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Taxol (generic name, paclitaxel)

Taxol (generic name, paclitaxel) was first approved by the FDA in 1992 to treat advanced (metastatic) breast cancer. In 1999, the FDA also approved Taxol to treat early stage breast cancer in patients who have already received chemotherapy with the drug, doxorubicin. Taxol is called a mitotic inhibitor because of its interferes with cells during mitosis (cell division). Taxol is usually given intravenously (through the vein) over one or more hours.

Possible side effects of Taxol include:

• A reduced white blood cell count (myelosuppression)
• Hair loss (alopecia)
• Numbness in the extremities (peripheral neuropathy)

Interestingly, Taxol was first isolated from a Pacific yew tree. Recently, scientists have discovered paciltaxel, the active agent in Taxol, in hazelnuts (though eating hazelnuts all day long will not prevent or treat breast cancer). Click here to learn more about the history of Taxol.

Click here for additional information and full prescribing information on Taxol (courtesy of Bristol-Myers Squibb; requires Adobe Acrobat).

Taxotere (generic name, docetaxel)

Taxotere (generic name, docetaxel) is a cancer drug that resembles Taxol in chemical structure. Taxotere was FDA approved in 1996 to treat advanced breast cancer in patients who have not responded well to chemotherapy with the drug, doxorubicin. In 1998, Taxotere was also approved by the FDA to treat breast cancer that has spread into other areas of the breast or to other parts of the body after treatment with standard chemotherapy. Docetaxel inhibits the division of breast cancer cells by acting on the cell’s internal skeleton. The drug is usually given intravenously (through the vein) once every three weeks. Each treatment typically takes around one hour, though the dosage will vary depending on the patient’s medical situation.

Because the side effects of docetaxel can be bothersome, many physicians will prescribe additional drugs to help counter these effects. For example, dexamethasone is commonly used to prevent fluid retention while on Taxotere.

Possible side effects of Taxotere include:

• Decrease in white blood cells (leukopenia)
• Fever (often a warning sign of infection)
• Fluid retention
• Allergic reactions
• Hair loss

Click here for additional information and full prescribing information on Taxotere (courtesy of sanofi-aventis).

Xeloda (generic name, capecitabine)

Xeloda (generic name, capecitabine) has been FDA approved since April 1998 as a treatment for advanced breast cancer in patients who have not responded well to chemotherapy that included Taxol (generic name, paclitaxel) and an anthracycline (such as Adriamycin or doxorubicin).  Xeloda works by converting to a substance called 5-fluorouracil in the body.  In some patients, Xeloda helped shrink tumor size by killing cancer cells.  

Side effects of Xeloda may include:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomatitis (sores in mouth and throat)
• Loss of appetite or decreased appetite,
• Excessive water loss from the body (dehydration)

Some of the side effects from Xeloda may become severe.  Patients should report any side effects to their physicians immediately.  Xeloda is taken orally in pill form.  Xeloda is usually prescribed in a 21-day cycle: 14 days of treatment followed by a seven-day rest period.  

Click here for additional information and full prescribing information on Xeloda (courtesy of Roche Laboratories).

Zoladex (generic name, goserelin acetate)

Zoladex (generic name, goserelin acetate) is FDA approved to treat advanced breast cancer and prostate cancer. Zoladex works by blocking estrogen from breast cancer cells (and blocking testosterone in men), thereby starving these cells. The drug is typically given by injection under the skin. Zoladex is a systemic treatment; it cannot distinguish between normal cells and cancer cells. Therefore, a variety of side effects are possible.

Possible side effects of Zoladex include:

• Hot flashes
• Decreased sexual desire
• Absence of menstruation
• Vaginal dryness
• Breast swelling or tenderness

Click here for additional information and full prescribing information on Zoladex (courtesy of AstraZeneca).

Zometa (generic name, zoledronic acid)

Zometa (generic name, zoledronic acid) was approved by the FDA in 2002 to treat breast cancer that has spread to the bone (a condition commonly referred to as bone metastases). Zometa is also FDA-approved to treat both multiple myeloma (a type of bone cancer), all other solid tumors, and bone metastases resulting from prostate cancer.

Zometa belongs to a class of drugs called bisphosponates, which may be helpful treat bone metastases by slowing the destruction of bone cells in breast cancer patients. Zometa may also prevent cancer cells from growing in bone. Studies involving more than 3,000 patients taking Zometa have shown an approximate 14% decrease in the number of patients with bone problems, compared to those who did not take Zometa.

Zometa is administered intravenously (through the vein), a process which takes approximately 15 minutes after preparation. Possible side effects of the drug include:

• Bone pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Constipation

Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid Zometa. In rare cases, Zometa can cause injury to the kidneys.

Click here for additional information and full prescribing information on Zometa (courtesy of Novartis; access to some information requires Adobe Acrobat).

Additional Resources and References