Xeloda 500 mg Tablet is used to treat breast, colon and stomach cancer. Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific body part grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can attack and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs. Cancer sometimes begins in one body part before spreading to other areas. This process is known as metastasis.

Xeloda 500 mg Tablet contains Capecitabine, an anti-cancer medication that is cytotoxic (causes cell death). When taken, it gets converted into 5-fluorouracil (chemical), which hampers the synthesis of genetic materials (DNA) in the cancer cells, thereby interfering with their growth. As a result, cancer cells' growth is slowed down and eventually killed.

You may experience certain common side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, weakness, loss of appetite, increased risk of infection, hair loss, diarrhoea, decreased blood cells (red cells, white cells, and platelets), mouth ulcers, blisters on fingers/feet in some cases. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.

Before taking Xeloda 500 mg Tablet , inform your doctor if you have any infection because Xeloda 500 mg Tablet may worsen the infection. Some patients may experience increased sensitivity to light while taking Xeloda 500 mg Tablet ; avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight is recommended. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant as Xeloda 500 mg Tablet can cause harmful effects on the unborn baby. Both women and men using Xeloda 500 mg Tablet should use birth control to avoid pregnancy. You should not take Xeloda 500 mg Tablet during breastfeeding. Use Xeloda 500 mg Tablet with caution in elderly patients. If you have had leukaemia (blood cancer) and are in remission, do not take live vaccines for three months after your last chemotherapy. You and your surrounding people, such as family members, should not take the polio vaccine.

Xeloda 500 mg Tablet belongs to the group of anti-cancer medicines. It contains Capecitabine which is cytotoxic (causes cell death). It is used to treat cancer of the colon, breast and stomach. When taken, it gets converted into 5-fluorouracil (chemical), which hampers the synthesis of genetic materials (DNA) in the cancer cells, thereby interfering with their growth. As a result, the growth of cancer cells is slowed down, and eventually, they are killed.

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Increased risk of infection
• Hair loss
• Diarrhoea
• Decreased blood cells 
• Mouth ulcer
• Blisters on fingers/feet

Before taking Xeloda 500 mg Tablet , inform your doctor if you have any infection because Xeloda 500 mg Tablet may worsen the infection. If you have any allergy symptoms, talk to your doctor; inform your doctor if you have a metabolic disorder called DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency), heart problems, bone marrow depression, kidney disease, liver disease, and treatment with chemotherapy or radiation. Some patients may experience increased sensitivity to light while taking Xeloda 500 mg Tablet , and avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight is recommended. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant as Xeloda 500 mg Tablet can cause harmful effects on the unborn baby. Both women and men using Xeloda 500 mg Tablet should use birth control to avoid pregnancy. The use of Xeloda 500 mg Tablet by either parent may result in congenital disabilities. You should not take Xeloda 500 mg Tablet during breastfeeding. Use Xeloda 500 mg Tablet with caution in elderly patients. If you have had leukaemia (blood cancer) and are in remission, do not take live vaccines for three months after your last chemotherapy. You and your surrounding people, such as family members, should not take the polio vaccine. Avoid smoking or going near naked flames as the fabric (bedding, clothing, dressings) in contact with Xeloda 500 mg Tablet catches fire and burns easily. Washing clothing and bedding may reduce product build-up but not remove it.

Drug-Drug Interactions: Xeloda 500 mg Tablet interacts with other anti-cancer medicines (folinic acid, oxaliplatin, bevacizumab, cisplatin, irinotecan), antibiotics (metronidazole), medicines used to reduce the harmful effects of anti-cancer medicines (calcium leucovorin), a medicine used to treat gout (allopurinol), a medicine used to treat stomach ulcers (cimetidine), blood thinners (warfarin, coumarin), antivirals (brivudine, sorivudine), and anti-epilepsy medicine (phenytoin).

Drug-Food Interactions: Xeloda 500 mg Tablet is known to interact with alcohol and increase dizziness.

Drug-Disease Interactions: Xeloda 500 mg Tablet should not be given to patients with liver, heart or kidney problems, diabetes, glaucoma (increased eye pressure), myelosuppression (bone marrow activity is decreased), dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme deficiency, stomatitis, infections, or a bleeding disorder.

• BEVACIZUMAB
• CISPLATIN
• METRONIDAZOLE
• CALCIUM LEUCOVORIN
• ALLOPURINOL
• CIMETIDINE
• WARFARIN
• COUMARINS
• BRIVUDINE
• SORIVUDINE
• PHENYTOIN

• Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to maintain proper weight.

• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.

• Include leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, fatty fish, berries, yoghurt, apples, peaches, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, beans, and herbs.

• Avoid fast food, fried food, processed meats, refined carbs and added sugars.

• Get optimal sleep; rest well.

• Regularly monitor your blood tests to monitor your liver function, electrolyte levels, and blood cell count in your blood.

• Avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and UV light (such as tanning booths) and wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Xeloda 500 mg Tablet may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.

• Xeloda 500 mg Tablet should be taken under strict medical supervision. The doctor will regularly monitor your condition while taking Xeloda 500 mg Tablet .

• Consult a doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection, fever, diarrhoea, chills, etc.

Breast cancer: It is a type of cancer that develops in breast cells stimulated by a female sex hormone called estrogen. Breast cancer may form in lobules (glands that produce milk), ducts of the breast (the pathway that brings milk from glands to the nipple), and the fatty tissue or the fibrous connective tissue within the breast. The tumour cells invade other healthy breast cells and travel to lymph nodes, a primary pathway for the cancer cells to move to other body parts. Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast or tissue thickening, which feels different than the normal surrounding tissues, breast pain, redness, swelling, and nipple discharge other than breast milk.

Stomach cancer (gastric cancer): It is a type of cancer that develops from the stomach lining. Risk factors may include smoking, a highly processed or salty diet, and severe bacterial infection of H. pylori. Symptoms of stomach cancer include feeling bloated after eating, feeling full after eating small amounts of food, nausea, heartburn or indigestion.