Continue the Fight
with Herceptin Therapy
Learn more about the benefits and risks associated with Herceptin therapy.
Educational and Informational Resources
There are support groups and national organizations that may be helpful to you and your family. These include:
American Cancer Society®
www.cancer.org or call 1-800-227-2345
This comprehensive web site offers information for cancer patients, families, friends, survivors, professionals, and volunteers.
Breastcancer.org
This web site is dedicated to providing reliable and current medical information about treatment options, symptoms, diagnosis, and prevention.
HER2 Support Group
This site offers information on news and current research for HER2+ breast cancer, along with online message boards.
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
www.lbbc.org or call 1-888-753-5222
This nonprofit organization is dedicated to empowering all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life.
Metastatic Breast Cancer Network
A national, independent, nonprofit advocacy group that is dedicated to the concerns of women and men living with metastatic breast cancer.
National Cancer Institute®
www.cancer.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
This web site provides easy access to comprehensive research-based information and resources for cancer researchers, health professionals, patients and their families, advocates, news media, and the public.
SHARE
A network of breast and other cancer survivors who look to share their experiences with their disease.
Young Survival Coalition
A global organization dedicated to critical issues in young women with breast cancer.
These organizations are an incomplete listing of cancer support organizations. They are solely responsible for their own content and are not controlled by, endorsed by, or affiliated with Genentech, Inc. The list is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace your healthcare professional’s medical advice. Ask your doctor or nurse any questions you may have about your cancer or treatment plan.
Additional online resources
There are many other online resources with useful information for people with breast cancer and their families. Take advantage of all the information to help you learn more and stay well-informed.
- Association of Cancer Online Resources
www.acor.org - Cancer Support Community
www.cancersupportcommunity.org - CancerCare
www.cancercare.org - Cosmetic Executive Women Foundation
www.cancerandcareers.org - National Breast Cancer Coalition
1 (800) 622-2838 or www.stopbreastcancer.org - National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS)
www.canceradvocacy.org - People Living Through Cancer
www.pltc.org - Susan G. Komen for the Cure
www.komen.org
Disclaimer
These organizations are an incomplete listing of cancer support organizations. They are solely responsible for their own content and are not controlled by, endorsed by, or affiliated with Genentech, Inc. The list is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace your healthcare professional’s medical advice. Ask your doctor or nurse any questions you may have about your cancer or treatment plan.
Herceptin PDF resources available for download on nonmobile website
HER2+ Adjuvant Breast Cancer — Patient Brochure: Designed for early-stage breast cancer patients to provide information about Herceptin treatment, efficacy, and safety concerns.
Disclaimer
Specific questions regarding these downloads should be directed to your doctor or pathologist.
Indications
Adjuvant Breast Cancer
Herceptin is approved for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer that is Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2-positive (HER2+) and has spread into the lymph nodes, or is HER2-positive and has not spread into the lymph nodes. If it has not spread into the lymph nodes, the cancer needs to be estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR)-negative or have one high-risk feature.* Herceptin can be used in several different ways:
- As part of a treatment course including the chemotherapy drugs doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and either paclitaxel or docetaxel. This treatment course is known as "AC→TH"
- With the chemotherapy drugs docetaxel and carboplatin. This treatment course is known as "TCH"
- Alone after treatment with multiple other therapies, including an anthracycline (doxorubicin) based therapy (a type of chemotherapy)
Patients are selected for therapy based on an FDA-approved test for Herceptin
Important Patient Safety Information
Possible Serious Side Effects With HERCEPTIN
Not all people have serious side effects, but side effects with HERCEPTIN therapy are common.
Although some people may have a life-threatening side effect, most do not.
Your doctor will stop treatment if any serious side effects occur.
HERCEPTIN is not for everyone. Be sure to contact your doctor if you are experiencing any of the following:
HEART PROBLEMS
These include heart problems—such as congestive heart failure or reduced heart function—with or without symptoms. The risk for and seriousness of these heart problems were highest in people who received both HERCEPTIN and a certain type of chemotherapy (anthracycline). In a study of adjuvant (early) breast cancer, one patient died of significantly weakened heart muscle. Your doctor will check for signs of heart problems before, during, and after treatment with HERCEPTIN.
INFUSION REACTIONS, including:
- Fever and chills
- Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)
- Throwing up (vomiting)
- Pain (in some cases at tumor sites)
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
These signs usually happen within 24 hours after receiving HERCEPTIN.
Be sure to contact your doctor if you:
Are a woman who could become pregnant, or may be pregnant
HERCEPTIN may result in the death of an unborn baby or birth defects. Contraception should be used while receiving HERCEPTIN and after your last dose of HERCEPTIN. If you are exposed to HERCEPTIN during pregnancy or within 7 months of becoming pregnant, you are encouraged to enroll in the MotHER Pregnancy Registry by contacting 1-800-690-6720 or visiting http://www.motherpregnancyregistry.com/ and report HERCEPTIN exposure to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.
Have any signs of SEVERE LUNG PROBLEMS, including
- Severe shortness of breath
- Fluid in or around the lungs
- Weakening of the valve between the heart and the lungs
- Not enough oxygen in the body
- Swelling of the lungs
- Scarring of the lungs
Your doctor may check for signs of severe lung problems when he or she examines you.
Have LOW WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNTS
Low white blood cell counts can be life threatening. Low white blood cell counts were seen more often in patients receiving HERCEPTIN plus chemotherapy than in patients receiving chemotherapy alone.
Your doctor may check for signs of low white blood cell counts when he or she examines you.
Side Effects Seen Most Often With HERCEPTIN
Some patients receiving HERCEPTIN for breast cancer had the following side effects:
- Fever
- Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)
- Throwing up (vomiting)
- Infusion reactions
- Diarrhea
- Infections
- Increased cough
- Headache
- Feeling tired
- Shortness of breath
- Rash
- Low white and red blood cell counts
- Muscle pain
Some patients receiving HERCEPTIN for metastatic stomach cancer had the following side effects:
- Low white blood cell counts
- Diarrhea
- Feeling tired
- Low red blood cell counts
- Swelling of the mouth lining
- Weight loss
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Fever
- Low platelet counts
- Swelling of the mucous membranes
- Swelling of the nose and throat
- Change in taste
You should contact your doctor immediately if you have any of the side effects listed above.
You are encouraged to report side effects to Genentech and the FDA. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or http://www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.
Please see additional select Important Safety Information throughout, and the accompanying full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS.
