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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
At Exelixis, we are committed to serving the needs of people who take CABOMETYX. Find more information about our response to the coronavirus pandemic on our corporate website.

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Tips for Caregivers

You are an essential part of your loved one’s treatment circle. There are many things you can do to help.

Caregiver Tip; Know what to expect
Know what to expect
  • Find out as much as you can about your loved one’s diagnosis and treatment
    • You’ll have a better idea of what to expect during your loved one’s journey
  • Understand the dosing schedule and potential side effects of CABOMETYX
    • You can help your loved one keep an eye on both—especially side effects, since some can be managed
Caregiver Tip; Go to doctors appointments
Go along to doctor’s appointments
  • Go to checkups with your loved one
    • He or she will have a second pair of ears listening to the oncology doctor or nurse
  • Come prepared with questions to ask the oncology doctor or nurse
    • Make sure you get all the answers you’re looking for
  • Take notes and speak up!
    • Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand something
Caregiver Tip; Get organized
Get organized
  • Try to be as organized as possible
    • There’s a lot of paperwork in healthcare to keep track of
    • Make sure you have a place to store important documents so you can find them easily
Caregiver Tip; Take care of yourself
Take care of yourself
  • Join a support group
    • This way you can spend time with people who also have a loved one living with cancer
  • Set aside time to do something you enjoy like taking a walk, reading a book, or watching your favorite show
  • Stay healthy!
    • Go to the doctor for checkups, stay active, and eat healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and protein-filled nuts and yogurt
  • Don’t be too hard on yourself
    • You are learning to be a caregiver every day, and with learning there may come times when you feel you should have done something differently. Don’t focus on that. Instead focus on the positive things you’re doing for your loved one

Download a PDF of Tips for Caregivers

Caring for someone starting CABOMETYX?
Learn more about the $0 Co-Pay Card*
*Eligibility rules apply

Additional ways to get support

Organizations designed to support you and your loved one

Here are some support organizations you may want to read about or get in touch with.

Cancer organizations

American Cancer Society®

CancerCare®

The National Cancer Institute: Comprehensive Cancer Information

NCCN®*

Kidney Cancer Organizations

KCCure

Kidney Cancer Association

National Kidney Foundation®

Liver Cancer Organizations

American Liver Foundation

Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association

*Linked with permission from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. All rights reserved. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way.

INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION


What is CABOMETYX?
CABOMETYX is a prescription medicine used to treat:

It is not known if CABOMETYX is safe and effective in children.

 

INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION


What is CABOMETYX?
CABOMETYX is a prescription medicine used to treat:

  • People with kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma). CABOMETYX may be used:
    • Alone to treat people with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) that has spread (advanced RCC)
    • In combination with nivolumab when your cancer has spread (advanced RCC), and you have not already had treatment for your advanced RCC
  • People with liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) who have been previously treated with the medicine sorafenib.

It is not known if CABOMETYX is safe and effective in children.

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.

Liver problems. Liver problems may happen during treatment with CABOMETYX. When CABOMETYX is taken in combination with nivolumab, severe changes in liver function tests may happen more often than if you take CABOMETYX alone. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your liver function before and during treatment with CABOMETYX.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop symptoms of liver problems including: yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, severe nausea or vomiting, pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen), dark urine, bleeding or bruising more easily than normal.

Adrenal gland problems. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for this problem. Your healthcare provider may prescribe hormone replacement therapy or corticosteroid medicines if needed. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms: extreme tiredness, dizziness or fainting, weakness, nausea, or vomiting.

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 some 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.

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
  • Vomiting
  • Weight loss
  • Constipation
  • Difficulty speaking

The most common side effects of CABOMETYX when used in combination with nivolumab include:

  • Tiredness
  • Mouth sores
  • Rash
  • Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)
  • Pain in muscles, bones, and joints
  • Decreased appetite
  • Nausea
  • Changes in the way things taste
  • Stomach-area (abdominal) pain
  • Cough
  • Upper respiratory tract infection

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 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.

If your healthcare provider prescribes CABOMETYX in combination with nivolumab, also read the Medication Guide that comes with nivolumab.

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.
  • 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 accompanying full Prescribing Information.