Sacituzumab govitecan is used to treat a type of cancer of the breast known as triple-negative breast cancer.
It may also be used to treat a certain cancer of the bladder and the urinary tract.
This medicine is used in individuals who have failed previous therapy and whose tumour has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery.
Sacituzumab govitecan is to be given intravenously (into the vein) as an infusion. It is delivered directly into the bloodstream via the blood vessel.
Your doctor or nurse will administer the injection for you.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the course of treatment depending on the type and severity of your condition and your response to the medication.
Ensure that you keep all appointments with your doctor so that you do not miss any doses. Your doctor also needs to regularly monitor your response to Sacituzumab govitecan.
If you miss an appointment or miss an injection, alert your doctor or nurse. A replacement appointment or injection should be given as soon as possible.
Do not use Sacituzumab govitecan if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen eyes) to this medicine or similar medicines such as irinotecan.
Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while on Sacituzumab govitecan therapy, alert your doctor immediately. This medicine may cause harm to your unborn child.
Men should not father a child while being treated with this medicine. Both men and women must use proven birth control methods during Sacituzumab govitecan therapy and for 6 months (in women) or 3 months (in men) after stopping the treatment. You may wish to discuss other reliable methods of birth control with your doctor.
Do not breastfeed while you are being treated with this medicine and for 1 month after the last dose.
Inform your doctor if you have moderate to severe liver disease.
A certain enzyme called UGT1A1 is involved in the breakdown of this medicine in the body. Individuals who have reduced UGT1A1 activity, particularly those with certain genes known as
UGT1A1*28 may experience enhanced side effects of Sacituzumab govitecan (e.g. low levels of white blood cells in the body, diarrhoea). Although not routinely done, your doctor may perform genetic testing before giving you this medicine. If you know you have this gene type, inform your doctor.
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- Pregnancy tests must be done before treatment to know if this medicine is suited for you to use.
- Routine tests (e.g. complete blood count) may be done while you are being treated with Sacituzumab govitecan. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
- Regular monitoring for diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and signs of allergic or infusion-related reactions may also be needed.
Sacituzumab govitecan may cause dizziness. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert.
Other side effects include any of the following: headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain or discomfort, constipation, altered taste, decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping, tiredness, fever, weight gain, back or joint pain, hair loss, and dry skin.
If you develop rashes, breathlessness, swollen mouth or eyes, stop taking this medicine and inform your doctor immediately. These could be signs of an allergic reaction.
This medicine may cause the level of your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to drop.
Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body. A fall in the level of red blood cells may make you feel tired and worn out.
White blood cells help your body to fight infections. A fall in the level of your white blood cells may put you at higher risk for infections, such as coughs, colds and flu, which may lead to more serious infections. Avoid crowded places and people who are sick. Inform your doctor if you have a fever, cough, or flu that does not go away.
Platelets help your blood to clot when there is a cut in the skin. A fall in the level of your platelets may put you at risk of bleeding more than usual. Do not take part in activities where you may fall or get injured, such as contact sports. Inform your doctor if you get any unusual bruising (large bruises or several bruises, especially if the bruises appeared on their own) or bleeding that takes a long time to stop (for example, too much bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth).
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin
- medicines for HIV infection e.g. ritonavir, nelfinavir
- ketoconazole (medicine to treat fungal infection)
- rifampicin (medicine to treat TB [lung infection known as tuberculosis])
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Sacituzumab govitecan.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in the refrigerator, between 2-8°C. Do not freeze Sacituzumab govitecan otherwise, it will no longer be effective and should not be used.
Protect from light.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
As this is a cancer medicine, always return any unused or expired medicine to the clinic, hospital, or pharmacy for disposal. Do not throw it away in the household waste.
Sign Out
