Ixempra

Brand name: Ixempra

Chemical name: Ixabepilone

Class: Epothilone chemotherapy. No other epothilones are used to treat breast cancer.

How it works: Epothilones interfere with the ability of cancer cells to divide.

Uses: Ixempra is used to treat metastatic breast cancer after other chemotherapy medicines have stopped working. It can be given alone or in combination with Xeloda.

How it's given: Ixempra is given intravenously.

Side effects:

• headache
• hair loss
• skin sensitivity
• skin discoloration
• nail changes
• hand-foot syndrome
• mouth or throat sores
• taste changes
• watery eyes
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• heartburn
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• constipation
• abdominal pain
• bone or joint pain
• muscle pain
• memory loss
• insomnia
• weakness
• fatigue
• irregular periods -- this can include temporary cessation (usually resume after medication is completed) or permanent cessation of menstrual periods depending on your age and other factors