Like many cancer medicines, KADCYLA is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion in your doctor’s office, at a hospital, or at an infusion center.
For HER2+ early breast cancer, KADCYLA is given every 3 weeks for 14 rounds of infusion—sometimes called "cycles"—unless the cancer comes back or side effects cause the treatment to be stopped sooner. Treatment with KADCYLA typically would last less than a year.
Before you start taking KADCYLA:
- Talk with your doctor about any other medical conditions you have. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, nursing, or plan on getting pregnant
- Always tell your doctor about any medicines you are taking. Be sure to include over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements
Getting the infusion
After each infusion, your healthcare team will take some extra time to watch how you respond to treatment. If side effects occur, they may adjust, delay, or stop your treatment.
What if I miss an infusion?
If you miss a dose of KADCYLA, DO NOT WAIT until your next 3-week cycle of treatment. Contact your doctor or nurse right away and work with them to reschedule the treatment you missed.
Understanding possible side effects with KADCYLA
Side effects may occur during treatment with KADCYLA, and these can be mild or serious. It’s important to know what side effects may happen and what to watch out for during your treatment with KADCYLA. Talk to your doctor about any and all side effects you experience, even if you think they are minor.
What are the most serious side effects of KADCYLA?
KADCYLA can cause severe liver problems that can be life-threatening. KADCYLA may cause heart problems, including those without symptoms (such as reduced heart function) and those with symptoms (such as congestive heart failure). Receiving KADCYLA during pregnancy can result in the death of an unborn baby and birth defects.
Other possible serious side effects include:
- Lung problems
- Infusion-related reactions
- Serious bleeding
- Low platelet count
- Nerve damage
- Skin reactions around the infusion site
The most common side effects in people taking KADCYLA for early breast cancer are tiredness, nausea, liver problems, pain that affects the bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, bleeding, low platelet count, headache, weakness, numbness, and pain in the hands and feet, and joint pain.
Talk to your doctor about any side effects you experience. Learn what to watch out for and get tips for certain side effects below.
Remember, the tips mentioned below may not work for everyone. Be sure to talk with your doctor before trying any of these tips.
Select side effects associated with KADCYLA during early breast cancer treatment
Some tips you can try:
- Be physically active each day, if your doctor approves. This may help improve your appetite, strength, and weight
- Participate in activities during the time of day when you have more energy
- Do the most important tasks first
Some tips you can try:
- Try relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or thinking of a positive image or scene, to distract you from feeling sick to your stomach
- Choose foods that are nutritious, and avoid foods that are greasy, fried, salty, sweet, or spicy
- If the smell of food bothers you, trying cooling it down before eating it
What to watch out for:
- Signs of liver problems include: vomiting, nausea, eating disorder (anorexia), a yellow tint in the eyes or skin (jaundice), stomach pain, dark urine, and itching
- Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms
Some tips you can try:
- Talk with your doctor and healthcare team about pain. Be specific about where it is, when it began, how long it lasts, what it feels like, what makes it better or worse, and how it affects your every day activities
- Take any pain medications exactly as prescribed
- Engaging in regular physical activity may help if you are able to and your doctor approves
What to watch out for:
- KADCYLA may lower your platelet count. Low platelet count can prevent your blood from clotting to stop any bleeding, and can increase the risk for serious bleeding
- Signs of low platelet count include easy or unexpected bruising, small purple or red spots under the skin, bleeding from the nose or gums, unusually heavy menstrual periods, black or bloody bowel movements, red- or pink-colored urine, bloody vomit, severe headaches, dizziness, pain in the joints or muscles, increased weakness, and prolonged bleeding from cuts or nosebleeds. In mild cases, there may not be any symptoms
- Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms
Some tips you can try:
- Regular physical activity, sleep, healthy eating, and avoiding caffeine may help prevent headaches
- Apply a cold pack or cool washcloth to your forehead, neck, or temples
- Relax with your eyes closed in a quiet room to ease tension
Some tips you can try:
- Good nutrition, including foods rich in thiamine, protein, and antioxidants
- Taking medications as directed by your doctor
- Physical or occupational therapy may be helpful
Be aware that these are not all of the side effects associated with KADCYLA. For more information, please review the KADCYLA Important Safety Information and the full Prescribing Information.
You are encouraged to report side effects to Genentech and the FDA. You may contact Genentech by calling 1-888-835-2555. You may contact the FDA by visiting www.fda.gov/medwatch or calling 1-800-FDA-1088.
Talking to your doctor
Need help starting the conversation? Get a list of questions to ask your doctor before and during treatment with KADCYLA.
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Get information and support for your treatment journey with HERConnection.
Who is KADCYLA for?
Early Breast Cancer
KADCYLA is a prescription medicine used as an adjuvant (after surgery) treatment for HER2-positive early breast cancer when the patient has taken neoadjuvant (before surgery) treatment including a taxane and trastuzumab (Herceptin®) and there is cancer remaining in the tissue removed during surgery.
Patients are selected for therapy based on an FDA-approved test for KADCYLA.
Metastatic Breast Cancer
KADCYLA is a prescription medicine used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic breast cancer) after prior treatment with trastuzumab (Herceptin®) and a taxane. Prior treatment could have been for the initial treatment of breast cancer or for the treatment of cancer that had spread to other parts of the body.
Patients are selected for therapy based on an FDA-approved test for KADCYLA.
Important Safety Information
What is the most Important Safety Information I should know about KADCYLA?
Liver problems
- KADCYLA may cause severe liver problems that can be life-threatening. Symptoms of liver problems may include vomiting, nausea, eating disorder (anorexia), yellowing of the skin (jaundice), stomach pain, dark urine, or itching
Heart problems
- KADCYLA may cause heart problems, including those without symptoms (such as reduced heart function) and those with symptoms (such as congestive heart failure). Symptoms may include swelling of the ankles or legs, shortness of breath, cough, rapid weight gain of more than 5 pounds in 24 hours, dizziness or loss of consciousness, or irregular heartbeat
Pregnancy
- Receiving KADCYLA during pregnancy can result in the death of an unborn baby and birth defects. Birth control should be used while you receive KADCYLA and for 7 months after your last dose of KADCYLA
- If you think you may be pregnant, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately
- If you are exposed to KADCYLA during pregnancy or if you become pregnant within 7 months following your last dose of KADCYLA, you are encouraged to report KADCYLA exposure to Genentech by calling 1-888-835-2555
- If you are a male patient with a female partner that could become pregnant, birth control should be used during treatment and for 4 months following your last dose of KADCYLA
- You should not breastfeed during treatment and for 7 months after the last dose of KADCYLA
Contact your doctor right away if you experience symptoms associated with these side effects.
What are the additional possible serious side effects of KADCYLA?
Lung problems
- KADCYLA may cause lung problems, including inflammation of the lung tissue, which can be life-threatening. Signs of lung problems may include trouble breathing, cough, tiredness, and fluid in the lungs
Infusion-related reactions
- Symptoms of an infusion-related reaction may include one or more of the following: the skin getting hot or red (flushing), chills, fever, trouble breathing, low blood pressure, wheezing, tightening of the muscles in the chest around the airways, or a fast heartbeat. Your doctor will monitor you for infusion-related reactions
Serious bleeding
- KADCYLA can cause life-threatening bleeding. Taking KADCYLA with other medications used to thin your blood (antiplatelet) or prevent blood clots (anticoagulation) can increase your risk of bleeding. Your doctor should provide additional monitoring if you are taking one of these other drugs while on KADCYLA. Even when blood thinners are not also being taken, life-threatening bleeding may occur with KADCYLA
Low platelet count
- Low platelet count may happen during treatment with KADCYLA. Platelets help your blood to clot. Signs of low platelets may include easy bruising, bleeding, and prolonged bleeding from cuts. In mild cases there may not be any symptoms
Nerve damage
- Symptoms may include numbness and tingling, burning or sharp pain, sensitivity to touch, lack of coordination, muscle weakness, or loss of muscle function. Your doctor will monitor you for symptoms of nerve damage
Skin reactions around the infusion site
- KADCYLA may leak from the vein or needle and cause reactions such as redness, tenderness, skin irritation, or pain or swelling at the infusion site. If this happens, it is more likely to happen within 24 hours of the infusion
What are the most common side effects of KADCYLA?
The most common side effects in people taking KADCYLA for early breast cancer are:
- Tiredness
- Nausea
- Liver problems
- Pain that affects the bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons
- Bleeding
- Low platelet count
- Headache
- Weakness, numbness, and pain in the hands and feet
- Joint pain
The most common side effects seen in people taking KADCYLA for metastatic breast cancer are:
- Tiredness
- Nausea
- Pain that affects the bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons
- Bleeding
- Low platelet count
- Headache
- Liver problems
- Constipation
- Nosebleeds
You are encouraged to report side effects to Genentech and the FDA. You may contact Genentech by calling 1-888-835-2555. You may contact the FDA by visiting www.fda.gov/medwatch or calling 1-800-FDA-1088.
Talk to a healthcare professional for more information about the benefits and risks of KADCYLA.
Please see full Prescribing Information for Important Safety Information, including most serious side effects.
If you cannot afford your medication, visit genentech-access.com/patient for financial assistance information.