what to expect capox treatment

 CAPOX regimen is usually given for the treatment of colon, esophageal, pancreatic or stomach cancer. It consists of an Oxaliplatin injection and an oral chemotherapy drug Capecitabine. How is CAPOX Regimen Administered?  CAPOX is given every three weekly.

Full Answer

What is CAPOX used to treat?

Each of the drugs in this combination is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat cancer or conditions related to cancer. CAPOX is used to treat: Colorectal cancer that is advanced. This combination may also be used with other drugs or treatments or to treat other types of cancer.

What are the possible side effects of CAPOX?

In clinical studies, the most commonly reported drug side effects with CapOx (capecitabine + oxaliplatin) are shown here. Side effects sometimes have percentage ranges [example: 62 – 66% have nausea] because they differed between clinical studies: Skin reaction on the palms of hands and soles of feet (29 - 30%)

What is CAPOX chemotherapy for colon cancer?

CAPOX for the treatment of Colon Cancer CAPOX is the acronym for a chemotherapy regimen used in the treatment of colon cancer. The two drugs in this combination are: capecitabine (Xeloda) and oxalipltin (Eloxatin). Chemotherapy is often given as a combination of drugs.

What is the difference between XELOX and CAPOX?

It is best to read this information with our general information about chemotherapy and the type of cancer you have. XELOX and CAPOX are different names for the same combination of chemotherapy drugs. They are named after the initials of the drugs used for treatment.

How long do CAPOX side effects last?

You may get discomfort or tightness in the back of the throat, or the feeling like you cannot breathe or swallow. This can happen during an infusion of oxaliplatin, and for up to 48 hours after. These symptoms are temporary. They can be distressing but they are not usually harmful and will disappear.

How effective is CAPOX chemotherapy?

The 3-year OS rates were 91% and 81% for stages II and III, respectively. The 3-year DFS rate was 74% for stage II and 66% for stage III. By multivariate analysis, only cancer stage was predictive of overall survival. Conclusions: CAPOX is an effective treatment for stage II and III CC in the adjuvant setting.

How do you feel after oxaliplatin?

A reaction may happen during the infusion, causing a skin rash, itching, swelling of the lips, face or throat, breathing difficulties, fever and chills. Your nurse will give you medicines beforehand to try to prevent a reaction. Tell your nurse or doctor immediately if at any time you feel unwell.

How long does it take to recover from oxaliplatin?

Using clinical grading scales, oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy has been characterized as completely reversible within 6 months [3, 5, 31], with the majority of patients experiencing improvement or recovery within 1 month [1, 2].

Is oxaliplatin a strong chemo?

Oxaliplatin is considered the most neurotoxic chemotherapy, and at the origin of peripheral neuropathies. These neuropathies remain a problem in oncology because currently no prevention strategy has proved effective and only duloxetine seems to have a therapeutic benefit in improving symptoms.

Is CAPOX more effective than FOLFOX?

Patients who received CAPOX were significantly older than those who received FOLFOX. Disease progression, metastasis, and mortality rates were significantly higher in the FOLFOX arm than in the CAPOX arm. There was no significant difference in the overall survival rate between the two regimens.

Does chemo get worse with each session?

The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle. My doctors warned me: Each infusion will get harder. Each cycle, expect to feel weaker.

What is one unique side effect of oxaliplatin?

Oxaliplatin may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right away.

How successful is oxaliplatin?

Results: The introduction of oxaliplatin was associated with no significant improvement in the slopes (per half-year) of the three-year disease-free survival rate (0.2%, 95% CI: −1.7∼2.2%) and five-year overall survival rate (0.6%, 95% CI: −1.8∼3%).

How toxic is oxaliplatin?

Overviewof Toxicity With Oxaliplatin Therapy [7,8] The oxaliplatin dose was 130 mg/m2every 3 weeks. Among the most common toxicities seen in these trials weregastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, andhematologic toxicities such as neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.

How long should you avoid cold with oxaliplatin?

Reiss and her colleagues reasoned that the same principle could be used to minimize the cold sensitivity that results following oxaliplatin therapy. “We typically counsel patients to avoid cold things in the first three to seven days after the chemotherapy.

How long do side effects last after oxaliplatin?

Peripheral Neuropathy (Numbness or Tingling in the Hands and/or Feet) This medication can cause two types of neuropathy, which are caused by damage to nerves. The first type tends to occur within 1-2 days of receiving the medication, tends to resolve within 2 weeks, and can reoccur with subsequent doses.

How long does Capecitabine last?

Capecitabine usual starting dose: 3 to 5 tablets by mouth twice daily (depending upon your height, weight, and kidney function) for 14 days of a 21-day cycle. Oxaliplatin intravenous (I.V.) infusion over two hours on Day 1 of a 21-day cycle.

What is the goal of oxaliplatin and capcitabine?

Goals of therapy: Capecitabine + oxaliplatin can be given to shrink tumors and decrease symptoms of colon cancer. If colon cancer is early stage (limited to intestine tissue or surrounding lymph nodes), it is commonly given with the goal of cure. If colon cancer is advanced or metastatic (spread to other areas of the body), ...

How often can you take oxaliplatin?

Oxaliplatin is usually given in an outpatient infusion center, allowing the person to go home afterwards. Capecitabine is usually taken at home TWICE daily for 14 days then is NOT taken for 7 days. Several tablets are often taken for each dose to equal the total amount prescribed.

Does Capox have side effects?

In clinical studies, the most commonly reported drug side effects with CapOx (capecitabine + oxaliplatin) are shown here. Side effects sometimes have percentage ranges [example: 62 – 66% have nausea] because they differed between clinical studies:

Can you chew pills without affecting how they work?

If you are having trouble swallowing your pills, your nurse can help you decide if you can take any steps to help make swallowing easier. Some pills may not be crushed, opened, or chewed without affecting how they work so contact your nurse or pharmacist before making any changes to how you take your medications.

Can you continue capecitabine with oxaliplatin?

If the disease is metastatic, capecitabine + oxaliplatin can be continued until it no longer works or until unacceptable side effects are seen. Click here for common starting doses. listen. Tap along the timeline to move to different parts of the audio file.

How CAPOX chemotherapy is given and possible side effects

CAPOX is the acronym for a chemotherapy regimen used in the treatment of colon cancer. The two drugs in this combination are: capecitabine (Xeloda) and oxalipltin (Eloxatin).

See Expert Resources

The Navigating Care Library includes articles about cancer, chemotherapy regimens and drugs from the the National Cancer Institute and other experts.

What is Xelox used for?

XELOX (or CAPOX) is used to treat bowel cancer. It is best to read this information with our general information about chemotherapy and the type of cancer you have. XELOX and CAPOX are different names for the same combination of chemotherapy drugs. They are named after the initials of the drugs used for treatment.

Where is Xelox given?

How XELOX is given. You will be given XELOX in the chemotherapy day unit or during a stay in hospital. A chemotherapy nurse will give it to you. During treatment you usually see a cancer doctor, a chemotherapy nurse or a specialist nurse, and a specialist pharmacist. This is who we mean when we mention doctor, nurse or pharmacist in this ...

How to dissolve capecitabine?

In this case, dissolve the tablets in a 200ml glass of warm water. Stir the water with a spoon until the tablets are completely dissolved and then drink it immediately.

Where is Oxaliplatin given?

Oxaliplatin can be given through: a short thin tube the nurse puts into a vein in your arm or hand ( cannula) a fine tube that goes under the skin of your chest and into a vein close by ( central line) a fine tube that is put into a vein in your arm and goes up into a vein in your chest ( PICC line ).

What happens if you have low levels of DPD?

If you have low levels of an enzyme called DPD (DPD deficiency), you may have a higher risk of severe or life-threatening side effects.

How long does Xelox last?

You have XELOX chemotherapy as cycles of treatment, each lasting 3 weeks (21 days). Depending on your needs, you may have between 6 and 8 cycles. You have oxaliplatin as a drip into your bloodstream over 2 hours. You take capecitabine tablets twice a day. You take capecitabine tablets twice a day.

What is Xelox used for?

Oxaliplatin and capecitabine (XELOX) XELOX is a chemotherapy drug combination and is also known as CAPOX, CAPE-OX or OxCap. XELOX is a treatment for bowel cancer (colorectal cancer).

How to control antisickness?

Feeling or being sick is usually well controlled with anti sickness medicines. Avoiding fatty or fried foods, eating small meals and snacks, drinking plenty of water, and relaxation techniques can all help. It is important to take anti sickness medicines as prescribed even if you don’t feel sick.

What do they check before and during a chemo treatment?

You have blood tests before and during your treatment. They check your levels of blood cells and other substances in the blood. They also check how well your liver and kidneys are working.

How long does it take to take oxaliplatin?

Capecitabine comes as peach coloured tablets that you swallow whole, with plenty of water. You should take the tablets within 30 minutes of finishing a meal.