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HERCEPTIN 600 MG / 5 ML ( TRASTUZUMAB ) SOLUTION FOR SC INJECTION VIAL
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Trastuzumab
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Herceptin is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you are given Herceptin
3. How Herceptin is given
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Herceptin
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Herceptin is and what it is used for
Herceptin contains the active substance trastuzumab, which is a monoclonal antibody. Monoclonal antibodies attach to specific proteins or antigens. Trastuzumab is designed to bind selectively to an antigen called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). HER2 is found in large amounts on the surface of some cancer cells where it stimulates their growth. When Herceptin binds to HER2 it stops the growth of such cells and causes them to die.
Your doctor may prescribe Herceptin for the treatment of breast cancer when:
- You have early breast cancer, with high levels of a protein called HER2.
- You have metastatic breast cancer (breast cancer that has spread beyond the original tumour) with high levels of HER2. Herceptin may be prescribed in combination with the chemotherapy medicines paclitaxel or docetaxel as first treatment for metastatic breast cancer or it may be prescribed alone if other treatments have proved unsuccessful. It is also used in combination with medicines called aromatase inhibitors with patients with high levels of HER2 and hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer (cancer that is sensitive to the presence of female sex hormones).
2. What you need to know before you are given Herceptin
Do not use Herceptin if:
- you are allergic to trastuzumab (the active substance of Herceptin), murine (mouse) proteins, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- you have severe breathing problems at rest due to your cancer or if you need oxygen treatment.
