Trastuzumab

Used in the treatment of women with HER2 overexpressing, node-positive breast cancer, trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody which is designed to target the HER2 protein and use the body's own immune system to fight the disease. As a monoclonal antibody, trastuzumab is disparate from chemotherapy in that it is typically a more targeted form of therapy, meaning that it targets only distinct types of cell activities.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), your team of cancer specialists will work closely with you to determine if trastuzumab is an appropriate treatment option for your breast cancer. Combining traditional and new, innovative treatment methods with a number of complementary therapies, our cancer experts will develop a customized plan of treatment designed to fight your cancer on all fronts.

Learn more about our unique, whole-patient approach to cancer treatment. Chat now with an Oncology Information Specialist to discover how, at CTCA, we treat all of you—not just the cancer.

Before you begin treatment with trastuzumab, is important to tell your doctor if you have heart disease, congestive heart failure, a family history of heart attacks, as well as any allergies or breathing problems.

As with any cancer treatment option, the potential side effects of trastuzumab will vary. Some people that have received trastuzumab injections have experienced a reaction to the infusion. If you are receiving trastuzumab and experience light-headedness, nausea, dizziness, or a shortness of breath during your injection, tell your caregiver immediately.

Other potential, serious side effects of trastuzumab may include:

• Chest pain
• Pain that spreads to the shoulders or arms
• Swelling
• Coughing or wheezing
• White patches or sores inside your mouth
• Flu-like symptoms

Other less serious side effects may include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• A general, tired feeling

Because everyone will react differently to cancer treatments, the above list should not be considered as a comprehensive list of potential side effects of trastuzumab.

Approved by the U.S. FDA in September 1998, trastuzumab is used to treat breast cancers that have progressed after being treated with other forms of chemotherapy. Trastuzumab works by interfering with the growth of cancer cells and slowing their growth and spread in your body.

Trastuzumab is given intravenously and can often take up to 90 minutes to complete. Trastuzumab is usually given once every seven days, and requires regular blood tests to ensure that the medicine is not having harmful effects on your body. If you are receiving trastuzumab, is important that you do not miss scheduled appointments with your doctor.

If you would like to learn more about Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) and the whole-patient approach we take when considering drugs such as trastuzumab, please contact us at 800-615-3055 today.