What is capecitabine 500mg used for?
Capecitabine is used to help treat patients with Dukes’ C colon cancer (colon cancer that has spread to lymph nodes in the area close to the colon), after having surgery. This medicine is also used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum that has spread to other parts of the body).
How does capecitabine fight cancer?
Capecitabine is used to treat breast, colon, or rectal cancer. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.
Is capecitabine a chemo drug?
Capecitabine is a type of chemotherapy. It is used as a treatment for different types of cancer, including bowel cancer. You might have capecitabine on its own or with other chemotherapy drugs. You might also have it with radiotherapy.
How long do people take capecitabine?
These doses are taken for 2 weeks, followed by 1 week rest, given as 3 weeks cycle. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
How long can you take capecitabine?
Xeloda is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. For metastatic breast or colorectal cancer, you’ll usually take Xeloda for as long as it continues to be safe and effective for you. For adjuvant treatment of colon cancer, you’ll usually take Xeloda for 6 months (eight 3-week cycles).
Is 6 months of chemo a lot?
A course of chemotherapy usually takes between 3 to 6 months, although it can be more or less than that. The treatment will include one or more chemotherapy drugs.
Does capecitabine shrink tumors?
Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Chemotherapy drugs, such as oxaliplatin, leucovorin, fluorouracil, and capecitabine work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading.
Why do doctors stop chemotherapy?
If you’ve undergone three or more chemotherapy treatments for your cancer and the tumors continue to grow or spread, it may be time for you to consider stopping chemotherapy.