Bowel Cancer | Cancer NZ

Avastin is a Prescription Medicine. For detailed information click here ...

Avastin® (bevacizumab) is a Prescription Medicine used to treat metastatic (spreading) colorectal and kidney cancer.Avastin should not be used if you have untreated cancer in your brain or spinal cord. Tell your doctor if you have inflammation of the bowel or stomach ulcers; high blood pressure; a history of bleeding and/or blood clots, stroke or a blocked lung artery; a history of Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS); have had major surgery in the last 28 days or a wound that has not healed properly; are pregnant or breast feeding; have heart disease, have ever received anthracylines for cancer or radiotherapy to your chest; or are >65 years of age. Possible unwanted effects: Common: high blood pressure, body pain, tiredness/weakness, diarrhoea, nausea, constipation, bleeding, sore mouth, mouth ulcers, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, nose bleed, runny nose, dry, scaling or inflamed skin, change in skin colour, taste change, dizziness/faintness, headache, sleepiness/drowsiness, wounds that won’t heal, changes in your voice, fever. Serious (rare): severe body or stomach pain; severe diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting; pain and/or swelling in the lower legs, feet or hands; severe bleeding; seizures, headache, abnormal thinking, and/or eye problems; abscesses, severe infections; feelings of numbness or tingling in feet or hands. Ask your oncologist if Avastin is right for you. Use strictly as directed. If symptoms continue or if you experience side effects or would like further information, please talk to your oncologist or pharmacist, or visit www.medsafe.govt.nz for Avastin Consumer Medicines Information. Avastin (100mg in 4mL and 400mg in 16 mL vials) is an unfunded medicine, you will need to pay for this medicine. A prescription charge and normal oncologist fees may apply.

Xeloda is a Prescription Medicine. For detailed information click here ...

Xeloda® (capecitabine) is a Prescription Medicine used to treat bowel and rectum (colorectal), oesophagus, stomach and breast cancer. Xeloda may be used alone or in combination with other cancer medicines.Xeloda should not be taken if you: have had a reaction in the past to any of the ingredients in Xeloda, have severe kidney disease, are taking a medicine called sorivudine or brivudine, or have allergies to other fluoropyrimidine medicines such as 5-fluorouracil, have dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency. Tell your doctor if you: are pregnant or breastfeeding, have heart, liver, or kidney disease; diarrhoea or dehydration. Signs of dehydration include dry skin, dark coloured urine, thirst, weakness or fatigue, loss of appetite. Possible unwanted effects: Common: tiredness, weakness; rash, dry or itchy skin; abdominal (gut) pain; fever; constipation; headache; dizziness; reduced appetite, weight loss; hair loss; watery or irritated eyes; taste disturbance; indigestion; dry mouth; nail disorders; sore throat, cough, nose bleeds; shortness of breath; muscle and joint pain. Serious (common): severe diarrhoea, nausea, or vomiting; pain, redness, swelling of hands/feet (hand-foot-syndrome); pain, redness, swelling or sores in the mouth (stomatitis). Serious (rare): chest pain; irregular heart beat; confusion; poor balance or lack of co-ordination; blood in the faeces; signs of infection (fever, redness) or liver disease (yellow eyes/skin). Ask your oncologist if Xeloda is right for you. Use strictly as directed. If symptoms continue or you experience side-effects or would like further information, please talk to your oncologist or visit www.medsafe.govt.nz for Xeloda Consumer Medicines Information. Xeloda (150mg and 500mg tablets) is a funded medicine for patients who meet pre-defined criteria. A prescription charge and normal oncologist’s fees may apply.

Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, is a potentially fatal tumour that starts on the inside wall of the bowel. It is quite common, with almost 3000 New Zealanders diagnosed with it each year. Colorectal cancer can develop in any part of the large bowel, including the colon and rectum. Symptoms include:

Discomfort in the abdomen
Blood in the stools
Sudden weight loss
Weakness or fatigue associated with anaemia (a deficiency in red blood cells)

Note: You should check with your doctor regarding these symptoms so that you get professional advice as these symptoms may not necessarily indicate bowel cancer.

Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer

There are two main tests for colorectal cancer, and a doctor may choose one or both of them in diagnosis. These are:

Faecal occult blood test – used to detect blood in the stool, which may indicate colorectal cancer
Colonoscopy performed by colorectal surgeons or gastroenterologists. A colonoscopy is a procedure where a doctor uses a colonoscope (a long, flexible instrument about 1/2 inch in diameter) to view the lining of the colon.

Treatment for Colorectal Cancer

Most people with CRC will undergo surgery at some point to try and remove the tumour. Dependent on the stage (describes how much the cancer has spread, a low stage is local, Stage 1; a high stage is wide spread, stage 4) and aggressiveness (speed of growth and pathology or how it looks under a microscope) of the cancer, chemotherapy and other medications known as biological therapy can also be given.

Chemotherapy

Xeloda (capecitabine) is fully funded for colon cancer and is the most commonly used chemotherapy in the treatment of early and advanced colon cancer in NZ. Xeloda tablets can be taken at home allowing patients more independence to live their lives, as they spend less time and money travelling to cancer centres to receive treatment. Read more about Xeloda on the site for consumer medicines information (CMI). For more information about Xeloda click on the product logo.

Biologic therapies

Biologic therapies can be given alongside chemotherapy to improve survival times for patients with cancer. Avastin is a biologic therapy (also known as a targeted agent), which has been proven to increase survival times for people with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer.

Avastin (bevacizumab) is not funded, and patients must pay for this treatment themselves. Your Oncologist or colorectal surgeon will be able to tell you what it may cost you to be treated with Avastin. Read more about Avastin on the site for consumer medicines information. For more information about Avastin click on the product logo.