Glossary
A-C|D-F|G-I|J-L|M-O|P-R|S-U|V-Z
A-C
Anemic
Feeling weak and tired because of a low red blood cell count.
Appeals
Requests for reconsideration if you've been initially denied insurance coverage.
Benign
Not cancerous.
Cancer
General word for cells that grow, divide, and organize in an uncontrolled way. Cancer cells form tumors.
Carcinoma
A form of cancer that develops in tissues covering or lining organs. The most common form of cancer.
Chemotherapy
Drugs used to stop cancer cells from multiplying. Chemotherapy is described as first-line, second-line, or third-line, depending on the stage of cancer being treated. Drugs may be taken orally or injected into a vein.
D-F
Fatigue
Feeling tired.
First-line Therapy (or treatment)
The first type of treatment given for a disease such as cancer.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Government organization responsible for assuring the safety and effectiveness of drugs, food, and other products.
G-I
Genentech® Access to Care Foundation
The Genentech Access to Care Foundation was established to help qualified patients with unmet medical needs to receive proper medical treatment. The Genentech Access to Care Foundation may be available to help those who are not able to obtain Tarceva for financial reasons.
HER1/EGFR
Protein molecule found on the surface of some cells. Abnormal functioning of HER1/EGFR can cause cancer.
Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)
A lung condition in which the tissue between the air sacs of the lungs becomes inflamed or damaged.
Intravenously (IV)
Injected into a vein.
J-L
Lymph fluid
Liquid circulating throughout your body that picks up germs and carries them to the lymph nodes.
Lymph nodes
Pea-shaped nodules found throughout your body. They help rid the body of infection by collecting germs found in lymph fluid.
M-O
Mail Order Pharmacy
A pharmacy that will ship prescribed medication directly to your address.
Maintenance Therapy (or treatment)
Treatment given to maintain a patient in stable condition.
Malignant
Cancerous.
Metastatic
Cancer that has spread from one part of the body to another.
Metastasizes
Spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.
NSCLC
Non-small-cell lung cancer. The most common type of lung cancer.
Oncologist
Doctor who specializes in treating cancer.
P-R
Platinum-based Chemotherapy
Drugs containing small amounts of the metal platinum used to destroy cancer cells by stopping their ability to reproduce. Also kills other healthy cells.
Pleura
Thin layer of tissue lining the lungs and chest cavity.
Prognosis
Outlook for recovery.
Radiation
Treatment that uses high-energy X-ray beams to shrink a tumor. May be used alone or with surgery and chemotherapy.
Regimen
How often you receive treatment. In chemotherapy, a regimen usually includes time off from treatment so your body can rest.
Resectable
When a tumor can be removed with surgery.
S-U
Second-line Therapy (or treatment)
Treatment given when the first treatment does not work or stops working.
Staging
Measurement of how far cancer has spread. Indicated by stage numbers I-IV. The lower the stage, the better the outlook.
Specialty Pharmacy
A specialty pharmacy provides reimbursement assistance, clinical support, express deliveries, and support programs. They may also provide an on-call pharmacist to take orders or address questions.
Tarceva Access Solutions
Tarceva Access Solutions provides coverage and reimbursement support, patient assistance, and informational resources for both patients and their healthcare providers.
Targeted treatment
Cancer treatment that targets a specific type of cell activity.
Taxane
A chemotherapy drug that interferes with cell division. Often used in combination with platinum compounds.
Therapy
Treatment.
Third-line Therapy (or treatment)
Treatment given when both the first and second treatments don't work or stop working.
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor
A drug that interferes with cell communication and growth and may prevent cancer tumor growth.
Unresectable
Not capable of being resected.
V-Z
White blood cells
Cells that help the body fight infection and disease.
Tarceva in combination with gemcitabine is prescribed for patients with advanced-stage pancreatic cancer whose cancer has spread, grown, or cannot be surgically removed, and who have not received previous chemotherapy.
There have been reports of serious events involving the lungs in a small number of patients taking Tarceva. These events have included death in some patients. The medical name for these types of events is interstitial (in-tur-STISH-ul) lung disease-like events (or ILD-like events).
Liver and/or kidney problems (including deaths) have been reported in some patient taking Tarceva. Let your healthcare provider (HCP) know if you have a history of liver or kidney disease.
Some patients taking Tarceva have developed a hole in the lining of their stomach or intestines (including deaths). It may happen more in patients who are taking certain other medicines or who have certain stomach and intestinal diseases.
Some patients taking Tarceva have developed serious skin conditions. Some patients have died from these conditions.
Patients taking Tarceva plus gemcitabine were more likely to experience bleeding and clotting problems such as heart attack or stroke.
Some patients taking Tarceva have developed eye irritation and damage to the cornea. The cornea is the clear part of the eyeball that covers the colored part of the eye and the pupil. Other eye problems such as abnormal eyelash growth, dry eyes, or changes in eyesight have also been reported.
Patients should tell their HCP about eye problems that get worse. Including eye pain.
Women should not become pregnant while on treatment with Tarceva. If you are already pregnant or become pregnant while taking Tarceva, you should talk with your HCP about the benefits and risks of continuing to take Tarceva.
DO NOT breast-feed while receiving treatment with Tarceva.
Call your HCP right away if you have these signs or symptoms:
- New or worsening skin rash
- Serious or ongoing diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, or vomiting
- New or worsening shortness of breath or cough
- Eye irritation
Some patients taking Tarceva have experienced difficulty with blood clotting, and bleeding events, including gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients taking blood thinners (Coumadin®, warfarin or other coumarin-derivatives) should be monitored regularly.
Certain medicines and herbal supplements can affect how Tarceva works for in the body. It is important that you tell your HCP about all of the medicines and herbal supplements you are taking. DO NOT start taking any new medicines or herbal supplements before talking with your HCP. Tarceva may also affect other medications you are taking.
In addition, grapefruit and grapefruit juice have an effect on how Tarceva works. DO NOT eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while on treatment with Tarceva, except under the care of your HCP.
Smoking may affect how well Tarceva works for you. If you smoke, you should stop smoking before starting treatment with Tarceva. Talk with your HCP about how to quit smoking. If you continue to smoke, you should talk with your HCP before taking Tarceva.
The most common side effects in patients who took Tarceva plus gemcitabine were fatigue “feeling tired”, rash, nausea, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Other skin changes may also be seen.
The rash from Tarceva plus gemcitabine therapy may appear on your upper body or face. Typically rash occurs within 10 days of starting treatment, but it may occur any time during treatment.
The rash is not an allergic reaction. It may look like acne or dry skin. It is not acne. Talk to your HCP if a rash occurs.
Typically, diarrhea may develop within 15 days of starting Tarceva plus gemcitabine therapy.
Hair and nail changes have been seen with Tarceva.
Always let your HCP know if you have any side effects, and ask about the best way to handle them.
Tarceva is not right for everyone. Ask your HCP if once-daily Tarceva is right for you.
