For Advanced Prostate Cancer Caregivers
Talking about chemotherapy
You can be a positive voice in the conversation about
treatment.
Sometimes your loved one may be reluctant to undergo more chemotherapy after he
has already been treated. He may be discouraged, or worried that more chemo will
not make a difference. But his doctor may consider JEVTANA® (cabazitaxel)
Injection as a treatment option to be discussed.
JEVTANA is not a cure. But JEVTANA is another treatment option for men with advanced prostate cancer who've already been treated with docetaxel.
It's important to help your loved one make an informed decision, with his doctors.
Take the time to get all the facts, and remember to stay positive.
How to help your loved one through their treatment
You can support the man you love both emotionally and practically.
Being there and being attentive to his emotional concerns is very important. But
you can also help by recognizing side effects and keeping up-to-date with how your
loved one's healthcare team recommends they be addressed. Here are a few ways you
can lend a hand practically:
- Help with the small stuff. When he's being treated for advanced
prostate cancer, your loved one may not feel up to doing all of the things he would
normally do. You may be able to help him take care of the simple things, like getting
dressed, bathing, cooking, and getting around the house. Talk to your loved one
about where he can use a little help
- Check with your loved one's doctor about any special instructions.
This includes tips for dealing with particular side effects and any special dietary
needs. Make sure your loved one talks to his healthcare team about the side effects
he's experiencing. You can take notes on what his doctors recommend
- Find out about prostate cancer advocacy groups and medical care support.
There may be organizations that can help
- Stand by your loved one's treatment decisions. It's important to
respect whatever treatment your loved one and his doctor have chosen, even if you
have other ideas. Being a part of his team is key, and it is ultimately his decision
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR JEVTANA® (CABAZITAXEL) INJECTION
WARNING
JEVTANA may cause serious side effects, including low white blood cells. Low
white blood cells can cause you to get serious infections, and may lead to death.
The earliest sign of infection may be fever, so tell your doctor right away if you
have a fever. People who are 65 years or older may be more likely to have these
problems. JEVTANA should not be given to patients with low white blood cell counts.
Your doctor:
- Will do blood tests regularly to check your white blood cell counts during
your treatment with JEVTANA
- May lower your dose of JEVTANA, change how often you receive it, or stop
JEVTANA until you have enough white blood cells
- May prescribe a medicine for you to help prevent complications if your white
blood cell count is too low
JEVTANA can also cause severe allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions
can happen within a few minutes after your infusion of JEVTANA starts, especially
during the first and second infusions. Your doctor should prescribe medicines before
each infusion to help prevent severe allergic reactions.
- Symptoms of severe allergic reactions may include rash or itching, skin
redness, feeling dizzy or faint, breathing problems, chest or throat tightness,
swelling of face. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms.
Your doctor will stop your JEVTANA treatment right away and treat your allergic
reaction.
You should not take JEVTANA if you have had a severe allergic reaction to JEVTANA
or other medicines that contain polysorbate 80. Ask your doctor if you are not sure.
JEVTANA can also cause gastrointestinal symptoms.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can happen when you take JEVTANA. Severe vomiting
and diarrhea with JEVTANA can lead to loss of too much body fluid (dehydration),
or too much of your body salts (electrolytes). Death has happened from having severe
diarrhea and losing too much body fluid or body salts with JEVTANA. Tell your doctor
if you have vomiting or diarrhea. Your doctor will prescribe medicines to prevent
or treat vomiting and diarrhea, as needed with JEVTANA. You may need to go to the
hospital for treatment.
Kidney failure may happen with JEVTANA.
Kidney failure may happen because of severe infection, loss of too much body fluid
(dehydration), or for other reasons, which may lead to death. Your doctor will check
you for this problem and treat you if needed. Tell your doctor if you develop:
- Swelling of your face or body
- Decrease in the amount of urine that your body makes each day
Before receiving JEVTANA, tell your doctor if you:
- had allergic reactions in the past
- have kidney or liver problems. JEVTANA should not be given to patients with liver
problems (hepatic impairment)
- are age 65 or older as these patients:
-
— may be more likely to experience certain adverse reactions, including low
white blood cell count
with or without fever, tiredness, weakness, fever,
dizziness, urinary tract infection and
dehydration
- have any other medical conditions
- if you are female and:
- — are pregnant or plan to become pregnant as JEVTANA can harm your unborn
baby
- — are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
Serious side effects of JEVTANA include low white blood cell counts
that could lead to serious or life-threatening infections, severe allergic reactions,
gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, severe vomiting and diarrhea) that could lead
to death, and kidney failure.
Common side effects of JEVTANA include:
- Low white blood cell count
- Low red blood cell count (anemia). Symptoms of anemia include shortness
of breath and tiredness
- Low blood platelet count. Tell your doctor if you have any unusual
bruising or bleeding
- Tiredness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Weakness
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- Blood in the urine
- Back pain
- Decreased appetite
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Stomach (abdominal) pain
- Change in your sense of taste
- Cough
- Joint pain
- Hair loss
- Numbness, tingling, burning or decreased sensation in your hands or feet
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Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go
away. These are not all the possible side effects of JEVTANA. For more information,
ask your doctor or pharmacist. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088.
Remember, your doctor is the single best source of information regarding your
health. Please consult your doctor if you have any questions about your health or
your medicine.
For more information, go to www.sanofi.us
or call 1-800-633-1610.
See
Full Prescribing Information including Boxed WARNING.