PERTuzumab
Other Name: Perjeta®
- For treating certain types of breast cancer.
- Pertuzumab is usually given along with other medications to treat cancer.
Tell your health care team if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had:
heart problems (including irregular heartbeat, heart attack, heart failure or uncontrolled high blood pressure) or
any allergies
- Tell your health care team if you have been treated with chemotherapy drugs known as anthracyclines (such as doxorubicin, epirubicin), mitoxantrone, or radiation therapy.
- Your health care team may do tests to examine your heart function before starting treatment. This is done to make sure it is safe for you to receive pertuzumab.
Remember to:
Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.
Talk to your health care team about:
How this treatment may affect your sexual health.
Symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness or changes in your mood, if this applies to you.
How this treatment may affect your ability to have a baby, if this applies to you.
This treatment may harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care team if you or your partner are pregnant, become pregnant during treatment, or are breastfeeding.
If there is any chance of pregnancy happening, you and your partner together must use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time until 7 months after your last treatment dose. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you.
Do not use hormonal birth control (such as birth control pills), unless your health care team told you that they are safe. Talk to your health care team about the safest birth control for you.
Do not breastfeed while on this treatment.
This drug is given through an IV (injected into a vein) . Talk to your health care team about your treatment schedule.
This drug will be given over a longer period of time for the first cycle. If you have no problems with this infusion, it will be given over a shorter time for the following cycles.
You may be given this treatment along with other medications to help prevent side effects or prevent a reaction.
If you missed your treatment appointment, talk to your health care team to find out what to do.
Will this medication interact with other medications or natural health products?
Although this medication is unlikely to interact with other medications, vitamins, foods and natural health products, tell your health care team about all of your:
prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications and all other drugs, such as marijuana (medical or recreational)
natural health products such as vitamins, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, and other supplements
Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
What should I do if I feel unwell, have pain, a headache or a fever?
Always check your temperature to see if you have a fever before taking any medications for fever or pain (such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®)).
Fever can be a sign of infection that may need treatment right away.
If you take these medications before you check for fever, they may lower your temperature and you may not know you have an infection.
How to check for fever:
Keep a digital (electronic) thermometer at home and take your temperature if you feel hot or unwell (for example, chills, headache, mild pain).
- You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
- 38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
OR
- 38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher for at least one hour.
- 38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
If you do have a fever:- Try to contact your health care team. If you are not able to talk to them for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away.
- Ask your health care team for the Fever pamphlet for more information.
If you do not have a fever but have mild symptoms such as headache or mild pain:
Ask your health care team about the right medication for you. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is a safe choice for most people.
Talk to your health care team before you start taking Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or ASA (Aspirin®), as they may increase your chance of bleeding or interact with your cancer treatment.
Talk to your health care team if you already take low dose aspirin for a medical condition (such as a heart problem). It may still be safe to take.
What to DO while on this medication:
DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.
DO consider asking someone to drive you to and from the hospital on your treatment days. You may feel dizzy after your treatment.
DO talk to your health care team about your risk of getting heart problems after this treatment.
What NOT to DO while on this medication:
DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting pertuzumab. Pertuzumab is usually given along with other medications to treat cancer; some of the side effects listed below may be due to those other medications. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.
Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Refer to this table if you experience any side effects while on pertuzumab.
Very Common Side Effects (50 or more out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Diarrhea (May be severe) What to look for?
What to do? If you have diarrhea:
| Talk to your health care team if no improvement after 24 hours of taking diarrhea medication or if severe (more than 7 times in one day) |
Nausea and vomiting (Generally mild) What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent nausea:
| Talk to your health care team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or if severe |
Common Side Effects (25 to 49 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Fatigue What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Fatigue pamphlet for more information. | Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Mouth sores What to look for?
To help prevent mouth sores:
Ask your health care team for the Oral Care (Mouth Care) pamphlet for more information. | Talk to your health care team as soon as you notice mouth or lip sores or if it hurts to eat, drink or swallow |
Low neutrophils (white blood cells) in the blood (neutropenia) (May be severe) When neutrophils are low, you are at risk of getting an infection more easily. Ask your health care team for the Neutropenia (Low white blood cell count) pamphlet for more information. What to look for?
You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have low neutrophils:
If you have a fever: If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you must get emergency medical help right away. | If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away. |
Low platelets in the blood (May be severe) When your platelets are low, you are at risk for bleeding and bruising. Ask your health care team for the Low Platelet Count pamphlet for more information. What to look for?
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have low platelets:
If you have signs of bleeding:
If you have bleeding that does not stop or is severe (very heavy), you must get emergency medical help right away.
| Talk to your health care team if you have any signs of bleeding. If you have bleeding that doesn’t stop or is severe (very heavy), you MUST get emergency help right away. |
Rash; dry, itchy skin What to look for?
What to do? To prevent and treat dry skin:
Rash may be severe in some rare cases and cause your skin to blister or peel. If this happens, get emergency medical help right away. | Talk to your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
Taste changes What to look for?
What to do?
| Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Less Common Side Effects (10 to 24 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Low appetite What to look for?
Ask your health care team for the Loss of Appetite pamphlet for more information. | Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Allergic reaction What to look for?
| Get emergency medical help right away for severe symptoms |
Neuropathy (Tingling, numb toes or fingers) What to look for?
What to do?
In rare cases, it may continue long after treatment ends. If you continue to have bothersome symptoms, talk to your health care team for advice. | Talk to your health care team, especially if you have trouble doing tasks like doing up buttons, writing, moving, severe pain or numbness |
Cough and feeling short of breath What to look for?
What to do?
| Talk to your health care team. If you are not able to talk to your health care team for advice, and you have a fever or severe symptoms, you MUST get emergency medical help right away |
Pains or cramps in the belly What to look for?
| Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
High blood pressure What to look for?
What to do?
If you have a severe headache get emergency help right away as it may be a sign your blood pressure is too high. | Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible.
If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:
- irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting spells or swelling in your legs, ankle and belly
- lower back pain, pee less than usual, body swelling
- severe muscle spasms, cramping, weakness, or twitching, seizures
Who do I contact if I have questions or need help?My cancer health care provider is: ______________________________________________ During the day I should contact:________________________________________________ Evenings, weekends and holidays:______________________________________________
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Other Notes:
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March 2021 Updated/Revised info sheet
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.