Chemotherapy Drugs List for Colon Cancer

Chemotherapy for colon cancer can involve one or more of eight possible drugs off the chemotherapy drugs list. Most are administered intravenously through a "port" to a vein in your arm or chest. It is also possible that you could be treated with chemotherapy 24/7 by means of a small pump housed in a container the size of videocassette. Half of the container is a small pump, and the other half contains about 100 ml [about 1/10 quart] of the drug. You would then carry this container around with you all of the time.

This chemotherapy drugs list for colon cancer is not intended to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects of these drugs. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your health care professional. The brand name is given first, then the generic name.

This is a lot of chemotherapy information so you may want to mark this page in your computer and come back another time or two to read it over.

Adrucil:

Fluorouracil, 5-FU interferes with the growth of cancer cells. You should avoid taking aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen products because they may mask a fever. Be careful brushing and flossing your teeth because you may get an infection or bleed more easily. Try to keep out of the sun, or wear protective clothing, and use sunscreen. Fluorouracil makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. Your eyes become more sensitive as well.

Some potential side effects include:

• Low blood counts; red, white and platelets
• Signs of infection - fever, chills, cough, sore throat or difficulty passing urine
• Bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin
• Unusually weak or tired
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Drowsiness
• Mouth sores
• Nausea and vomiting

You will need to have regular blood checks. Fluorouracil may make you feel generally unwell and it may decrease your body's ability to fight infections. Try to avoid being around people who are sick.

Avastin:

Bevacizumar targets a protein found in many cancer cell types, and halts cancer growth. It is usually given with other drugs from the chemotherapy drugs list. Health care providers need to know if you have:

• Blood clots
• Heart disease
• Infection, especially viral infections
• Kidney or lung disease
• Recent or ongoing radiation therapy
• Pregnancy

Some potential side effects include:

• Allergic reactions such as skin rash, itching or hives
• Signs of infection - fever, chills, cough, or sore throat
• Bruising, pin point red spots on the skin, nosebleeds
• Breathing problems or changes in vision
• Severe headaches
• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg
• Symptoms of stroke and trouble passing urine
• Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

You will need to have important blood work and urine testing done.

Camptosar:

Irinotecan is used to treat colon and rectal cancer only. Do not take Atazanavir, ketoconazole, or St.John's Wort. Your health care provider needs to know if you have:

• Blood disorders
• Dehydration
• Diarrhea
• Infection, especially viral infections
• Low blood counts
• Recent or ongoing radiation
• Pregnancy

Some potential side effects include:

• Allergic reactions such as skin rash, itching or hives
• Low blood counts
• Signs of infection - fever, chills, cough, sore throat, difficulty passing urine
• Bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin
• Unusually weak or tired
• Breathing problems
• Chest pain
• Flushing, runny nose, sweating during infusion
• Mouth sores
• Pain in the legs hands or feet
• Vomiting
• Yellowing of the eyes

You will need important blood work done. This drug may make you feel generally unwell. You may be given additional medicines to help with side effects. You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive until you know how this medicine affects you.

Chemotherapy agents for colon cancer continues with five more chemotherapy drugs.

Eloxatin:

Oxaliplatin targets fast dividing cells, like cancer cells, and causes these cells to die.

Your health care provider needs to know if you have:

• Kidney disease
• An unusual or allergic reaction to oxaliplatin
• Pregnancy

The following drugs may interact:

• Medicines to increase blood counts
• Probenecid
• Some antibiotics

Talk to your health care provider before taking:

• Acetaminophen
• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen
• Ketoprofen
• Naproxen

Some potential side effects include:

• Allergic reactions such as skin rash, itching or hives
• Low blood counts
• Signs of infection - fever or chills, cough, sore throat, difficulty passing urine
• Bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin
• Unusually weak or tired
• Breathing problems
• Chest pain
• Mouth sores
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain in the hands or feet
• Redness, blistering, peeling of the skin, including inside the mouth

You will need important blood work done. This medication can make you more sensitive to cold. Do not drink cold drinks or use ice. This drug may make you feel generally unwell. In some cases, you may be given additional medicines to help with side effects. This medicine may increase your risk to bruise or bleed. Be careful brushing and flossing your teeth because you may get an infection.

Erbitux:

Cetuximab targets a specific protein within cancer cells and stops the cells from growing. Your health care provider needs to know if you have:

• Heart disease
• Heart failure
• Lung disease
• Pregnancy

Some potential side effects include:

• Allergic reactions such as skin rash, itching or hives
• Breathing problems
• Changes in vision
• Fast, irregular heart beat
• Feeling faint
• Fever or chills
• Mouth sores
• Trouble passing urine
• Unusually weak or tired

This drug may make you feel generally unwell. This medicine can make you more sensitive to the sun. Keep out of the sun while taking this medicine and for two months after the last dose. In some cases you may be given additional medicines to help with side effects. This drug decreases your body's ability to fight infections. Try to avoid being around people who are sick.

Vectibix:

Panitumumab acts in a similar manner to Erbitux, but is made by a different company. It targets a type of protein and interferes with their ability to survive.

Wellcovorin:

Leucovorin is a vitamin complex used to treat advanced colon cancer. By itself, it isn't able to fight cancer at all. Rather, it helps you by increasing the effectiveness of fluorocil.

Xeloda:

Capecitabine is a drug that decreases the size of tumors. It comes in tablet form. Your health care provider needs to know if you have:

• Bleeding or blood disorders
• DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase) deficiency
• Heart disease
• Infection, especially viral
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Unusual or allergic reaction to capecitabine or 5-FU
• Pregnancy

The following drugs may interact with Xeloda:

• Antacids with aluminum and/or magnesium
• Folic acid
• Leucovorin
• Medicines to increase blood counts
• Phenytoin
• Vaccines
• Warfarin

Some potential side effects include:

• Allergic reaction such as skin rash, itching or hives
• Low blood pressure
• Signs of infection - fever or chills, cough, sore throat, difficulty passing urine
• Bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin
• Unusually weak or tired
• Breathing problems
• Changes in vision
• Chest pain
• Diarrhea
• Mouth sores
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain in the hands or feet
• Stomach pain

This drug may make you feel generally unwell. In some cases you may be given additional medicines to help with side effects. This medicine may increase your risk to bruise or bleed. Be careful brushing and flossing your teeth because you may get an infection. Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water, within 30 minutes of the end of a meal.

This chemotherapy drugs list for colon cancer is a good start, and very difficult to read through all at once. Other drugs may be prescribed by your doctor. You should discuss them with your medical team, or you can always write to us if you have additional questions.

Written by Margaret Stenerson-Reynolds - 4/15/09

Back to top