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

Frequently Asked Questions

Like any person living with cancer or their caregiver, you are probably facing situations you never had to deal with before, and are probably concerned about the challenges lying ahead.

Below are several frequently asked questions. We hope that the responses provided can ease some of your concerns, and encourage conversations with your healthcare team.

Please click on a question you'd like answered from the list below.

What is GEMZAR and how does it treat cancer?
How is GEMZAR given?
How will I look and feel during and after GEMZAR therapy?
When should I call my healthcare team?
What can I do if I don't have insurance, or if my insurance can't cover all my costs?

GEMZAR is a prescription drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of four different cancers. You can visit GEMZAR FAQs for these individual diagnoses by clicking on the links below:

Ovarian Cancer
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.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
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.

Metastatic Breast 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.

Pancreatic Cancer
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.

What is GEMZAR and how does it treat cancer?

GEMZAR is a chemotherapy drug that is used to treat certain types of cancer, including advanced recurrent ovarian cancer, first-line advanced non-small cell lung cancer, first-line metastatic breast cancer, and first-line advanced pancreatic cancer.

GEMZAR works by interfering with the process by which cells divide and repair themselves, thereby preventing the further growth of cancer cells and ultimately resulting in cell death.

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How is GEMZAR given?

In most cases, GEMZAR can be given in a healthcare professional's office, clinic, or hospital. Your GEMZAR treatment plan will vary, depending on your general physical health, the type of cancer you have, at what stage it was diagnosed, and the goal of therapy that you and your healthcare team have chosen.

GEMZAR is given through a vein, usually taking about 30 minutes — but total treatment time may take longer if your healthcare team gives other drugs or fluids at the same time. You will generally receive GEMZAR once a week for two or three weeks in a row, followed by a week without treatment. This constitutes one "treatment cycle." The number of cycles you receive will also depend on your individual treatment plan.

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How will I look and feel during and after GEMZAR therapy?

The way you look and feel during and after your GEMZAR therapy will depend on the individual patient and on whether or not other combination therapies are given in conjunction with GEMZAR. If you receive GEMZAR with another drug, you may also experience some side effects from the additional drug that you may not experience if you receive GEMZAR alone. It is important for you to know about possible side effects in advance so that you can identify them if they occur and can inform your healthcare team promptly.

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When should I call my healthcare team?

You are probably attuned to changes in your body now more than ever. You must never take these changes for granted. According to The American Cancer Society, as a person living with cancer, you should alert your healthcare team right away if you notice any changes in your body or experience any of the following symptoms during your chemotherapy treatment¹:

A fever of 100.5°F or greater

Bleeding or unexplained bruising

A rash or allergic reaction such as swelling or severe itching or wheezing

Intense chills

Pain or soreness at the chemotherapy injection site or catheter site

Unusual pain including intense headaches

Shortness of breath

Prolonged diarrhea or vomiting

Bloody stool or blood in your urine

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What can I do if I don't have insurance, or if my insurance can't cover all my costs?

"PatientOne" is the Lilly Oncology program that addresses financial, access, and claim issues for patients who are candidates for GEMZAR. Patients that can be helped include:

Insured Patients

Underinsured Patients

Uninsured Patients

Call 1-866-4PatOne and let us know what you need. Live specialists are available Monday-Friday, 9 am-7 pm ET.

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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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