This information is in addition to your consent form(s) and booklet, 'SACT - a guide for patients and their carers'.

Your treatment

Vinorelbine is an anti-cancer drug also known as chemotherapy. Vinorelbine is taken orally once a week. Alternatively, it may be given on days 1 and 8 (2 weeks on, 1 week off) at the discretion of your consultant. This is called 1 cycle of treatment and is repeated every 21 days until disease progression or side effects that can no longer be managed. Please be aware that your dose may be made up of multiple capsules. You will also be given anti-sickness tablets which should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before you take vinorelbine.

You should not take your treatment until you have had your bloods checked and been given the go ahead by your medical team.

If you vomit after taking a dose, do not repeat the dose. Take your next dose at your normal time.

You will have a routine blood test before the start of each 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 chemotherapy may be delayed a week or the 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 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.