Breast Cancer | Cancer NZ

Avastin is a Prescription Medicine. For detailed information click here ...

Avastin® (bevacizumab) is a Prescription Medicine used to treat metastatic (spreading) colorectal and kidney cancer.Avastin should not be used if you have untreated cancer in your brain or spinal cord. Tell your doctor if you have inflammation of the bowel or stomach ulcers; high blood pressure; a history of bleeding and/or blood clots, stroke or a blocked lung artery; a history of Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS); have had major surgery in the last 28 days or a wound that has not healed properly; are pregnant or breast feeding; have heart disease, have ever received anthracylines for cancer or radiotherapy to your chest; or are >65 years of age. Possible unwanted effects: Common: high blood pressure, body pain, tiredness/weakness, diarrhoea, nausea, constipation, bleeding, sore mouth, mouth ulcers, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, nose bleed, runny nose, dry, scaling or inflamed skin, change in skin colour, taste change, dizziness/faintness, headache, sleepiness/drowsiness, wounds that won’t heal, changes in your voice, fever. Serious (rare): severe body or stomach pain; severe diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting; pain and/or swelling in the lower legs, feet or hands; severe bleeding; seizures, headache, abnormal thinking, and/or eye problems; abscesses, severe infections; feelings of numbness or tingling in feet or hands. Ask your oncologist if Avastin is right for you. Use strictly as directed. If symptoms continue or if you experience side effects or would like further information, please talk to your oncologist or pharmacist, or visit www.medsafe.govt.nz for Avastin Consumer Medicines Information. Avastin (100mg in 4mL and 400mg in 16 mL vials) is an unfunded medicine, you will need to pay for this medicine. A prescription charge and normal oncologist fees may apply.

Herceptin is a Prescription Medicine. For detailed information click here ...

Herceptin® (trastuzumab) is a Prescription Medicine used to treat patients with early breast cancer and metastatic (spreading) breast cancer who have tumours with a large amount of the HER2 protein. Tell your doctor if you have a history of coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, heart failure, arrhythmia (an abnormal or rapid heart beat), angina (feeling pain, tightness, heaviness or pressure in the chest), or any other type of heart disease; lung tumours or disease; if you are taking are currently taking any other medicines for cancer, or if you have previously received treatment for cancer with medicines such as anthracyclines or cyclophosphamide; or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or plan to become pregnant or breast-feed. Herceptin should not be used if you have had an allergic reaction to Herceptin, any of its ingredients, or to any medicines that are made using Chinese hamster ovary cells. Possible unwanted effects: Common: infusion reactions such as chills, shivering, fever, nausea, vomiting, pain or discomfort (e.g. in the stomach, back, chest or neck), stiffness or shaking, weakness and soreness in muscles or joints, headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, cough, hives, skin rashes or itchy skin, weakness or fatigue, abnormal or fast heart beat, or feeling faint. After an infusion: any of the side effects above, swelling of the feet or legs, difficulty sleeping or feeling anxious or depressed, worsening cough, runny, blocked or bleeding nose, cold- or flu-like symptoms, chest infection, pain when urinating or needing to urinate more often, diarrhoea, weight loss, hair loss, nail problems, sweating, sore throat, acne, bone pain, loss of appetite, changes in your sense of taste, constipation, indigestion, tingling, numbness, redness, drying or peeling of the hands or feet, mouth ulcers or cold sores, discharging or itchy eyes. Serious: high temperature or fever, shortness of breath or having difficulty breathing, wheezing, a sore throat with chills and fever that does not get better, sudden signs of allergy, severe coughing, chest pain spreading to the arms, neck, shoulder and/or back, abnormal or fast heart beat, severe diarrhoea or vomiting, feeling faint, severe skin infections. Ask your Oncologist if Herceptin is right for you. Use strictly as directed. If symptoms continue or if you experience side effects or would like more information, please talk to your Oncologist or visit www.medsafe.govt.nz for the full Herceptin Consumer Medicine Information. Herceptin (150mg and 440mg vials) is a funded medicine for the treatment of HER2-positive early or metastatic breast cancer. A prescription charge and normal Doctor's fees may apply.

Roche Products (New Zealand) Limited, Auckland. Phone 0800 656 464. ID903/TAPS DA4211KS/2011APR

Neulastim is a Prescription Medicine. For detailed information click here ...

Neulastim® (pegfilgrastim, 6 mg in 0.6 mL PFS) is a Prescription Medicine used for reducing the duration and incidence of neutropenia (decrease in white blood cells) and infection, in patients treated with chemotherapy. Neulastim should not be used if you have had an allergic reaction to Neulastim, filgrastim (Neupogen®), E-coli-derived proteins or any of the ingredients listed on the medicine pack; if you are currently receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or have received chemotherapy in the last 24 hours. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems, including myelodysplastic syndrome, leukaemia, spleen problems, sickle cell disease, you are receiving high dose chemotherapy, you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Possible unwanted effects: nausea, vomiting, headache, bone, joint or muscle pain; swelling, pain or itching at injection site; skin rash or red itchy spots, breathlessness, difficulty breathing, pain in the chest area. Ask your doctor if Neulastim is right for you. Use strictly as directed. If symptoms continue or you experience side effects or would like further information, please talk to your health professional or visit www.medsafe.govt.nz for Neulastim Consumer Medicines Information.

Neulastim is listed under Part II and Part IV of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule. Funding is at the discretion of the DHB.

Neulastim® is sold under license from Amgen Inc. Neulastim® is a trademark of Amgen Inc. Consumer panel dated 5 December 2011, based on CMI dated 31 March 2011. Roche Products (New Zealand) Limited, Auckland; Phone 0800 656 464. www.roche.co.nz. All trademarks mentioned herein are protected by law.
ID1128/DA4011BR/2011DEC

Xeloda is a Prescription Medicine. For detailed information click here ...

Xeloda® (capecitabine) is a Prescription Medicine used to treat bowel and rectum (colorectal), oesophagus, stomach and breast cancer. Xeloda may be used alone or in combination with other cancer medicines.Xeloda should not be taken if you: have had a reaction in the past to any of the ingredients in Xeloda, have severe kidney disease, are taking a medicine called sorivudine or brivudine, or have allergies to other fluoropyrimidine medicines such as 5-fluorouracil, have dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency. Tell your doctor if you: are pregnant or breastfeeding, have heart, liver, or kidney disease; diarrhoea or dehydration. Signs of dehydration include dry skin, dark coloured urine, thirst, weakness or fatigue, loss of appetite. Possible unwanted effects: Common: tiredness, weakness; rash, dry or itchy skin; abdominal (gut) pain; fever; constipation; headache; dizziness; reduced appetite, weight loss; hair loss; watery or irritated eyes; taste disturbance; indigestion; dry mouth; nail disorders; sore throat, cough, nose bleeds; shortness of breath; muscle and joint pain. Serious (common): severe diarrhoea, nausea, or vomiting; pain, redness, swelling of hands/feet (hand-foot-syndrome); pain, redness, swelling or sores in the mouth (stomatitis). Serious (rare): chest pain; irregular heart beat; confusion; poor balance or lack of co-ordination; blood in the faeces; signs of infection (fever, redness) or liver disease (yellow eyes/skin). Ask your oncologist if Xeloda is right for you. Use strictly as directed. If symptoms continue or you experience side-effects or would like further information, please talk to your oncologist or visit www.medsafe.govt.nz for Xeloda Consumer Medicines Information. Xeloda (150mg and 500mg tablets) is a funded medicine for patients who meet pre-defined criteria. A prescription charge and normal oncologist’s fees may apply.

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is a tumour that starts growing in the breast (usually in the inner lining of the milk ducts), and can go on to spread to other parts of the body. Breast cancer occurs in a number of different types and stages, which are broadly grouped as either:

Early breast cancer (eBC): As the name suggests, this disease is in the early stages; which means it has not spread beyond the original tumour site.
Metastatic breast cancer (mBC): Also known as advanced breast cancer, this is where the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

Another important factor in the diagnosis of your breast cancer is the HER2 status. HER2 is a type of human growth factor that occurs normally in some of our cells. In HER2 positive breast cancer this growth factor is found in higher levels than normal and causes the cancer to grow faster. HER2-positive early or metastatic breast cancer is a particularly aggressive form, as it spreads quicker and is more likely to return.

Diagnosis and testing

Breast cancer is often detected when a woman notices a lump in her breast or during a routine mammogram. After that, a doctor will take a biopsy (small tissue sample) from the tumour and send it off for analysis. The results of these tests should give you the type, stage (describes how much the cancer has spread, a low stage is local, Stage 1; a high stage is wide spread, stage 4) and HER2 status of your cancer.

Treatment for breast cancer

Most people with breast cancer will undergo surgery at some point to try and remove the tumour. Dependent on the type, stage and HER2 status of the cancer, chemotherapy and other medications known as biological therapy can also be given.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a treatment with one or a combination of anti cancer medicines that aim to destroy or control cancer cell growth. Chemotherapy is usually given intravenously i.e. through a vein; however, if you have metastatic breast cancer your doctor may offer you an oral option that you can take at home.

Xeloda is taken orally in tablet form and is fully funded for metastatic breast cancer patients who are having difficulty with standard chemotherapy. And because Xeloda can be taken at home, it allows patients more independence to live their lives, as they spend less time and money travelling to cancer centres to receive treatment. Read more about Xeloda the consumer site for medicines information. For more information about Xeloda click on the product logo.

Biologic therapies

Biological therapy includes anticancer treatments known as monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are derived from the body’s natural immune defences and are designed to specifically target only cancer cells and leave normal cells alone. These therapies are generally well tolerated and do not have the same side effects as chemotherapy, such as hair loss, severe nausea and vomiting and increased risk of infection.

Herceptin is a biological therapy also know as a monoclonal antibody that specifically targets HER2 proteins on breast cancer cells and is an effective treatment for women with HER2-positive breast cancer. If your breast cancer is HER2 positive your specialist may recommend a full 1-year course of Herceptin. A full 1-year course of Herceptin is government funded and is proven in its ability to help fight HER2-positive breast cancer and gives you the best chance of beating it long term. Read more about Herceptin at the site for consumer medicines information. For more information about Herceptin click on the product logo.

Avastin is a biologic therapy (also known as a targeted agent), which has been proven to increase survival times for people with metastatic breast cancer. Avastin is not funded, and patients must pay for this treatment themselves. Your Oncologist will be able to tell you what it may cost to be treated with Avastin. Read more about Avastin on the site for consumer medicines information. For more information about Avastin click on the product logo.

Managing the side effects of chemotherapy

One of the common side effects of chemotherapy is a low white blood cell count. White blood cells fight infection so when these are low you are at increased risk of developing an infection, which can be life threatening. This condition is called neutropenia. Neulastim is used following chemotherapy to increase the number of white blood cells. This can reduce your chance of developing infections that might require treatment with antibiotics and/or hospital stays. These complications of chemotherapy can mean delays in your treatment and affect how well your treatment works. Neulastim may also help to keep your chemotherapy treatment on schedule. Read more about Neulastim on the site for consumer medicines information. For more information about Neulastim click on the product logo.