Reducing Stress & Anxiety
Dealing with cancer is one of the most stressful experiences you can have.
The shock of your cancer spreading or coming back, concerns about the future, financial challenges, and worries about treatment can all trigger negative emotions. Family members may also feel overwhelmed.
One of the ways you and your family can manage stress and anxiety is to use counseling and support groups to help work through your feelings. You can also talk with your healthcare team about ways to manage your stress.
When you are being treated for cancer, your healthcare team members are your primary sources of medical advice and support. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare team about your medical condition or treatment.
Overcoming anxiety about recurrence or progression
Worrying that the cancer will return or progress is normal, especially during the
first year after treatment ends. Here are some things you can do to help deal
with these feelings:
- Talk regularly with your healthcare team about what you can do to stay healthy.
- Acknowledge your fears, but don't let them dominate your thoughts and control your life.
- Talk about your thoughts and fears with a friend or counselor. People often find that talking about their fears can help them feel less alone and more supported.
- Join a cancer support group. You can find a support group at your local hospital, cancer advocacy organization, or online.
- Meditating, deep breathing, and relaxation exercises can be effective ways to manage stress.
Cancer and depression
Depression is common in people with cancer, but often goes untreated. This can happen because patients and their healthcare teams may be more focused on the
physical effects of cancer and its treatment. If you have depression, it is important to seek treatment because untreated depression can make you less likely to take your medicine as prescribed or do the necessary things to maintain your health.
Tell your healthcare team if you think anxiety or depression may be affecting the amount of food you eat each day. Together, you can watch for symptoms of depression and treat them as needed.
Coping with scan and test anxiety
During your treatment, you may have X-rays, scans, and other tests that show how your treatment is progressing. You may feel anxious or scared when you know a test is coming up. These feelings are normal. It may help to try to do activities that have helped others lower their emotional stress at times like this. Talking with someone you trust, reaching out to a support group, or doing relaxing activities you enjoy can help. You can also reach out to your healthcare team and the XELODA Support Line for help.
Learn about XELODA support services
Who is XELODA for?
XELODA is used to treat:
- Cancer of the colon or rectum (colorectal cancer) that has spread to other parts of the
body.
This is called metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). XELODA is used as a single medicine to treat
mCRC.
In medical studies, people lived longer when they took other cancer medicines at the same time that they
took 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin. In medical studies, XELODA used as a single medicine was no worse
than 5-FU and leucovorin taken together. XELODA did not improve survival compared with these 2 medicines.
- Cancer of the colon after surgery.
- Breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
This is called metastatic breast cancer (mBC). For this kind of breast cancer, XELODA is taken
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. These medicines include paclitaxel and anthracycline-containing medicine such as
doxorubicin.
What is the most important safety information I should know about XELODA?
It is very important that your doctor knows if you are taking a medicine used to thin your
blood, such as warfarin (COUMADIN®). XELODA may increase the effect of this medicine. This
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. He or she will change the dose of the blood thinner, if needed.
Who should not take XELODA?
Do not take XELODA if:
- You are nursing a baby. XELODA may pass through your breast milk and to the baby and harm the baby
- You are allergic to the chemotherapy medicines 5-FU and capecitabine or to any of the ingredients in
XELODA
- Your body doesn't have enough of the enzyme DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase)
What should I tell my doctor before taking XELODA?
Tell your doctor if you:
- Are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. XELODA may harm your unborn child. Men and
women should use effective birth control while taking XELODA
- Take a blood thinner, such as warfarin
- Take phenytoin (DILANTIN®)
- Have kidney, liver, or heart problems
- Take folic acid, a B complex vitamin, or a multivitamin containing folic acid
Stop taking XELODA immediately and contact your doctor right away if you have any of these serious
common side effects or any other side effects that worry you:
- Diarrhea* — at least 4 more bowel movements each day than is normal for
you or if you wake up because you need to have a bowel movement
- Throwing up (vomiting)* — more than once in 24 hours
- Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)* — if you don't feel like eating
and if the amount of food you eat each day is much less than usual
- Pain, redness, swelling, or sores in your mouth (stomatitis)*
- Hand-and-foot syndrome — pain, swelling, or redness of your hands or
feet that prevents normal activity
- Fever or infection — a temperature of 100.5°F or higher or other
signs of infection
If you do have any of the side effects listed above, or if you have other side effects that
worry you, your doctor can change your dose of XELODA or stop your XELODA treatment for a while. This may
help to reduce the side effects and stop them from getting worse.
What are the other common side effects of XELODA?
- Constipation*
- Loss of appetite*
- Stomach area pain* or upset stomach
- Too much water loss from the body (dehydration)*
- Rash or dry, itchy, discolored skin
- Nail problems
- Hair loss
- Tiredness or weakness
- Dizziness or headache
- Pain, including chest, back, joint, or muscle pain
- Trouble sleeping
- Problems with your sense of taste
You may have different side effects if you take XELODA with docetaxel. Please talk with your doctor about
possible side effects that may be caused by taking XELODA with other medicines.
Please be sure to talk with your doctor if you have any questions about your cancer or treatment.
Please see complete Prescribing Information.
Coumadin is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Dilantin is a registered trademark of Pfizer
Inc.
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