Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment Drug: ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension

ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension
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Books and Publications


Black Box Warning

ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension is indicated for the treatment of breast cancer after failure of combination chemotherapy for metastatic disease or relapse within 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Prior therapy should have included an anthracycline unless clinically contraindicated.

When going through breast cancer treatment, it is important to have access to as many helpful resources as possible. The following provide information and support to help you stay focused on your treatment plan and overall health.

This list of resources is provided merely as a convenience. Abraxis and AstraZeneca take no responsibility for the content of, or services provided by, the resources and make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information provided and shall have no liability for any damages or injuries of any kind arising from the information contained within these resources.

  • Advanced Breast Cancer: A Guide to Living with Metastatic Disease
    By Musa Mayer. 2nd edition. O’Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1998.
    Practical advice and emotional support for women and families dealing with the realities of metastatic breast cancer.
  • Art.Rage.Us.: Art and Writing by Women with Breast Cancer
    By Jill Eikenberry and Terry Tempest. Chronicle Books, 1998.
    Inspiring artwork and writing by breast cancer survivors, an outgrowth of an exhibit at the San Francisco Main Library Gallery.
  • Betty Crocker’s Living with Cancer Cookbook: Easy Recipes and Tips Through Treatment and Beyond
    Betty Crocker, 2001.
    Advice from cancer patients, from tips for coping with emotions to making recipes more appealing. Recipes are tagged to show which are helpful for common side effects of cancer treatment.
  • The Breast Cancer Book of Strength & Courage: Inspiring Stories to See You Through Your Journey
    By Ernie Bodai, M.D., and Judie Fertig Panneton. 1st edition. Prima Lifestyles, 2002.
    Uplifting stories of women who faced mastectomies, radiation, and chemotherapy with courage, humor, and grace.
  • The Cancer Monologue Project
    By Tanya Taylor and Pamela Thompson. MacAdam/Cage Publishing, 2002.
    In a series of workshops, people affected by cancer were invited to write and perform their stories about living, resulting in these 30 engaging monologues.
  • Hanging Out With Lab Coats: Hope, Humor & Help for Cancer Patients and their Caregivers
    By Wendi Fox Pedicone. FoxPress. 2007.
    Both an uplifting memoir about a survivor’s battle with breast cancer and a helpful breast cancer resource.
  • Holding Tight, Letting Go: Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer
    By Musa Mayer. 1st edition. Patient Center Guides, 1997.
    A personalized and highly informed guide to life with metastatic breast cancer.
  • Here for Now: Living Well with Cancer Through Mindfulness
    By Elana Rosenbaum. Satya House Publications, 2005.
    Mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques.
  • Live Longer, Live Larger: A Holistic Approach for Cancer Patients and Their Families
    By Susan W. Buchholz, Ph.D., and William M. Buchholz, M.D. 1st edition. Patient Center Guides, 2001.
    Stories and exercises to help conquer fear, find the right treatment, and increase the quality and meaning of life.

 

Important Safety Information & Boxed Warning

You should receive ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) under the care of a doctor who is trained to use cancer drugs. Because you may have side effects from your treatment, you should get this medicine in a clinic or hospital with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who are trained to give cancer drugs.

ABRAXANE therapy should not be given to patients with metastatic breast cancer who have low blood counts. Low blood counts, especially low white blood cell counts, may make you more likely to get an infection. In order to check for low blood counts your doctor may need to take some blood to test your blood counts.

Note: Abraxane is paclitaxel made with the human blood protein albumin. This makes it behave differently in the body than regular paclitaxel. DO NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR OR WITH OTHER PACLITAXEL DRUGS.

Important Safety Information

One of the more important side effects associated with chemotherapy is neutropenia, which is a decrease in the number of infection-fighting white blood cells (neutrophils). Normal levels range from approximately 1,500 cells/mm3 to 1,800 cells/mm3 (but vary according to several factors, such as age and race). If levels fall below 500 cells/mm3, your risk of developing an infection increases and treatment may be interrupted. To avoid the risk of serious infection and fever, your doctor will monitor your absolute neutrophil count (ANC) during therapy.

Women should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with ABRAXANE. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, if you become pregnant, or you plan to become pregnant while taking ABRAXANE. Discuss with your doctor how ABRAXANE may affect fertility. Nursing a baby while taking ABRAXANE is not recommended because the drug may be present in breast milk

The most important adverse events included lower white and red blood cell counts, infections, tingling and numbness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle and joint aches, and mouth sores. Other adverse reactions included weakness, visual disturbances, fluid retention, hair loss, and liver and kidney dysfunction. Low platelet counts, allergic reactions (which in rare cases were severe), cardiovascular reactions, and injection site reactions were uncommon.

Sensory neuropathy (numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands and feet) can occur with ABRAXANE and other paclitaxel medications. Severe sensory neuropathy can improve with proper management, as prescribed by your doctor. You should tell your nurse or doctor if you experience numbness, tingling, or burning in your hands or feet while taking ABRAXANE.

Please talk to your doctor or nurse if you have questions regarding the potential side effects of ABRAXANE therapy. You may want to review the Product Information, including Warnings, Precautions, and Contraindications.

The information on this site is intended for US residents only.

©2008 Abraxis BioScience, Inc.
and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.
All Rights Reserved. AO 711/256325  2/08

ABRAXANE is marketed under a
co-promotion agreement between
Abraxis BioScience, Inc. and AstraZeneca.

Abraxis
AstraZeneca

Abraxis Oncology is a division of Abraxis
BioScience, Inc. All Abraxis BioScience,
Inc. corporate names, names of services,
and names of products referred to herein
are trade names, service marks, and/or
trademarks that are owned by or licensed
to Abraxis BioScience, its divisions or its
affiliates, unless otherwise noted.

Important Safety Information & Boxed Warning

You should receive ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) under the care of a doctor who is trained to use cancer drugs. Because you may have side effects from your treatment, you should get this medicine in a clinic or hospital with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who are trained to give cancer drugs.

ABRAXANE therapy should not be given to patients with metastatic breast cancer who have low blood counts. Low blood counts, especially low white blood cell counts, may make you more likely to get an infection. In order to check for low blood counts your doctor may need to take some blood to test your blood counts.

Note: Abraxane is paclitaxel made with the human blood protein albumin. This makes it behave differently in the body than regular paclitaxel. DO NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR OR WITH OTHER PACLITAXEL DRUGS.

Important Safety Information

One of the more important side effects associated with chemotherapy is neutropenia, which is a decrease in the number of infection-fighting white blood cells (neutrophils). Normal levels range from approximately 1,500 cells/mm3 to 1,800 cells/mm3 (but vary according to several factors, such as age and race). If levels fall below 500 cells/mm3, your risk of developing an infection increases and treatment may be interrupted. To avoid the risk of serious infection and fever, your doctor will monitor your absolute neutrophil count (ANC) during therapy.

Women should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with ABRAXANE. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, if you become pregnant, or you plan to become pregnant while taking ABRAXANE. Discuss with your doctor how ABRAXANE may affect fertility. Nursing a baby while taking ABRAXANE is not recommended because the drug may be present in breast milk

The most important adverse events included lower white and red blood cell counts, infections, tingling and numbness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle and joint aches, and mouth sores. Other adverse reactions included weakness, visual disturbances, fluid retention, hair loss, and liver and kidney dysfunction. Low platelet counts, allergic reactions (which in rare cases were severe), cardiovascular reactions, and injection site reactions were uncommon.

Sensory neuropathy (numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands and feet) can occur with ABRAXANE and other paclitaxel medications. Severe sensory neuropathy can improve with proper management, as prescribed by your doctor. You should tell your nurse or doctor if you experience numbness, tingling, or burning in your hands or feet while taking ABRAXANE.

Please talk to your doctor or nurse if you have questions regarding the potential side effects of ABRAXANE therapy. You may want to review the Product Information, including Warnings, Precautions, and Contraindications.

The information on this site is intended for US residents only.

©2008 Abraxis BioScience, Inc. and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. All Rights Reserved. AO 711/256325  2/08
(Site updated 2/07)

ABRAXANE is marketed under a co-promotion agreement between Abraxis BioScience, Inc. and AstraZeneca.

Abraxis
AstraZeneca

Abraxis Oncology is a division of Abraxis BioScience, Inc. All Abraxis BioScience, Inc. corporate names, names of services, and names of products referred to herein are trade names, service marks, and/or trademarks that are owned by or licensed to Abraxis BioScience, its divisions or its affiliates, unless otherwise noted.