This information is in addition to your consent form(s) and booklet, 'SACT - a guide for patients and their carers'.
Your treatment
Tucatinib is an anti-cancer drug also known as a targeted or biological therapy. These drugs block the growth and spread of cancer by targeting and interfering with the processes in cells that cause the cancer to grow. Capecitabine is an anti-cancer drug also known as chemotherapy. Trastuzumab is an anti-cancer drug also known as a targeted or biological therapy. It is a monoclonal antibody that target the HER2 protein which is found on the surface of some cancer cells. The aim of the treatment is to block the growth and spread of cancer.
This treatment is prescribed in 3 weekly cycles:
Tucatinib tablets are taken continuously twice each day on days 1 to 21.
Capecitabine tablets are taken twice a day (10 to 12 hours a part) for 2 weeks on days 1 to 14, followed by a 7-day break.
Trastuzumab (HER2 therapy) is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous) on day 1.
The treatment cycle is then repeated every 21 days until disease progression or side effects that can no longer be managed.
If you vomit after taking a dose, do not repeat the dose. Take your next dose at your normal time.
You will be required to have a blood test prior to starting capecitabine to check you have the enzymes required to break down this type of chemotherapy.
You will have routine blood tests while 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 oral treatment may be delayed a week or dose reduced.
This treatment can have serious or possibly life-threatening side effects. It is very important that you report side effects straight away.
You are 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
If you have any general questions or concerns about your treatment, please ring:
Administration enquiries: 0161 918 7606/7610
Chemotherapy nurse: 0161 918 7171
Clinical trials unit: 0161 918 7663
For advanced breast cancer treatment (MBC), please contact your consultant’s secretary or your breast care nurse.