Living With Advanced Prostate Cancer
Keep the lines of communication open
Living
with prostate cancer can be challenging, but others can help.
Your family and friends can also offer meaningful support. Of course, it isn't always
easy to talk to the people you love about a serious concern like prostate cancer.
But sharing with family and friends is important.
Often, friends will be more than happy to talk about what you're going through.
And talking with your family and other caregivers can help them stay in the loop
about your treatment plan—what medications you take and when. You should also let
your loved ones know how to get in touch with your healthcare team in case of an
emergency.
If you have younger family, remember that children often overhear or guess at information
they've not been told directly. Consider explaining your situation to them. They,
too, may offer comfort and support. And hearing about your life from you can be
a comfort to them.
Talk to your doctors and nurses.
Your healthcare team isn't just there to prescribe medications and give infusions.
They are real people who care about you, so ask them any questions you have. Share
your concerns. Often, if a particular doctor or nurse can't answer a particular
question, they will know someone who can.
Here are some tips to remember for your next doctor's appointment:
- Bring a friend. This can be a family member, friend, or anyone
who can help take notes
- List your questions and concerns, then ask the most important ones first.
That way, if you forget something here and there, you'll still get to what matters
the most
- Tell your doctors about any new symptoms or side effects you are experiencing.
The new information may help them determine the best treatment and ways to cope
with side effects
- Keep your important health information with you. This includes
insurance information and the names and numbers of your other doctors and health
professionals
- Tell your healthcare team about any medications you're taking.
This includes prescription medicines, over-the-counter therapies, vitamins, herbal
remedies, and supplements
Sexual issues
Treatment for prostate cancer can change a man's sex life.
This is common. It's normal to have questions about your sex life as you continue
to treat cancer. Many people fighting cancer experience a decreased sex drive, and
men treated for prostate cancer may experience impotence, or the inability to maintain
an erection.
Men should talk with their partners about sex, before and after treatment, and question
the doctors they trust about how to resolve sexual issues. A doctor may recommend
a therapist who can help with sexual concerns.
In the meantime, give yourself plenty of time to rest, and your body time to heal.
Try emphasizing the emotional aspects of sex that involve touching and closeness
with your partner.
Connect with other men fighting cancer
Every year, many men face the prospect of prostate cancer, and many of them are
grateful to share their experiences. Us TOO, an International Prostate Cancer Education
and Support Network, offers more than 320 support groups, all over the world, for
men facing prostate cancer.
Find survivor groups near you
You can also talk with someone who's been through what you're going through one-on-one,
over the phone. As part of the JEVTANA Connects™ program, the
Cancer Hope Network can match you with someone who understands.
Learn more
about JEVTANA Connects™
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.