Care During Chemotherapy and Beyond
the generic name for the trade name chemotherapy drug Ixempra. In some cases, health care professionals may use the
generic name Ixabepilone when referring to the trade drug name
an anti-cancer ("antineoplastic" or "cytotoxic") chemotherapy drug. Ixabepilone
is classified as an "antimicrotubule agent" or an "epothilone B analog".
What Ixabepilone Is Used For:
Ixabepilone is used in the treatment of metastatic or locally-advanced breast cancer.
Note: If a drug has been approved for one use, physicians may elect to
use this same drug for other problems if they believe it may be helpful.
How Ixabepilone Is Given:
Ixapebilone is given as an infusion into the vein (intravenous, IV).
The amount of Ixabepilone that you will receive depends on many factors, including
your height and weight, your general health or other health problems, and the type
of cancer or condition you have. Your doctor will determine your exact Ixabepilone
dosage and schedule.
Ixabepilone Side Effects:
things to remember about the side effects of Ixabepilone.
Most people will not experience all of the Ixabepilone side effects listed.
Ixabepilone side effects are often predictable in terms of their onset, duration,
Ixabepilone side effects will improve after therapy is complete.
Ixabepilone side effects may be quite manageable. There are many options to
minimize or prevent the side effects of Ixabepilone.
The following side effects are common (occurring in greater than 30%) for patients
These are less common side effects (occurring in about 10-29%) of patients receiving
list includes common and less common side effects for those taking Ixabepilone.
Ixabepilone side effects that are very rare -- occurring in less than about 10 percent
of patients -- are not listed here. Always inform your health care provider if you
experience any unusual symptoms.
When To Contact Your Doctor or Health
is given by intravenous infusion and you will be monitored during each infusion.
Report to the nurse immediately:
Unusual chest tightness, difficulty breathing or swallowing, itching or skin rash,back
pain or headache
Redness, swelling or pain at the infusion site
your doctor or health care provider immediately, day or night, if you should experience
any of the following symptoms:
- Fever of 100.4° F (38° C) or higher, chills (possible signs
following symptoms require medical attention, but are not an emergency. Contact
your doctor or health care provider within 24 hours of noticing any of the following:
Nausea (interferes with ability to eat
and unrelieved with prescribed medication)
more than 4-5 times in a 24 hour period)
episodes in a 24-hour period)
to carry on self-care activities)
Mouth sores (painful
redness, swelling or ulcers)
Difficulty breathing or unusual cough
Swelling of feet and/or legs, sudden weight gain
- Unable to eat or drink for 24 hours or have signs of
dehydrationsuch as: tiredness, thirst, dry mouth,
dark and decrease amount of urine, or dizziness.
inform your doctor or health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.
Before starting Ixabepilone treatment, make sure you tell your doctor about
any other medications you are taking (including prescription, over-the-counter,
vitamins, herbal remedies, etc.). While taking Ixabepilone do not take aspirin or
products containing aspirin unless your doctor specifically permits this.
Do not drink grapefruit juice while recieving Ixabepilone. Drinking grapefruit
juice may cause you to have too much Ixabepilone in your blood and lead to side
While taking Ixabepilone, do not receive any kind of immunization or vaccination
without your doctor’s approval.
For both men and women: Use contraceptives and do not conceive a child (get pregnant)
while taking Ixabepilone. Barrier methods of contraception such as condoms are recommended.
Discuss with your doctor or nurse what type of birth control would be safe for you
Inform your health care professional if you are pregnant or may be pregnant prior
to starting this treatment. Pregnancy category D (Ixabepilone may be
hazardous to the fetus. Women who are pregnant or become pregnant must be
advised of the potential hazard to the fetus).
Do not breast feed while taking Ixabepilone.
Self-Care Tips While Taking Ixabepilone:
While taking Ixabepilone, try to drink at least two to three quarts of fluid every
24 hours, (particularly the 24 hours before and 48 hours following the infusion)
unless you are instructed otherwise.
You may be at risk of infection so try to avoid crowds or people with colds, and
report fever or any other signs of infection immediately to your health care provider.
Wash your hands often.
To help treat/prevent mouth sores while taking Ixabepilone, use a soft toothbrush,
and rinse three times a day with 1 teaspoon of baking soda mixed with 8 ounces of
To reduce nausea, take anti-nausea medications as prescribed by your doctor, and
eat small, frequent meals while taking ixabepilone.
Avoid sun exposure. Wear SPF 15 (or higher) sunblock and protective clothing.
You may experience drowsiness or dizziness; avoid driving
or engaging in tasks that require alertness until your response to the drug is known.
In general, drinking alcoholic beverages should be kept to a minimum or avoided
completely while you are taking ixabepilone. You should discuss this with your doctor.
Get plenty of rest.
Maintain good nutrition while being treated with Ixabepilone.
If you experience symptoms or side effects while being treated with Ixabepilone,
be sure to discuss them with your health care team. They can prescribe medications
and/or offer other suggestions that are effective in managing such problems.
Monitoring and Testing While Taking
will be checked regularly by your doctor while you are taking Ixabepilone to
monitor side effects and check your response to therapy. Periodic blood work will
be obtained to monitor your complete blood count (CBC) as well as the function of
other organs (such as your kidneys and liver).
How Ixabepilone Works
Cancerous tumors are characterized by cell division, which is
no longer controlled as it is in normal tissue. "Normal" cells stop dividing
when they come into contact with like cells, a mechanism known as contact inhibition.
Cancerous cells lose this ability. Cancer cells no longer have the normal
checks and balances in place that control and limit cell division. The process
of cell division, whether normal or cancerous cells, is through the cell cycle.
The cell cycle goes from the resting phase, through active growing phases, and then
to mitosis (division).
ability of chemotherapy to kill cancer cells depends on its ability to halt cell
division. Usually, the drugs work by damaging the RNA or DNA that tells the
cell how to copy itself in division. If the cells are unable to divide, they
die. The faster the cells are dividing, the more likely it is that chemotherapy
will kill the cells, causing the tumor to shrink. They also induce cell suicide
(self-death or apoptosis).
drugs that affect cells only when they are dividing are called cell-cycle specific.
Chemotherapy drugs that affect cells when they are at rest are called cell-cycle
non-specific. The scheduling of chemotherapy is set based on the type of cells,
rate at which they divide, and the time at which a given drug is likely to be effective.
This is why chemotherapy is typically given in cycles.
is most effective at killing cells that are rapidly dividing. Unfortunately,
chemotherapy does not know the difference between the cancerous cells and the normal
cells. The "normal" cells will grow back and be healthy but in the meantime, side
effects occur. The "normal" cells most commonly affected by chemotherapy are
the blood cells, the cells in the mouth, stomach and bowel, and the hair follicles;
resulting in low blood counts, mouth sores, nausea, diarrhea, and/or hair loss.
Different drugs may affect different parts of the body.
(anti-neoplastic drugs) is divided into five classes based on how they work to kill
cancer. Although these drugs are divided into groups, there is some overlap
among some of the specific drugs.
an antimicrotubule agent. It is cell cycle specific. It acts on the
microtubule structure and function of the cell by attaching to a section of
the microtubule. This stabilizes the microtubular function, and stops
the cell from continuing in its cycle thus causing cell death.
Note: We strongly encourage you to talk with your health
care professional about your specific medical condition and treatments. The information
contained in this website is meant to be helpful and educational, but is not a substitute
for medical advice.
Chemocare.com is designed to provide the latest information about chemotherapy to patients and their families, caregivers and friends. For information about the 4th Angel Mentoring Program visit www.4thangel.org