CABOMETYX Differentiated Thyroid Cancer black female patient portrayal

Patient portrayal

Differentiated thyroid cancer*

A LOOK AT THE TREATMENT JOURNEY

*papillary or follicular thyroid cancer (2 types of differentiated thyroid cancer) that has progressed on a VEGFR-targeted/tyrosine kinase inhibitor medicine and radioactive iodine is not an option.

If you are being treated for papillary or follicular thyroid cancer — 2 types of differentiated thyroid cancer — you may be wondering “what’s next”?

Everyone's journey is unique. Learning as much as you can about your condition will help you make decisions about your future.

Understanding next steps

It’s Your Journey

The information here may help you learn about your options, whether you are taking your initial — first-line — VEGFR-targeted/tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) medicine or considering your next — second-line — TKI medicine.

Knowing your options will help you have an informed conversation with your doctor, who is your best resource for discussing your treatment or condition. Together, you will be able to choose what medicine is right for your situation.

How you may move forward depends on where you are in your journey. 
 

Click on the tab below that best describes your situation.

    Sometimes a first-line TKI medicine isn't appropriate anymore. Maybe your condition is progressing or you need another treatment option. If you can’t receive radioactive iodine (RAI), your doctor may discuss using a different TKI medicine. You do have choices. Learn about your options so you can actively participate in your care.

    Understanding your options may help you get the treatment that's right for your situation. You can use what you learned from your treatment experience to advocate for yourself by asking your doctor specific questions and expressing your preferences and concerns. 

    Understand Your Options if Your Condition Progresses

    Hear from Cory Lee, an actual patient, why it's important to learn about your treatment options.

    If your condition or the condition of someone you care for is progressing on a first-line VEGFR-targeted/TKI medicine and RAI isn't an option, CABOMETYX may be right for you. More about CABOMETYX

    CABOMETYX Doctor Discussion Guide

    Talking to Your Doctor

    Get a Doctor Discussion Guide to help make the most of your medical appointments. You can use the guide to organize what you want to talk about regarding your treatment and goals, including:

    • What are my treatment options?
    • What is CABOMETYX?
    • How is CABOMETYX thought to work?

    This is a good time to learn more about your condition and treatments. Learning as much as you can allows you to actively participate in your care and may help you feel more in control. 

    Understanding your options will help you be prepared if your condition progresses or if you need to change your medicine (take a second-line TKI). You will be able to advocate for yourself by asking your doctor specific questions and expressing your preferences and concerns. Though you may not need to change your medicine now, you can be ready if you have to in the future.

    The Treatment Journey: Stages and Terms You Should Know

    Follow the journey of Cory Lee, an actual patient, and learn about different treatments, terms, and important tips.

    CABOMETYX Doctor Discussion Guide

    Learn About CABOMETYX, a Second-Line TKI Medicine

    Find out why CABOMETYX may be right for people whose condition progresses on a first-line VEGFR-targeted/TKI medicine and they can't have radioactive iodine (RAI). This handbook will help you understand CABOMETYX, including: 

    • How it is thought to work
    • Results of the clinical trials
    • Available treatment education and financial support information

    If you or someone you are caring for is taking a first-line TKI medicine, you may have to change treatments. Ask your doctor at what point CABOMETYX may be right for you. Learn about CABOMETYX


    Learn about CABOMETYX

    What is CABOMETYX?

    Though there are other TKIs, CABOMETYX is the only FDA-approved second-line TKI medicine for people with papillary or follicular thyroid cancer (2 types of differentiated thyroid cancer) who have progressed after treatment with a VEGFR-targeted/TKI medicine and can't receive RAI.

    Patient Cory Lee

    “You’ve got to know your options. So it's important to do your own research to find out what options you do have.”  
    Cory Lee, an actual patient

    Cory Lee's Story

    Air Force veteran Cory Lee, an actual patient, shares his story. Track his journey from diagnosis to how he worked through the tough times with his family and support network.


    SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY GROUPS

    Organizations you may find helpful

    American Thyroid Association

    Contact via website only
    www.thyroid.org/thyroid-cancer

    ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association

    Contact via website only
    www.thyca.org

    Light of Life Foundation​

    Contact via website only 
    lightoflifefoundation.org

    American Cancer Society®

    The National Cancer Institute

    These are third-party organizations and websites that are not owned or controlled by Exelixis, Inc. and their inclusion does not constitute endorsement of CABOMETYX. Exelixis, Inc. makes no representation regarding the content, accuracy or completeness of the information provided by these organizations and on these third-party websites. Use and access to the information on these third-party websites are subject to the terms, limitations and conditions set by those websites.

    INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

    IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

    What are the possible side effects of CABOMETYX?

    CABOMETYX may cause serious side effects, including:

    Bleeding (hemorrhage). CABOMETYX can cause severe bleeding that may lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any signs of bleeding during treatment with CABOMETYX, including:

    • Coughing up blood or blood clots
    • Vomiting blood or if your vomit looks like coffee grounds
    • Red or black (looks like tar) stools
    • Menstrual bleeding that is heavier than normal
    • Any unusual or heavy bleeding

    A tear in your stomach or intestinal wall (perforation) or an abnormal connection between 2 parts of your body (fistula). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get tenderness or pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that is severe or that does not go away.

    Blood clots, stroke, heart attack, and chest pain. Get emergency help right away if you get:

    • Swelling or pain in your arms or legs
    • Shortness of breath
    • Feel lightheaded or faint
    • Sweating more than usual
    • Numbness or weakness of your face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of your body
    • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
    • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
    • Sudden trouble walking
    • Dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
    • A sudden severe headache

    High blood pressure (hypertension). Hypertension is common with CABOMETYX and sometimes can be severe. Your healthcare provider will check your blood pressure before starting CABOMETYX and regularly during treatment with CABOMETYX. If needed, your healthcare provider may prescribe medicine to treat your high blood pressure. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop severe headaches, nose bleeds, tiredness or confusion, vision changes, chest pain, trouble breathing, irregular heartbeat, or blood in your urine.

    Diarrhea. Diarrhea is common with CABOMETYX and can be severe. If needed, your healthcare provider may prescribe medicine to treat your diarrhea. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have frequent loose, watery bowel movements.

    A skin problem called hand-foot skin reaction. Hand-foot skin reactions are common and can be severe. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have rashes, redness, pain, swelling, or blisters on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet.

    Protein in your urine and possible kidney problems. Symptoms may include swelling in your hands, arms, legs, or feet. Your healthcare provider will check you for this problem during treatment with CABOMETYX.

    Severe jaw bone problems (osteonecrosis). Your healthcare provider should examine your mouth before you start and during treatment with CABOMETYX. Tell your dentist that you are taking CABOMETYX. It is important for you to practice good mouth care during treatment with CABOMETYX. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any symptoms of jaw problems, including: jaw pain, toothache, or sores on your gums.

    Wound healing problems. Wound healing problems have happened in people who take CABOMETYX. Tell your healthcare provider if you plan to have any surgery before or during treatment with CABOMETYX.

    • You should stop taking CABOMETYX at least 3 weeks before planned surgery.
    • Your healthcare provider should tell you when you may start taking CABOMETYX again after surgery.

    Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS). A condition called reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome can happen during treatment with CABOMETYX. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have headaches, seizures, confusion, changes in vision, or problems thinking.

    Change in thyroid function. CABOMETYX can cause changes in your thyroid function, including changes to thyroid hormone levels in your blood. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your thyroid function before and during treatment with CABOMETYX.

    Decreased calcium level in your blood (hypocalcemia). CABOMETYX can cause you to have a decreased amount of calcium in your blood. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check you for this problem and give you calcium if needed. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms:

    • Muscle stiffness or muscle spasms
    • Numbness or tingling in your fingers, toes, or around your mouth
    • Seizures
    • Sudden weight gain
    • Swelling of your arms, hands, legs, and ankles

    Your healthcare provider may change your dose, temporarily stop, or permanently stop treatment with CABOMETYX if you have certain side effects.

    The most common side effects of CABOMETYX include:

    • Tiredness
    • Decreased appetite
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Weight loss
    • Constipation

    CABOMETYX may cause fertility problems in females and males, which may affect your ability to have children. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility.

    These are not all of the possible side effects of CABOMETYX. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

    Before you take CABOMETYX, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

    • Have had a liver problem other than liver cancer.
    • Have a recent history of bleeding, including coughing up or vomiting blood, or black tarry stools.
    • Have an open or healing wound.
    • Have high blood pressure.
    • Have a low calcium level in your blood (hypocalcemia).
    • Plan to have any surgery, dental procedure, or have had a recent surgery. You should stop treatment with CABOMETYX at least 3 weeks before planned surgery.
    • Are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. CABOMETYX can harm your unborn baby.
      • If you are able to become pregnant, your healthcare provider will check your pregnancy status before you start treatment with CABOMETYX.
      • Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 4 months after your final dose of CABOMETYX.
      • Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for you.
      • If you become pregnant or think you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider right away.
    • Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if CABOMETYX passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 4 months after your final dose of CABOMETYX.

    Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. CABOMETYX and certain other medicines may affect each other, causing side effects.

    What should I avoid while taking CABOMETYX?

    Avoid drinking grapefruit juice, eating grapefruit, or taking supplements that contain grapefruit or St. John’s wort during treatment with CABOMETYX.

    Please see the Patient Information in the full Prescribing Information.

    INDICATION

    What is CABOMETYX?

    CABOMETYX is a prescription medicine used to treat:

    • Adults and children 12 years of age and older who have a type of thyroid cancer called differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) that has spread (locally advanced or metastatic), and,
      • has progressed after treatment with a VEGFR-targeted treatment, and
      • your DTC can no longer be treated with radioactive iodine, or you are not able to receive radioactive iodine treatment.

    It is not known if CABOMETYX is safe and effective in children younger than 12 years of age.

    • Adults and children 12 years of age and older who have a type of thyroid cancer called differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) that has spread (locally advanced or metastatic), and,
      • has progressed after treatment with a VEGFR-targeted treatment, and
      • your DTC can no longer be treated with radioactive iodine, or you are not able to receive radioactive iodine treatment.

    It is not known if CABOMETYX is safe and effective in children younger than 12 years of age.