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Fight Your Metastatic Breast Cancer in 2 Ways

AFINITOR® (everolimus) Tablets is a prescription medicine used to treat advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, along with the medicine exemestane, in postmenopausal women who have already received certain other medicines for their cancer.

Proven Results Matter

Combine strengths with dual-action AFINITOR plus exemestane

With combination therapy, you'll have 2 medicines working together to help you fight your metastatic HR+, HER2- breast cancer in two ways instead of one. AFINITOR works in combination with the hormone therapy Aromasin® (also called exemestane) to help delay the growth of advanced HR+, HER2- breast cancer. The combination is:

  • Shown to more than double the time patients live without the disease getting worse (the median progression-free survival period) compared with exemestane alone
  • Proven to help delay the growth and spread of tumors

Aromasin is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc.

Michele's Story

One woman's experience taking AFINITOR

Watch Michele as she shares her story about living with stage IV breast cancer and taking AFINITOR. She talks about the side effects she experienced, how her doctor adjusted her dose, and why it's important to connect with others who can relate to what you're going through.

Side Effects

It's common to be concerned about side effects before starting a new treatment. AFINITOR may cause some side effects you are not familiar with. That's why it's important to learn everything you can so you're prepared to work closely with your doctor or nurse as soon as a side effect occurs.

The most serious side effects

  • You may develop lung or breathing problems. In some people lung or breathing problems may be severe, and can even lead to death. Tell your health care provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or wheezing
  • You may be more likely to develop an infection, such as pneumonia, or a bacterial, fungal or viral infection. Viral infections may include active hepatitis B in people who have had hepatitis B in the past (reactivation). In some people these infections may be severe and can even lead to death. You may need to be treated as soon as possible. Tell your health care provider right away if you have a temperature of 100.5°F or above, chills, or do not feel well. Symptoms of hepatitis B or infection may include the following: fever, chills, skin rash, joint pain and inflammation, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, pale stools, dark urine, yellowing of the skin, pain in the upper right side of the stomach
  • Possible increased risk for a type of allergic reaction called angioedema in people who take an Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor medicine during treatment with AFINITOR. Talk with your health care provider before taking AFINITOR if you are not sure if you take an ACE inhibitor medicine. Get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing or develop swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat during treatment with AFINITOR
  • You may develop kidney failure. In some people this may be severe and can even lead to death. Your health care provider should do tests to check your kidney function before and during your treatment with AFINITOR
  • Delayed would healing. AFINITOR can cause incisions to heal slowly or not heal well. Call your health care provider right away if you incision is red, warm, or painful; if you have blood, fluid, or pus in your incisions; if your incision opens up; or if your incision swells

If you have any of these serious side effects, you may need to stop taking AFINITOR for a while or use a lower dose. Follow your health care provider's instructions.

The most common side effect

The most common side effect of AFINITOR in treating advanced HR+, HER2- breast cancer was mouth sores (also called ulcers), which occurred in 67% of patients taking AFINITOR. These can sometimes be severe and can appear as early as within the first 2 weeks of treatment or at any time. Stay on the lookout for:

Some Oral-Care Tips Your Doctor Might Recommend

Your doctor may offer some suggestions about proper oral care and what foods to avoid.

Things to Do:

  • Eat soft foods (such as milkshakes, smoothies, pudding, yogurt, mashed potatoes, or bananas)
  • Take good care of your mouth and visit your dentist regularly
  • Try to brush after every meal with a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild toothpaste
  • Rinse your mouth several times a day with a saltwater mixture
  • If you're flossing with dental floss, continue with your daily flossing routine. If you have not been flossing daily, do not start, because your mouth may become more sensitive
  • Check with a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist before using a store-bought mouthwash

Things to Avoid:

  • Foods and drinks that can irritate your mouth (such as citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, spicy or salty foods, raw ginger, onions, and crunchy chips)
  • Using a mouthwash that contains alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or thyme because it may irritate your mouth
  • Drinking hot liquids or beverages
  • Eating foods that you are allergic to, and keep in mind any dietary restrictions you may have

Other common side effects

  • Infections (50%)
  • Rash (39%)
  • Feeling tired (36%)
  • Diarrhea (33%)
  • Loss of appetite (30%)
  • Nausea (29%), vomiting (17%)
  • Weight loss (25%)
  • Cough (24%), shortness of breath (21%)
  • Abnormal taste (22%)
  • Headache (21%)
  • Pain in arms and legs (9%), back (14%), joints (20%)
  • Swelling of arms, hands, feet, ankles, face, or other parts of the body (19%)
  • Nose bleeds (17%)
  • Fever (15%)
  • Constipation (14%)
  • High blood glucose (14%)
  • Difficulty sleeping (13%)
  • Feeling weak (13%)
  • Itching (13%)
  • Dry mouth (11%)
  • Hair loss (10%)

Other side effects that may occur with AFINITOR:

  • Absence of menstrual periods (menstruation). You may miss 1 or more menstrual periods. Tell your health care provider if this happens
  • AFINITOR may affect fertility in females and males, and may affect your ability to become pregnant if you are female or your ability to father a child if you are male. Talk to your health care provider if this is a concern for you

It's important that you report any side effects you're experiencing as soon as possible to your doctor or nurse.

Support

The AFINITOR $0 Co-pay Card

Novartis Oncology offers access to information about financial assistance for almost all Novartis Oncology products. You may be eligible for immediate co-pay savings on your next prescription:

  • Commercially insured patients pay $0 per month
  • Novartis will pay the remaining co-pay, up to $15,000 per calendar year

Limitations apply. Offer is not valid under Medicare, Medicaid, or any other federal or state program. Novartis reserves the right to rescind, revoke, or amend this program without notice.

For full terms and conditions, visit www.CoPay.NovartisOncology.com or call 1-877-577-7756.

AFINITOR Patient Support

Having metastatic HR+, HER2- breast cancer isn't easy, but it's important to know you're not alone. There are many resources available at AFINITOR.com to give you the support you need throughout your treatment.

Important Safety Information

Patients should not take AFINITOR if they are allergic to AFINITOR or to any of its ingredients. Patients should tell their health care provider before taking AFINITOR if they are allergic to sirolimus (Rapamune®) or temsirolimus (Torisel®).

AFINITOR can cause serious side effects, such as lung or breathing problems, infections, or kidney failure. Some of these side effects can be severe and can even lead to death. Your health care team may have ways to help manage side effects that do occur. It's important to talk with your doctor or nurse about side effects you experience and the best ways to manage them. Serious side effects include:

Lung or Breathing Problems: Patients should tell their health care provider right away if they have any of these symptoms: new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or wheezing.

Infections: AFINITOR may make patients more likely to develop an infection, such as pneumonia, or a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection. Viral infections may include reactivation of hepatitis B in people who have had hepatitis B in the past. Patients may need to be treated as soon as possible. Patients should tell their health care provider right away if they have a temperature of 100.5°F or above, have chills, or do not feel well. Symptoms of hepatitis B or infection may include the following: fever, chills, skin rash, joint pain and inflammation, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, pale stools or dark urine, yellowing of the skin, or pain in the upper right side of the stomach.

Angioedema: Patients who take an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor medicine during treatment with AFINITOR are at a possible increased risk for a type of allergic reaction called angioedema. Talk with your health care provider before taking AFINITOR if you are not sure if you take an ACE inhibitor medicine. Get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing or develop swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat during treatment with AFINITOR.

Kidney Failure: Patients taking AFINITOR may develop kidney failure. Patients should have tests to check their kidney function before and during their treatment with AFINITOR.

Delayed Wound Healing: AFINITOR can cause incisions to heal slowly or not heal well. Call your health care provider right away if your incision is red, warm, or painful; if you have blood, fluid, or pus in your incision; if your incision opens up; or if your incision swells.

Before taking AFINITOR, tell your health care provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

  • Have or have had kidney problems
  • Have or have had liver problems
  • Have diabetes or high blood sugar
  • Have high blood cholesterol levels
  • Have any infections
  • Previously had hepatitis B
  • Are scheduled to receive any vaccinations. You should not receive a live vaccine or be around people who have recently received a live vaccine during your treatment with AFINITOR. If you are not sure about the type of vaccine, ask your health care provider
  • Have other medical conditions
  • Are pregnant or could become pregnant. AFINITOR can cause harm to your unborn baby. If you are able to become pregnant, you should use effective birth control while using AFINITOR and for 8 weeks after your last dose. Talk to your health care provider about birth control options while taking AFINITOR
  • Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 2 weeks after your last dose

Tell your health care provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using AFINITOR with certain other medicines can cause serious side effects. Keep a list of medicines you take and show it to your health care provider when you get a new medicine. Especially tell your health care provider if you take St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), medicines that weaken your immune system (your body's ability to fight infections and other problems), or medicines for:

  • Fungal infections
  • Bacterial infections
  • Tuberculosis
  • Seizures
  • HIV-AIDS
  • Heart conditions or high blood pressure

If you are taking any medicines for the conditions listed above, your health care provider might need to prescribe a different medicine or your dose of AFINITOR may need to be changed. Tell your health care provider before you start taking any new medicine.

Common Side Effects

The most common side effect of AFINITOR in treating advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer was mouth ulcers and sores (67%). Tell your health care provider if you have pain, discomfort, or open sores in your mouth. Your health care provider may tell you to use a special mouthwash or mouth gel that does not contain alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or thyme.

Other common side effects of AFINITOR include:

  • Infections (50%)
  • Rash (39%)
  • Feeling tired (36%)
  • Diarrhea (33%)
  • Loss of appetite (30%)
  • Nausea (29%), vomiting (17%)
  • Weight loss (25%)
  • Cough (24%), shortness of breath (21%)
  • Abnormal taste (22%)
  • Headache (21%)
  • Pain in arms and legs (9%), back (14%), joints (20%)
  • Swelling of arms, hands, feet, ankles, face, or other parts of the body (19%)
  • Nose bleeds (17%)
  • Fever (15%)
  • Constipation (14%)
  • High blood glucose (14%)
  • Difficulty sleeping (13%)
  • Feeling weak (13%)
  • Itching (13%)
  • Dry mouth (11%)
  • Hair loss (10%)

Other side effects that may occur with AFINITOR:

  • Absence of menstrual periods (menstruation). You may miss 1 or more menstrual periods. Tell your health care provider if this happens
  • AFINITOR may affect fertility in females and males, and may affect your ability to become pregnant if you are female or your ability to father a child if you are male. Talk to your health care provider if this is a concern for you

Tell your health care provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of AFINITOR. For more information, ask your health care provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information for AFINITOR, including Patient Information.

The brands listed are the trademarks or register marks of their respective owners and are not trademarks or register marks of Novartis.

Approved Use

AFINITOR is a prescription medicine used to treat advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, along with the medicine exemestane, in postmenopausal women who have already received certain other medicines for their cancer.

Novartis

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

East Hanover, New Jersey 07936-1080 © 2017 Novartis 4/17 AFB-1158576

WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.

Please see full Prescribing Information for AFINITOR, including Patient Information

Important Safety Information

Important Safety Information

Patients should not take AFINITOR if they are allergic to AFINITOR or to any of its ingredients. Patients should tell their health care provider before taking AFINITOR if they are allergic to sirolimus (Rapamune®) or temsirolimus (Torisel®).

AFINITOR can cause serious side effects, such as lung or breathing problems, infections, or kidney failure. Some of these side effects can be severe and can even lead to death. Your health care team may have ways to help manage side effects that do occur. It's important to talk with your doctor or nurse about side effects you experience and the best ways to manage them. Serious side effects include:

Lung or Breathing Problems: Patients should tell their health care provider right away if they have any of these symptoms: new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or wheezing.

Infections: AFINITOR may make patients more likely to develop an infection, such as pneumonia, or a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection. Viral infections may include reactivation of hepatitis B in people who have had hepatitis B in the past. Patients may need to be treated as soon as possible. Patients should tell their health care provider right away if they have a temperature of 100.5°F or above, have chills, or do not feel well. Symptoms of hepatitis B or infection may include the following: fever, chills, skin rash, joint pain and inflammation, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, pale stools or dark urine, yellowing of the skin, or pain in the upper right side of the stomach.

Angioedema: Patients who take an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor medicine during treatment with AFINITOR are at a possible increased risk for a type of allergic reaction called angioedema. Talk with your health care provider before taking AFINITOR if you are not sure if you take an ACE inhibitor medicine. Get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing or develop swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat during treatment with AFINITOR.

Kidney Failure: Patients taking AFINITOR may develop kidney failure. Patients should have tests to check their kidney function before and during their treatment with AFINITOR.

Delayed Wound Healing: AFINITOR can cause incisions to heal slowly or not heal well. Call your health care provider right away if your incision is red, warm, or painful; if you have blood, fluid, or pus in your incision; if your incision opens up; or if your incision swells.

Before taking AFINITOR, tell your health care provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

  • Have or have had kidney problems
  • Have or have had liver problems
  • Have diabetes or high blood sugar
  • Have high blood cholesterol levels
  • Have any infections
  • Previously had hepatitis B
  • Are scheduled to receive any vaccinations. You should not receive a live vaccine or be around people who have recently received a live vaccine during your treatment with AFINITOR. If you are not sure about the type of vaccine, ask your health care provider
  • Have other medical conditions
  • Are pregnant or could become pregnant. AFINITOR can cause harm to your unborn baby. If you are able to become pregnant, you should use effective birth control while using AFINITOR and for 8 weeks after your last dose. Talk to your health care provider about birth control options while taking AFINITOR
  • Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 2 weeks after your last dose

Tell your health care provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using AFINITOR with certain other medicines can cause serious side effects. Keep a list of medicines you take and show it to your health care provider when you get a new medicine. Especially tell your health care provider if you take St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), medicines that weaken your immune system (your body's ability to fight infections and other problems), or medicines for:

  • Fungal infections
  • Bacterial infections
  • Tuberculosis
  • Seizures
  • HIV-AIDS
  • Heart conditions or high blood pressure

If you are taking any medicines for the conditions listed above, your health care provider might need to prescribe a different medicine or your dose of AFINITOR may need to be changed. Tell your health care provider before you start taking any new medicine.

Common Side Effects

The most common side effect of AFINITOR in treating advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer was mouth ulcers and sores (67%). Tell your health care provider if you have pain, discomfort, or open sores in your mouth. Your health care provider may tell you to use a special mouthwash or mouth gel that does not contain alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or thyme.

Other common side effects of AFINITOR include:

  • Infections (50%)
  • Rash (39%)
  • Feeling tired (36%)
  • Diarrhea (33%)
  • Loss of appetite (30%)
  • Nausea (29%), vomiting (17%)
  • Weight loss (25%)
  • Cough (24%), shortness of breath (21%)
  • Abnormal taste (22%)
  • Headache (21%)
  • Pain in arms and legs (9%), back (14%), joints (20%)
  • Swelling of arms, hands, feet, ankles, face, or other parts of the body (19%)
  • Nose bleeds (17%)
  • Fever (15%)
  • Constipation (14%)
  • High blood glucose (14%)
  • Difficulty sleeping (13%)
  • Feeling weak (13%)
  • Itching (13%)
  • Dry mouth (11%)
  • Hair loss (10%)

Other side effects that may occur with AFINITOR:

  • Absence of menstrual periods (menstruation). You may miss 1 or more menstrual periods. Tell your health care provider if this happens
  • AFINITOR may affect fertility in females and males, and may affect your ability to become pregnant if you are female or your ability to father a child if you are male. Talk to your health care provider if this is a concern for you

Tell your health care provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of AFINITOR. For more information, ask your health care provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information for AFINITOR, including Patient Information.

The brands listed are the trademarks or register marks of their respective owners and are not trademarks or register marks of Novartis.

Approved Use

AFINITOR is a prescription medicine used to treat advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, along with the medicine exemestane, in postmenopausal women who have already received certain other medicines for their cancer.

Novartis

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

East Hanover, New Jersey 07936-1080
© 2017 Novartis 4/17 AFB-1158576

From WebMD

More on Advanced Breast Cancer Care

Show More

Important Safety Information

Patients should not take AFINITOR if they are allergic to AFINITOR or to any of its ingredients. Patients should tell their health care provider before taking AFINITOR if they are allergic to sirolimus (Rapamune®) or temsirolimus (Torisel®).

AFINITOR can cause serious side effects, such as lung or breathing problems, infections, or kidney failure. Some of these side effects can be severe and can even lead to death. Your health care team may have ways to help manage side effects that do occur. It's important to talk with your doctor or nurse about side effects you experience and the best ways to manage them. Serious side effects include:

Lung or Breathing Problems: Patients should tell their health care provider right away if they have any of these symptoms: new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or wheezing.

Infections: AFINITOR may make patients more likely to develop an infection, such as pneumonia, or a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection. Viral infections may include reactivation of hepatitis B in people who have had hepatitis B in the past. Patients may need to be treated as soon as possible. Patients should tell their health care provider right away if they have a temperature of 100.5°F or above, have chills, or do not feel well. Symptoms of hepatitis B or infection may include the following: fever, chills, skin rash, joint pain and inflammation, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, pale stools or dark urine, yellowing of the skin, or pain in the upper right side of the stomach.

Angioedema: Patients who take an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor medicine during treatment with AFINITOR are at a possible increased risk for a type of allergic reaction called angioedema. Talk with your health care provider before taking AFINITOR if you are not sure if you take an ACE inhibitor medicine. Get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing or develop swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat during treatment with AFINITOR.

Kidney Failure: Patients taking AFINITOR may develop kidney failure. Patients should have tests to check their kidney function before and during their treatment with AFINITOR.

Delayed Wound Healing: AFINITOR can cause incisions to heal slowly or not heal well. Call your health care provider right away if your incision is red, warm, or painful; if you have blood, fluid, or pus in your incision; if your incision opens up; or if your incision swells.

Before taking AFINITOR, tell your health care provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

  • Have or have had kidney problems
  • Have or have had liver problems
  • Have diabetes or high blood sugar
  • Have high blood cholesterol levels
  • Have any infections
  • Previously had hepatitis B
  • Are scheduled to receive any vaccinations. You should not receive a live vaccine or be around people who have recently received a live vaccine during your treatment with AFINITOR. If you are not sure about the type of vaccine, ask your health care provider
  • Have other medical conditions
  • Are pregnant or could become pregnant. AFINITOR can cause harm to your unborn baby. If you are able to become pregnant, you should use effective birth control while using AFINITOR and for 8 weeks after your last dose. Talk to your health care provider about birth control options while taking AFINITOR
  • Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 2 weeks after your last dose

Tell your health care provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using AFINITOR with certain other medicines can cause serious side effects. Keep a list of medicines you take and show it to your health care provider when you get a new medicine. Especially tell your health care provider if you take St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), medicines that weaken your immune system (your body's ability to fight infections and other problems), or medicines for:

  • Fungal infections
  • Bacterial infections
  • Tuberculosis
  • Seizures
  • HIV-AIDS
  • Heart conditions or high blood pressure

If you are taking any medicines for the conditions listed above, your health care provider might need to prescribe a different medicine or your dose of AFINITOR may need to be changed. Tell your health care provider before you start taking any new medicine.

Common Side Effects

The most common side effect of AFINITOR in treating advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer was mouth ulcers and sores (67%). Tell your health care provider if you have pain, discomfort, or open sores in your mouth. Your health care provider may tell you to use a special mouthwash or mouth gel that does not contain alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or thyme.

Other common side effects of AFINITOR include:

  • Infections (50%)
  • Rash (39%)
  • Feeling tired (36%)
  • Diarrhea (33%)
  • Loss of appetite (30%)
  • Nausea (29%), vomiting (17%)
  • Weight loss (25%)
  • Cough (24%), shortness of breath (21%)
  • Abnormal taste (22%)
  • Headache (21%)
  • Pain in arms and legs (9%), back (14%), joints (20%)
  • Swelling of arms, hands, feet, ankles, face, or other parts of the body (19%)
  • Nose bleeds (17%)
  • Fever (15%)
  • Constipation (14%)
  • High blood glucose (14%)
  • Difficulty sleeping (13%)
  • Feeling weak (13%)
  • Itching (13%)
  • Dry mouth (11%)
  • Hair loss (10%)

Other side effects that may occur with AFINITOR:

  • Absence of menstrual periods (menstruation). You may miss 1 or more menstrual periods. Tell your health care provider if this happens
  • AFINITOR may affect fertility in females and males, and may affect your ability to become pregnant if you are female or your ability to father a child if you are male. Talk to your health care provider if this is a concern for you

Tell your health care provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of AFINITOR. For more information, ask your health care provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information for AFINITOR, including Patient Information.

The brands listed are the trademarks or register marks of their respective owners and are not trademarks or register marks of Novartis.

Approved Use

AFINITOR is a prescription medicine used to treat advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, along with the medicine exemestane, in postmenopausal women who have already received certain other medicines for their cancer.

Novartis

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

East Hanover, New Jersey 07936-1080 © 2017 Novartis 4/17 AFB-1158576

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