Cytostatics are used in the treatment of cancer. Colon or rectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. A Campto treatment is often given to patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma (colon or rectal cancer) in an advanced stage of the disease. What exactly is a Campto treatment and what side effects does this treatment have?
What is a Campto treatment?
The active ingredient of Campto is Irinotecan (hydrochloride trihydrate) and belongs to the cytostatics. Cytostatics are cell killing agents used in the treatment of cancer. Campto is used in the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma (colon or rectal cancer) in an advanced stage of the disease.
Campto can be used in combination with other medicines (such as 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid) or alone when the use of other medicines has failed.
Depending on the combination with other medicines, Campto is administered by infusion once every 2 or 3 weeks. Each treatment lasts 30 to 90 minutes. How long this treatment lasts is up to the doctor to determine and will be different for everyone.
What are the side effects that can occur with a Campto treatment?
Very common (more than 10%)
- neutropenia (deficiency of white blood cells, therefore higher susceptibility to infection)
- thrombocytopenia (deficiency of platelets, which can cause bruising and a tendency to bleed more quickly)
- anemia (anemia)
- severe diarrhea
- hair loss
- fever
- abnormal liver function test results
Common (between 1 and 10%)
- stomach ache
- inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye
- runny nose
- reduced blood pressure
- chills
- to sweat
- dilation of blood vessels
- general malaise
- dizziness
- reduction in vision
- pupillary constriction
- excessive saliva production
- flow of tears
- nausea
- vomit
- constipation
- asthenia (weakness)
- abnormal results of kidney function test
Uncommon (between 0.1 and 1%)
- (pseudomembranous colitis) inflammation of the large intestine accompanied by bleeding
- Allergic reactions (especially at the infusion opening)
- Cardiocirculatory failure (failure of heart and vascular function)
- Hypotension (decreased blood pressure)
- Interstitial lung disease (disorder of the connective tissue in the lungs)
- Ileus (intestinal obstruction)
- Skin reactions
- Renal impairment
Rare (between 0.01 and 0.1%)
- analphylactic reactions (severe hypersensitivity reaction or similar reaction)
- hypertension (increased blood pressure)
- colitis (inflammation of the colon)
- typhlitis (appendicitis)
- intestinal perforation
- pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- potassium deficiency in blood
- sodium deficiency in blood
Very rarely
- transient speech disorders