Xeloda (Capecitabine)

Xeloda Overview

Xeloda is a brand name for capecitabine, a prescription chemotherapy medication used to treat certain types of cancer. It belongs to a class of drugs called antimetabolites, which interfere with cancer cell growth.

Xeloda is an oral chemotherapy drug used to treat several types of cancer. It belongs to a class of drugs called antimetabolites, which stop cancer cell growth.

Uses

Xeloda is commonly prescribed for:

✔️ Breast cancer

— Especially metastatic or after other treatments fail.

✔️ Colorectal cancer

— Stage III as part of adjuvant therapy
— Metastatic colorectal cancer

✔️ Gastric (stomach) cancer

— Often in combination with other chemo drugs

How It Works

Capecitabine is a prodrug that converts to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the body, inhibiting DNA synthesis in cancer cells and stopping their division. It’s designed for oral use, mimicking intravenous 5-FU. Clinical trials (e.g., in The Lancet Oncology) show it improves survival in 20-40% of patients with metastatic colorectal or breast cancer.

Xeloda is converted in the body to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which interferes with DNA synthesis in rapidly dividing cells (like cancer cells), leading to cell death.

Common Uses

Breast Cancer: For metastatic or adjuvant treatment after surgery.

Colorectal Cancer: For metastatic disease or as adjuvant therapy.

Other Cancers: Off-label for gastric or pancreatic cancer. It’s not for early-stage cancers without metastasis.

Dosage

The dose varies based on:

• Cancer type

• Body surface area (height + weight)

• Other chemotherapy is being used

Typical schedule:

• Taken twice daily for 14 days

• Followed by 7 days off
  (One cycle = 21 days)

👉 Never adjust your dose without your oncologist’s advice.

Common Side Effects

• Diarrhea

• Hand-foot syndrome (redness, pain, peeling)

• Nausea, vomiting

• Loss of appetite

• Fatigue

• Mouth sores

• Low blood counts (anemia, neutropenia)

When to Contact Your Doctor Immediately

• Severe diarrhea (4+ times/day)

• Painful hand-foot syndrome

• Persistent vomiting

• Fever or infection signs

• Chest pain

• Severe fatigue or dehydration

Drug Interactions

Tell your doctor if you take:

• Blood thinners (especially warfarin)

• Phenytoin

• Allopurinol

• Antacids

If you want, I can help you with:

• Does the detail match your prescription

• How to manage side effects

• How it compares to other chemo options

• Whether it’s safe with your other medicines