tah-STATIC] cancer.
Paclitaxel
Paclitaxel is the generic name for a drug called Taxol®. This drug interferes with the growth of cancer cells to slow their growth and how quickly they spread in the body. Paclitaxel is used in the treatment of Breast Cancer and other cancers.
Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia (PPE)
This side effect causes pain, swelling or redness of your hands or feet that prevents normal activity. It is usually referred to as Hand-Foot Syndrome or Hand-and-Foot Syndrome. This is a possible side effect of some chemotherapies including XELODA.
Pathologist
Doctors or scientists who specialize in pathology and work as a consultant to other doctors. They spend most of their time in a laboratory studying the nature and causes of disease and the changes that result from it. A pathologist studies cancer cells taken in a biopsy, examines them, and sends a report to your doctor with the findings.
Peritoneum
A sac that lines the walls of the inside of your abdomen. Most of your inner organs (and your digestive system) are contained within this sac. In certain types of cancer, the cancer cells can spread to this sac.
Phenytoin
Phenytoin is the generic name for a drug called Dilantin®. This drug is used to treat seizures in patients with epilepsy. It is sometimes used to treat other conditions as well.
Polyp
A small growth of cells that grow on the inner wall of the colon or rectum. These cells are not cancerous at first, but if the polyp is not removed, they can become cancerous.
Radiologist
A medical professional who specializes in using radiation to help diagnose a disease or to treat one.
Stomatitis
A condition where pain, redness, swelling or sores develop in your mouth.
Taxol®
Taxol is the brand name of a drug called paclitaxel. This drug interferes with the growth of cancer cells to slow their growth and how quickly they spread in the body. Taxol is used in the treatment of Breast Cancer and other cancers.
Taxotere® (docetaxel)
Taxotere is the brand name of a drug called docetaxel. This drug interferes with the growth of cancer cells, and it is used to treat Breast Cancer. It may be used in combination with other drugs including XELODA.
Thymidine Phosphorylase (TP)
TP is an enzyme that plays a part in helping cells to multiply. Research shows that tumors and other cancer cells produce more TP than healthy cells do. XELODA is thought to work by going to the sites where there is more TP and concentrating its anti-cancer effects there.
Warfarin
Warfarin is the generic name for a drug called Coumadin®. This drug is used to reduce how fast and how often blood clots form in your blood.
XELODA
XELODA is an oral chemotherapy used to treat cancer of the colon after surgery, metastatic Breast and metastatic Colorectal Cancer. XELODA changes to 5-FU in the tissues.
Adriamycin® is a registered trademark of Pharmacia Company.
Coumadin® is a registered trademark of DuPont Pharmaceuticals Company.
Dilantin® is a registered trademark of Parke Davis Company.
Taxol® is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Taxotere® is a registered trademark of Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc.  
              
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.

    •  
  • 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.
 
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.
 
FAQs    Print This Page    Send an E-card    Tell a Friend   Bookmark This Page    Text Size  A  A
Prescribing Information    Important Safety Information    Glossary    Site Map    Contact Us    Login    Unsubscribe
Roche Laboratories Inc. THIS SITE INTENDED FOR U.S. AUDIENCES ONLY
Copyright © 2004-2010 Roche Laboratories Inc. All rights reserved.
Use and access of this site is subject to the terms and conditions as set out in our Legal Statement and PRIVACY Statement.
 
For more information about XELODA, contact your physician or other healthcare professional.