This information is in addition to your consent form(s) and booklet, 'SACT - a guide for patients and their carers'.
Your treatment
Neratinib is an anti-cancer drug also known as a targeted or biological therapy. This drug blocks the growth and spread of cancer by targeting and interfering with the processes in cells that cause the cancer to grow.
Your treatment is taken continuously and will be prescribed in 4 weekly cycles for one year. Neratinib tablets are taken once each day with food. Take with a glass of water and swallow whole. You must also start taking loperamide (anti-diarrhoeal medication) as prescribed with the first dose of neratinib.
If you vomit after taking a dose, do not repeat the dose. Take your next dose at your normal time.
You will have routine blood tests whilst on treatment as advised by your medical team. The frequency of these blood tests may decrease 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.
Avoid having grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking neratinib. Some medicines and herbal remedies may interact with neratinib. 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 using The Christie Hotline 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
If you have any general questions or concerns about your treatment, please ring the service under which you are being treated.
Please contact your consultant’s secretary.