IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

NEXAVAR may cause birth defects or death of an unborn baby. Avoid becoming pregnant while taking NEXAVAR and for at least 2 weeks after stopping your treatment. Men and women should use birth control during and at least 2 weeks after NEXAVAR therapy. Call your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Do not breastfeed while taking NEXAVAR as this medication may be passed through breast milk. Before starting NEXAVAR, tell your doctor if you have allergies; heart problems or chest pain; bleeding or bruising problems. continue reading below »

Working with Your Health Care Team

Throughout your treatment, your doctor will introduce additional health care professionals as they are needed. These individuals may range from specialists trained to give a particular cancer treatment to team members who can provide other kinds of valuable support.

Here are some of the specialists you may see:

Oncologist—A doctor with special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. He or she designs treatment plans and performs follow-up care
Surgical Oncologist—A surgeon who specializes in using surgery to treat cancer
Interventional Radiologist—A doctor who is a radiologist with special training in the use of X-rays and other types of tests to guide treatment
Nephrologist—A doctor specialized in treating diseases of the kidneys
Urologist—A surgeon specially trained to treat problems in the kidneys and urinary tract

In addition to your lead doctor and specialists, some supporting team members may include:

Oncology Nurse—Specially trained to work with cancer patients, your oncology nurse provides general support to you and your family. You may be in touch with your oncology nurse on a regular basis so that he or she can keep track of your health and help in managing any side effects
Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant—Work closely with your doctors, performing physical examinations and helping with treatments and procedures
Registered Dietitian—Certified to give nutritional advice to patients, and works with other health care team members to make sure patients are getting the nutrition they need

When you are first diagnosed and throughout your treatment, you will probably have a lot of questions. It may help to write down any questions before you speak with your doctor, specialist, or supporting team member.

When you see your health care team, remember to tell them how you are feeling and if you experience any physical or emotional changes. This will enable them to better evaluate your therapy and give you the support you need.

With a variety of treatment options available, ask your doctor about how Nexavar might fit into your treatment plan.

Indication

NEXAVAR is an anticancer medicine used to treat a certain type of kidney cancer called advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), or a certain type of liver cancer known as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), when it cannot be treated with surgery.

Important Safety Information

Do not take Nexavar if you have a specific type of lung cancer (squamous cell) and receive carboplatin and paclitaxel. Before starting NEXAVAR, tell your doctor if you have: allergies; heart problems (including a problem called congenital long QT syndrome) or chest pain; bleeding or bruising problems; high blood pressure; or kidney or liver problems. NEXAVAR may interact with certain other medicines so tell your doctor about all medicines you take including prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements. It is especially important to tell your doctor if you take warfarin (Coumadin).

NEXAVAR may cause serious side effects, including:

– decreased blood flow to the heart and heart attack. Get emergency help if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, feel lightheaded or faint, have nausea or vomiting, or you are sweating a lot.
– bleeding problems. Tell your doctor if you have any bleeding or easy bruising while taking NEXAVAR.
– high blood pressure. Your blood pressure should be checked every week during the first 6 weeks of starting therapy and then regularly, thereafter. If your blood pressure is high, it may need to be treated.
– a skin problem called hand-foot skin reaction. This causes redness, pain, swelling or blisters on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet. Your doctor may change your dose or stop treatment for a while.
– perforation of the bowel. Tell your doctor right away if you get high fever, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain.
– wound healing problems. If you have a surgical or dental procedure, tell your doctor you are taking NEXAVAR. Your treatment may be stopped until after your surgery or until your wound heals.
– changes in the electrical activity of your heart called QT prolongation. QT prolongation can cause irregular heartbeats that can be life-threatening. Tell your doctor right away if you feel faint, lightheaded, dizzy, or feel your heart beating irregularly or fast while taking Nexavar.

The most common side effects with NEXAVAR may include: rash, redness, itching or peeling skin; hair thinning or loss; diarrhea; nausea/vomiting; mouth sores; weakness; loss of appetite; numbness, tingling or pain in hands and feet; abdominal pain; tiredness; or weight loss. Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

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. For important risk and use information, please see the patient prescribing information.