Avastin.com
XThe information contained in this section of the site is intended for U.S. healthcare professionals only. Click "OK" if you are a healthcare professional.
Ok Cancel
To help us give you the most relevant information, please select
a type of cancer below:
Possible Serious Side Effects
Everyone reacts differently to Avastin therapy. So it’s important to know what the side effects are. Although some people may have a life-threatening side effect, most do not.
Your doctor will stop treatment if any serious side effects occur. Be sure to contact your health care team if you have symptoms related to these side effects.
The most serious side effects (not common, but sometimes fatal):
- Gastrointestinal (GI) perforation. A hole that develops in your stomach or intestine. Symptoms include pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or fever
- Wounds that don’t heal. A cut made during surgery can be slow to heal or may not fully heal. Avastin should not be used for at least 28 days before or after surgery and until surgical wounds are fully healed
- Serious bleeding. This includes vomiting or coughing up blood; bleeding in the stomach, brain, or spinal cord; and vaginal bleeding. If you recently coughed up blood or had serious bleeding, do not take Avastin
Other possible serious side effects:
- Abnormal passage in the body. This forms from one part of the body to another and can sometimes be fatal
- Stroke or heart problems. These include blood clots, mini-stroke, heart attack, and chest pain. These can sometimes be fatal
- Severe high blood pressure. Blood pressure that severely spikes or shows signs of affecting the brain. Blood pressure should be monitored every 2 to 3 weeks while on Avastin and after stopping treatment
- Nervous system and vision problems. Symptoms include high blood pressure, headache, seizure, sluggishness, confusion, and blindness
- Kidney problems. These may be caused by too much protein in the urine and can sometimes be fatal
- Infusion reactions. These may include difficulty breathing, chest pain, and excessive sweating. Your doctor or nurse will monitor you for signs of infusion reactions
- Fertility issues for women. Avastin could cause a woman’s ovaries to stop working and may impair her ability to have children
Terms & Conditions
BY USING THIS SITE YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GENENTECH, INC. IS PROVIDING THE MATERIAL FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND THAT NEITHER GENENTECH, INC. NOR THEIR AGENTS, AFFILIATES, PARTNERS, OR LICENSORS ARE PROVIDING THE MATERIALS TO YOU FOR THE PURPOSES OF GIVING YOU MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON THE MATERIALS IN DECIDING ON A TREATMENT PLAN, DRUG USAGE, OR ANY OTHER MEDICAL ADVICE REGARDING THE MATERIALS, AND GENENTECH, INC. AND THEIR LICENSORS STRONGLY URGE THAT YOU CONSULT WITH A PHYSICIAN IN CONNECTION WITH ANY AND ALL TREATMENT OPTIONS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
BY USING THIS WEBSITE, YOU ACCEPT THE INFORMATION, PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES PROVIDED HEREIN "AS IS." GENENTECH, INC. MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY REGARDING THE ACCURACY, CONTENT, COMPLETENESS, RELIABILITY, OPERABILITY, OR LEGALITY OF INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS WEBSITE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT OF PROPRIETARY RIGHTS.
IN NO EVENT SHALL GENENTECH, INC. OR ITS AGENTS, AFFILIATES, PARTNERS, OR LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS RELATED TO THE USE OF OUR WEBSITES, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, BREACH OF WARRANTY, NEGLIGENCE, OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OF THE MATERIALS CONTAINED ON THIS SITE.
What Does Avastin Treat?
Avastin is approved for:
- Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) when started with the first or second intravenous 5-FU–based chemotherapy for metastatic cancer
- Advanced nonsquamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in people who have not received chemotherapy for their advanced disease
- Metastatic kidney cancer (mRCC) when used with interferon alfa
- Glioblastoma (GBM) in adult patients whose cancer has progressed after prior treatment. The effectiveness of Avastin in GBM is based on tumor response. Currently, no data have shown whether or not Avastin improves disease-related symptoms or survival in people previously treated for GBM
Possible Serious Side Effects
Everyone reacts differently to Avastin therapy. So it’s important to know what the side effects are. Although some people may have a life-threatening side effect, most do not.
Your doctor will stop treatment if any serious side effects occur. Be sure to contact your health care team if you have symptoms related to these side effects.
The most serious side effects (not common, but sometimes fatal):
- Gastrointestinal (GI) perforation. A hole that develops in your stomach or intestine. Symptoms include pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or fever
- Wounds that don’t heal. A cut made during surgery can be slow to heal or may not fully heal. Avastin should not be used for at least 28 days before or after surgery and until surgical wounds are fully healed
- Serious bleeding. This includes vomiting or coughing up blood; bleeding in the stomach, brain, or spinal cord; and vaginal bleeding. If you recently coughed up blood or had serious bleeding, do not take Avastin
Other possible serious side effects:
- Abnormal passage in the body. This forms from one part of the body to another and can sometimes be fatal
- Stroke or heart problems. These include blood clots, mini-stroke, heart attack, and chest pain. These can sometimes be fatal
- Severe high blood pressure. Blood pressure that severely spikes or shows signs of affecting the brain. Blood pressure should be monitored every 2 to 3 weeks while on Avastin and after stopping treatment
- Nervous system and vision problems. Symptoms include high blood pressure, headache, seizure, sluggishness, confusion, and blindness
- Kidney problems. These may be caused by too much protein in the urine and can sometimes be fatal
- Infusion reactions. These may include difficulty breathing, chest pain, and excessive sweating. Your doctor or nurse will monitor you for signs of infusion reactions
- Fertility issues for women. Avastin could cause a woman’s ovaries to stop working and may impair her ability to have children
Additional Safety Information
The most common side effects of Avastin are:
|
|
Avastin is not right for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you:
- Are pregnant, may be pregnant, or are breast-feeding. Avastin may harm the fetus or a child that is nursing. If you stop Avastin, you should keep using birth control for at least 6 months after your last dose before trying to become pregnant
- Are undergoing surgery. Don’t take Avastin for at least 28 days before or after surgery and until surgical wounds are fully healed
If you have any questions about your condition or treatment, talk to your doctor.
Please see full Product Information, including Serious Side Effects, for additional important safety information.
© Genentech USA, Inc. All rights reserved