Chemotherapy Counsling

Imatinib: Brand, Indication, & Mechanism

• Brand: Gleevec

• Indication: Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)

• Mechanism: Blocks the signal that tells leukemia cells to grow.

Imatinib: Dosing & Storage

• Dose: 600 mg once daily.

• How to take: Take with food and a full glass of water.

• Storage: Room temperature, away from heat/moisture.

• Missed Dose: Take ASAP unless close to next dose; do NOT double.

Imatinib: Side Effects & Monitoring

• Common: Nausea, fatigue, muscle cramps, swelling/fluid retention.

• Serious: Liver toxicity, low blood counts.

• Monitoring: Routine labs are needed.

Imatinib: Key Interaction

• Interacts with: Warfarin.

• Result: Increases bleeding risk.

• Recommendation: Monitor INR closely.

Lenalidomide: Brand, Indication, & Mechanism

• Brand: Revlimid

• Indication: Multiple Myeloma

• Mechanism: Helps immune system attack cancer / slows cancer cell growth.

Lenalidomide: Dosing & Storage

• Dose: 25 mg daily.

• Schedule: Days 1–14 of a 28-day cycle (follow exact schedule).

• Storage: Room temperature in original container.

• Missed Dose: If <12 hrs, take it. If >12 hrs, skip it.

Lenalidomide: Side Effects & Warnings

• Common: Fatigue, constipation or diarrhea, low blood counts.

• Serious: Blood clots, infection risk, pregnancy risk (safety program).

Lenalidomide: Key Interaction

• Interacts with: Dexamethasone.

• Result: Increases clot risk.

• Counseling: Watch for leg swelling, chest pain, shortness of breath.

Pazopanib: Brand, Indication, & Mechanism

• Brand: Votrient

• Indication: Kidney Cancer (Renal Cell Carcinoma)

• Mechanism: Cuts off blood supply tumors need to grow.

Pazopanib: Dosing & Storage

• Dose: 800 mg once daily.

• How to take: EMPTY STOMACH (1 hr before or 2 hrs after food).

• Storage: Room temperature.

• Missed Dose: Skip missed dose; do NOT double.

Pazopanib: Side Effects & Monitoring

• Common: Diarrhea, fatigue, high blood pressure.

• Serious: Liver toxicity (regular labs needed).

Pazopanib: Key Interaction

• Interacts with: Fluconazole.

• Result: Increases pazopanib levels (toxicity risk).

• Recommendation: Provider should monitor/adjust if needed.

Dabrafenib: Brand, Indication, & Mechanism

• Brand: Tafinlar

• Indication: Melanoma with BRAF V600 mutation.

• Mechanism: Blocks a growth signal inside cancer cells.

Dabrafenib: Dosing & Storage

• Dose: 150 mg twice daily.

• Timing: About 12 hours apart.

• Storage: Room temperature.

• Missed Dose: Skip if close to next dose; do NOT double.

Dabrafenib: Side Effects

• Common: Fever, fatigue, skin reactions.

• Serious: High fever (call provider), infection-like symptoms.

Bicalutamide: Brand, Indication, & Mechanism

• Brand: Casodex

• Indication: Prostate cancer.

• Mechanism: Blocks male hormones that fuel cancer growth.

Bicalutamide: Dosing & Storage

• Dose: 50 mg once daily.

• Timing: Same time each day.

• Storage: Room temperature.

• Missed Dose: Take ASAP unless close to next dose.

Bicalutamide: Side Effects & Monitoring

• Common: Hot flashes, fatigue, breast tenderness.

• Serious: Liver function monitoring.