CAPEDOCE
Capecitabine-DOCEtaxel Treatment
This document provides general information about your cancer treatment. It does not replace the advice of your health care professional. Always discuss your therapy with your health care team.
- This treatment consists of Capecitabine and DOCEtaxel.
- Refer to the medication information sheet for each drug for more information.
- Capecitabine-DOCEtaxel is a drug combination for treating breast cancer.
- It is important to tell your oncologist about any other medical conditions you have, as some conditions may affect therapy with this treatment.
- Your doctor will prescribe dexamethasone tablets for you to take at home before and after each Docetaxel injection, to help prevent allergic reactions and water retention. It is very important that you take these tablets exactly as directed by your doctor so that you don’t experience these side-effects.
- Since these medications may harm your baby if used during pregnancy, women who have not yet reached menopause should use effective forms of birth control while being treated. Do not use birth control pills. Please discuss this with your oncologist.
- If you become pregnant, tell your oncologist right away.
- Do not breastfeed while undergoing treatment.
- Also, if you plan to have children, discuss this with your oncologist before starting your first treatment, as chemotherapy may affect your fertility and your chances of having a baby in the future.
- Your oncologist will determine how many treatment cycles you need depending on how you respond to and tolerate the chemotherapy. Each cycle lasts 3 weeks (21 days).
- You will receive Docetaxel through a vein in your arm (IV) on the first day (Day 1) of each cycle.
- Capecitabine tablets are to be taken twice daily from Day 1 to 14 of each treatment cycle. Capecitabine tablets come in 2 strengths (150mg and 500mg). A combination of both strengths may be needed to get the dose that is right for you.
- Days 15 to 21 are rest days.
- You will have a blood test before each treatment to check if your blood counts are high enough for you to receive the next cycle of chemotherapy.
- Capecitabine will make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Limit the amount of sunlight to which you are exposed. Apply sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection and a SPF of at least 30. Use a lip balm with sunscreen for your lips. Wear long sleeved shirts, long pants and hats.
- Capecitabine tablets should be taken within 30 minutes after a meal and swallowed whole with water.
- All patients will experience some hair loss. This generally starts 2 to 3 weeks after the first injection. Your scalp may feel tender. It’s a good idea to consider a wig or other head covering before starting treatment. Hair loss on your face (e.g. eyebrows, eyelashes) and body can also occur.
- Medications in this regimen may make your periods heavier or lighter. Your periods may even stop completely. This may be permanent. You may develop symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and changes in sexual desire. Please discuss any concerns with your nurse or oncologist.
- Tell your oncologist, nurse, and pharmacist about any other prescription and non-prescription medications you are currently taking. Check with your oncologist, nurse or pharmacist before you start taking any new drugs, including herbal or alternative treatments. Also, tell other healthcare professionals you are seeing about the chemotherapy you are receiving.
- Due to increased risk of developing infections, check with your oncologist before having any vaccinations. Also check with your oncologist before any surgery or dental work.
- If you are taking ASA (Aspirin®, acetylsalicylic acid), please discuss this with your oncologist as this may interfere with your chemotherapy treatment. For headache or occasional aches and pains, use acetaminophen (Tylenol®) instead of ASA.
- Store capecitabine tablets away from heat, light, and moisture. Keep out of reach of children.
The table below lists some common or important side effects with this treatment. You may not have all of the side effects. Other side effects may occur. If you have any unusual or bothersome symptoms, discuss with your doctor.
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Hair thinning or loss
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Diarrhea
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Water retention in arms and legs
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Contact your health care team as soon as possible (office hours) | ||||||
Heartburn
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Tiredness or Weakness; Lack of energy
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Thin, reddened skin on the hands or feet ;
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Sores in the mouth or the lips
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Contact your health care team as soon as possible (office hours) | ||||||
Muscle or joint pain
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Nausea and vomiting
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Contact your healthcare team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours | ||||||
Signs of infection, for example, fever, chills, cough, sore throat
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Prickly/tingly feeling or numbness in the hands or feet
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Nail changes
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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Lung problems |
Get emergency medical help right away |
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/symptom-management.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information(for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.