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Working with your doctor

Find the right doctor for you

Different doctors work with their patients in different ways, so make sure your doctor's style is right for you. Some doctors present treatment options and ask you to decide which one to choose, while some present all options and make suggestions for what they think you should do. Others are very firm about what treatments you should receive. What matters most is finding a doctor who will work best for you. Don't be afraid to change doctors if you are not comfortable with the one you have.

Make the most of your appointments

The time spent with your doctor is an opportunity for both of you to work together to make sure you get the treatment that works best for you. Appointments with your doctor can be stressful and sometimes confusing. You may not remember everything you were told, and things that seemed clear at the time of the appointment may not seem so clear when you get home.

Many patients also forget to ask the questions they had planned to ask during appointments. Others may think of questions between appointments but forget them later on. If this happens to you, don't worry. This is common for anyone in this situation.

Try the following tips to get the most out of your appointments:

  • Take notes during appointments. If you can't take notes, take a friend or family member with you who can do it for you
  • Write down questions as they come up between appointments, and be sure to take the complete list with you the next time you meet with your doctor
  • Ask for copies of any lab results that are discussed during the appointment

See Organizing your medical records for tips on reducing your stress while keeping all your lab results in order. In addition to getting paperwork organized and keeping track of all appointments, don't forget to set aside some time for caring for yourself.



Check out GlaxoSmithKline's Tykerb® CARES support program to help patients and the healthcare providers who treat them.


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Indication

TYKERB is indicated in combination with Xeloda® (capecitabine) for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose tumors overexpress HER2 and who have received prior therapy including an anthracycline, a taxane, and Herceptin® (trastuzumab).

Important Safety Information

Some women may develop liver damage while taking TYKERB. The cause of this damage is not known. In some cases, liver damage may be severe and may cause death. Your doctor should test your liver before and during treatment with TYKERB to check for signs of liver damage. You should contact your doctor if you have itching, yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, pain in your right upper side of your belly or feel very tired. If you develop liver damage during your treatment, your doctor may tell you to stop taking TYKERB. Before taking TYKERB, tell your doctor if you have liver problems. You may need a lower dose of TYKERB.

Before taking TYKERB, tell your doctor if you have heart problems. As with other treatments for HER2-positive advanced or metastatic breast cancer, there have been reports of changes in how the heart pumps blood through the body and how the heart beats. Call your doctor right away if you are short of breath, have rapid heartbeats (palpitations), or feel very tired.

Some people taking TYKERB have reported diarrhea. In some cases, diarrhea can be severe. Call your doctor right away if you have diarrhea. It is important to manage diarrhea with medicine as soon as it begins. Severe diarrhea may need to be treated with electrolytes and fluids given by mouth or by vein. Treatment with TYKERB may have to be delayed for a while or stopped completely.

If you have a dry cough or have shortness of breath, talk with your doctor. These may be signs of inflammation in the lungs.

Women should not become pregnant when taking TYKERB because the unborn baby may be harmed.

The most common side effects reported by patients taking TYKERB and Xeloda were diarrhea; vomiting; feeling sick to your stomach (nausea); feeling tired; red, painful hands and feet; and rash.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines and herbal and dietary supplements.

Because TYKERB is currently indicated to be taken with another medicine called Xeloda, be sure to talk with your doctor about any medicines and supplements that should be avoided when taking Xeloda.

Please see complete US Prescribing Information for TYKERB.

Herceptin is a registered trademark of Genentech, Inc.
Xeloda is a registered trademark of Roche Laboratories Inc.

Photos are for illustrative purposes only.