Chemotherapy Treatment - Gemzar.com (gemcitabine HCl for injection)

Treatment Options

Determining which particular treatment is right for you depends on several things, including your general physical health, the type and stage of cancer you have, and the goal of therapy that you and your healthcare team have chosen. Goals of therapy refers to what you and your healthcare team expect from your treatment. That goal is based on your unique situation and the personal values most important to you.

Treatment options could include surgery, chemotherapy,radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy, or a combination of any of these, depending on the type and stage of cancer that you have. With some tumors, surgical removal of all or as much tumor as possible is considered the best treatment depending on the size and location of the tumor and whether the cancer cells have spread to other parts of your body (referred to as metastasis).

If evidence suggests that tumor cells have indeed spread, or if some of the tumor could not be removed during surgery, then one or more of the other available therapies may be used.

Consider different options
First, ask your healthcare team to talk with you about at least two treatment options. These options may be a combination of chemotherapy regimens, chemotherapy with other kinds of therapy, or a combination of other therapies.

Analyze the benefits and risks
Next, ask your healthcare team about the potential benefits and risks associated with each therapy and how each therapy relates to your therapy goal.

Ask your healthcare team to write down or print out the information they share with you about how effective a therapy is and what the side effects are — regardless of which is most important to you. If you have someone helping you, you might want to take that person to the appointment with you — two heads are definitely better than one for remembering all the things you will be talking about. Another option is to tape record your appointment with your healthcare team's permission.

Take time to compare this information to your goal of therapy, and then discuss it with your healthcare team when you have gained a better understanding of all your treatment options.

Indications and Important Safety Information for GEMZAR

GEMZAR is approved by the FDA in combination with carboplatin (another type of chemotherapy) for the patient with advanced ovarian cancer that has returned at least 6 months after the patient had finished platinum-based therapy.

GEMZAR is approved by the FDA in combination with cisplatin (another type of chemotherapy) for the first-line treatment of patients (for whom surgery is not possible) with locally advanced (stage IIIA or stage IIIB) or metastatic (stage IV or cancer that has spread) non-small cell lung cancer.

GEMZAR is approved by the FDA in combination with paclitaxel for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer after they have received another type of chemotherapy called an anthracycline, unless their medical condition did not allow them to receive an anthracycline.

GEMZAR is approved by the FDA as a single agent (given alone) as the first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced (stage II or stage III when surgery is not an option) or metastatic (stage IV) adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. GEMZAR is also indicated for patients previously treated with 5-FU (another type of chemotherapy).

GEMZAR can suppress bone marrow function, which may cause low blood cell counts.

GEMZAR may not be appropriate for some patients.

If you are allergic to GEMZAR, tell your doctor because you should not receive it.

GEMZAR given for longer than 60 minutes or more than once a week has caused increased side effects.

You should call your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of infection, such as a fever or chills. If you notice bleeding, unexplained bruising, or symptoms of anemia, contact your healthcare team, as these can be symptoms of low blood cell counts.

Serious lung problems, sometimes fatal, have been reported with GEMZAR. Tell your healthcare team if you develop breathing problems.

There have been reports of serious kidney or liver damage including failure with GEMZAR treatment, sometimes fatal. If you have had kidney or liver problems or impairment, please tell your healthcare team. GEMZAR may not be right for you.

You will have regular blood tests before and during your treatment with GEMZAR. Your doctor may adjust your dose of GEMZAR or delay your treatment based on the results of your blood tests and on your general condition.

If you think you are pregnant, are planning to become pregnant, or are nursing, please tell your healthcare team.

Patients who receive radiation therapy before, during, or after receiving GEMZAR may sometimes experience more side effects, especially at the site of the radiation.

Tell your doctor if you are taking other medicines, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.

There is a risk of side effects associated with GEMZAR therapy. The most common side effects are low blood cell counts (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets); fever; infection; hair loss; tiredness; nausea; vomiting; constipation; diarrhea; rash; shortness of breath; muscle aches; blood in urine; hearing changes and numbness or tingling in your toes or fingers. These are not all of the side effects of GEMZAR. Lab work may identify additional side effects. If you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away, be sure to talk with your doctor. Call your healthcare team right away if you have fever or chills. These symptoms could mean you have an infection.

If you are pregnant, GEMZAR may cause fetal harm to your unborn baby. It is not known if GEMZAR passes into breast milk; because of the potential for serious side effects in nursing infants, discuss breast feeding and GEMZAR with your doctor. The safety and effectiveness of GEMZAR in children has not been established.

For more information about all of the side effects of GEMZAR, please talk with your healthcare team, see the full Prescribing Information, or call 1-800-545-5979.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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