This information is in addition to your consent form(s) and booklet, 'SACT - a guide for patients and their carers'.
Your treatment
Alpelisib is a targeted treatment. This group of drugs block the growth and spread of cancer. They target and interfere with the processes in the cells that cause cancer to grow.
Alpelisib tablets are taken once a day continuously for 28 days. This is called 1 cycle of treatment. Your treatment is prescribed in cycles every 4 weeks. Treatment will continue until disease progression or side effects that can no longer be managed.
Take with food and a glass of water and swallow whole. If you vomit after taking a dose, do not repeat the dose. Take your next dose at your normal time. Alpelisib is for the treatment of breast cancer should be taken alongside hormone therapy (fulvestrant).
You will have routine blood tests while on treatment as advised by your medical team. You may have these blood tests less often once you are established on treatment.
Occasionally we may not be able to go ahead with your treatment until your blood counts are back to a safe level. If this happens, your treatment may be delayed a week or dose reduced. You should continue with your hormone (endocrine) therapy even if your alpelisib is stopped.
Avoid having grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking alpelisib. Some medicines and herbal remedies may interact with alpelisib. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are starting any new medications.
This treatment can have serious or possibly life-threatening side effects. It is very important that you report side effects straight away.
You are also vulnerable to infection while you are having chemotherapy. Minor infections can become life-threatening in a matter of hours if left untreated. Symptoms of infection include fever, shivering, sweats, sore throat, diarrhoea, discomfort when you pass urine, cough or breathlessness. We recommend that you use a digital thermometer so you can check your temperature. You can buy one from your local chemist.
If you feel unwell, you have symptoms of an infection or your temperature is 37.5ºC or above, or below 36ºC, contact The Christie Hotline straight away on 0161 446 3658 (open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Possible side effects
See the Cancer Research UK consent form.
You should have been given a copy of this consent form before you started treatment but it can also be found by visiting www.cancerresearchuk.org and searching ‘Consent forms for SACT (systemic anti-cancer therapy).
See 'SACT - a guide for patients and their carers'.
Contacts
Please contact your consultant’s secretary or your breast care nurse.