Hand-and-foot syndrome
Many patients who take XELODA get hand-and-foot syndrome. Studies have shown that patients taking XELODA develop hand-and-foot syndrome as early as 11 days (within the first treatment cycle) or as late as 360 days after treatment is started. About half of these patients developed hand-and-foot syndrome by around the third month of treatment.
Hand-and-foot syndrome can make your hands and/or feet have:
- Tingling, burning, or numbness
- Redness or swelling
- Flaking or peeling skin
- Small blisters
- Sores or breaks in the skin
- Discomfort or pain
Your treatment with XELODA may need to be adjusted or interrupted to help manage hand-and-foot syndrome.
Stop taking XELODA immediately and contact your healthcare team right away if you have pain, swelling, or redness of your hands or feet that stops you from doing your normal activities.
This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare team about your medical condition or treatment.
Tips for managing hand-and-foot syndrome
Here are some useful tips to help you manage hand-and-foot syndrome:
- Wear loose, comfortable clothes and shoes.
- Take cool showers or baths and limit the use of hot water on your hands or feet.
- Stay out of the sun and away from intense heat.
- Gently apply mild skin cream to your hands and feet several times a day.
- Pat — do not rub — skin dry after washing.
- Elevate your hands and feet.
Talking with your healthcare team about hand-and-foot syndrome
It is important to know the signs of hand-and-foot syndrome. Contact your healthcare team right away if you have any of the signs. Your healthcare team will confirm if you have hand-and-foot syndrome and decide what grade it is. The grade is based on how severe your symptoms are.
Learn about talking with your healthcare team
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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