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Pink magazine 2012

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Learn Ask Know One of the most important steps you can take in the fight against HER2-positive breast cancer is to learn. Learn everything you can about your condition and the treatments available. Prepare and ask questions when you see your oncologist. Do all you can to inform yourself, because part of preparing yourself for the journey ahead is knowing what you are up against. Your first step starts here www.myjourney.co.nz protein. Tell your doctor if you have a history of coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, heart failure, arrhythmia (an abnormal or rapid heart beat), angina (feeling pain, tightness, heaviness or pressure in the chest), or any other type of heart disease; lung tumours or disease; if you are taking are currently taking any other medicines for cancer, or if you have previously received treatment for cancer with medicines such as anthracyclines or cyclophosphamide; or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or plan to become pregnant or breast-feed. Herceptin should not be used if you have had an allergic reaction to Herceptin, any of its ingredients, or to any medicines that are made using Chinese hamster ovary cells. Possible unwanted effects: Common: infusion reactions such as chills, shivering, fever, nausea, vomiting, pain or discomfort (e.g. in the stomach, back, chest or neck), stiffness or shaking, weakness and soreness in muscles or joints, headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, cough, hives, skin rashes or itchy skin, weakness or fatigue, abnormal or fast heart beat, or feeling faint. After an infusion: any of the side effects above, swelling of the feet or legs, diffi culty sleeping or feeling anxious or depressed, worsening cough, runny, blocked or bleeding nose, cold- or fl u-like symptoms, chest infection, pain when urinating or needing to urinate more often, diarrhoea, weight loss, hair loss, nail problems, sweating, sore throat, acne, bone pain, loss of appetite, changes in your sense of taste, constipation, indigestion, tingling, numbness, redness, drying or peeling of the hands or feet, mouth ulcers or cold sores, discharging or itchy eyes. Serious: high temperature or fever, shortness of breath or having diffi culty breathing, wheezing, a sore throat with chills and fever that does not get better, sudden signs of allergy, severe coughing, chest pain spreading to the arms, neck, shoulder and/or back, abnormal or fast heart beat, severe diarrhoea or vomiting, feeling faint, severe skin infections. Ask your Oncologist if Herceptin is right for you. Use strictly as directed. If symptoms continue or if you experience side effects or would like more information, please talk to your Oncologist or visit www.medsafe.govt.nz for the full Herceptin Consumer Medicine Information. ID#1366/TAPSNA5978/2012SEP Herceptin® (trastuzumab), 150mg and 440mg vials, is a Prescription Medicine used to treat patients with early breast cancer and metastatic (spreading) breast cancer who have tumours with a large amount of the HER2 Herceptin is a funded medicine for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who meet pre-defi ned criteria. A prescription charge and normal Doctor's fees may apply. Consumer panel dated 23 August 2011 based on CMI dated 24 September 2010. Roche Products (New Zealand) Limited, Auckland. Phone: 0800 656 464. www.roche.co.nz. All trademarks mentioned herein are protected by law.

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