Xeloda (Capecitabine)
What is Xeloda?
XELODA is an oral chemotherapy tablet you take by mouth. XELODA is changed in the body to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In some patients with colon, rectum, or breast cancer, 5-FU stops cancer cells from growing and decreases the size of the tumor.
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 calleddocetaxel.
- 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.
Effects caused by Xeloda :
The most common side effects of XELODA are:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Throwing up (vomiting)
- Sores in the mouth and throat (stomatitis)
- Stomach area pain (abdominal pain)
- Upset stomach
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Too much water loss from the body (dehydration)
The side effects listed above are more common in patients 80 years and older.
Other common side effects are:
- Hand-and-foot syndrome
- 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
- Problems with your sense of taste
