Knowing what to expect on the days you get treatment with ABRAXANE can help the process go more smoothly.

Before treatment

• The healthcare team may take blood, check your blood pressure, and monitor your heart rate
• You may be given medicine to help prevent nausea
• Tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions
• It is not known whether ABRAXANE interacts with other drugs, so be sure to tell your doctor about any medicines, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements you are taking
• Since it is not known if ABRAXANE passes into human milk, you should discuss with your doctor if you should receive ABRAXANE or breastfeed

During treatment

• The healthcare team will continue to check how you are feeling
• Let the doctor or nurse know if you have any signs of an allergic reaction, including

After treatment

• Pay attention to how you feel after you get home
• Call the doctor right away if you notice any symptoms or side effects. You should contact your doctor if you have signs or symptoms of
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Dehydration
  • Cough
  • Breathing difficulties that do not go away
  • Signs of an allergic reaction

Side effects of treatment may be different for each person. Your healthcare team is the best source for medical advice on your side effects. It is important to report all side effects to your doctor or nurse right away. Here are tips your healthcare team may suggest to help with some common side effects of ABRAXANE.

Hair Loss

Before your hair falls out:
• Consider cutting your hair short
• Wash your hair gently with mild shampoo
• Avoid using hair dyes or styling tools that may hurt your scalp or weaken your hair
• Shop for a wig if you plan to buy one that matches the color of your hair

After your hair falls out:
• Wear a hat, turban, or scarf, or use sunscreen to protect your scalp from the sun
• Avoid places that are very hot or very cold
• Use a satin pillowcase or wear a soft cap when you sleep
• Think about joining a support group if you are upset about losing your hair

Numbness, Tingling, Pain, or Weakness in the Hands or Feet (Neuropathy) (noor-AH-puh-thee)

• Wear shoes inside and outdoors
• Use no-slip bath mats, and clear away clutter to avoid falling
• Handle sharp objects with care
• Wear gloves when cooking, cleaning, or washing dishes
• Test bath water with a thermometer to make sure it’s not too hot
• Walk slowly and use a cane if you feel unsteady

Tiredness

• Take short naps during the day
• Stick to a routine
• Conserve your energy by pacing yourself and asking others to help with chores or errands
• Try relaxing activities such as massage, meditation, or yoga
• Do some light exercise if approved by your doctor, but start slowly
• Eat a balanced diet
• Drink plenty of fluids, unless you have been advised by your doctor to limit fluids

Joint and Muscle Pain

• Ask your doctor if medicines, massage, or acupuncture may help ease your pain
• Apply hot or cold packs, and take warm baths to soothe sore areas
• Try strengthening and flexibility exercises like yoga, but stop if muscle pain gets worse
• Try to maintain a healthy weight to ease strain on your joints

Low Red Blood Cell Count (Anemia) (uh-NEE-mee-uh)

• Do only the things that are most important to you
• Accept help with daily chores and errands
• Try to get 8 hours of sleep each night
• Take 1 or 2 short naps during the day
• Stand up slowly to avoid getting dizzy
• Eat a well-balanced diet including iron-rich foods such as nuts, eggs, and lean beef (unless you are allergic to any of these foods)

Nausea and Vomiting

• Eat 5 or 6 small meals through the day instead of 3 big meals
• Choose foods that are easy on your stomach, such as:
  • Clear broth or ginger ale
  • Peppermint or ginger tea
  • Dry toast or crackers
  • White rice or pasta

  • Oatmeal or rice cereal
  • Chicken without skin
  • Bananas or canned fruit
  • Ice pops, sherbet, or gelatin

  Check with your doctor before changing your diet if you have diabetes or other dietary restrictions

• Eat foods at room temperature
• Avoid foods or drinks with strong smells
• Try meditation, deep-breathing exercises, or picturing peaceful scenes to help you relax
• Ask your doctor about taking medicines, before, after, and between chemotherapy (KEE-moh-THAYR-uh-pee) treatments to help prevent nausea

Decreased Appetite

• Exercise lightly before meals, if approved by your doctor
• Drink 6-12 cups of clear liquids throughout the day, unless your doctor has told you to limit fluids
• Keep healthy snacks handy to eat between meals
• Have someone help you prepare meals in advance
• Perk up the taste and smell of food with lemon juice, mint, basil, and other seasonings

Infections

• Avoid crowds and people with colds
• Wash your hands often
• Use moisture cream to heal dry, cracked skin
• Wear gloves when washing dishes or gardening
• Brush your teeth after meals with a soft toothbrush and alcohol-free mouthwash
• Clean cuts, scrapes, or burns right away
• Cook food thoroughly
• Check with your doctor before getting a flu shot or vaccines

Diarrhea

• Replace lost nutrients your body needs by choosing foods high in sodium, potassium, pectin, and protein (unless your doctor has told you to avoid certain foods), such as:
  • Soups, broths, sport drinks, and apple juice
  • Crackers and pretzels
  • Applesauce and bananas
  • Baked potatoes without skin
  • Lean meat and cooked eggs
• Drink 8-12 cups of clear liquid every day
• Avoid foods that can make diarrhea worse, such as:
  • Coffee, tea, and alcohol
  • Fried, greasy, spicy, or high-fat foods
  • Milk or milk products
  • Nuts, whole-grain breads, and bran

Loss of Too Much Water and Needed Fluids From the Body (Dehydration) (dee-hy-DRAY-shun)

• Fill a small cooler with juice boxes, bottled water, or other drinks, and keep it nearby. Take small sips throughout the day
• Eat bland, moist foods, such as clear soups, canned fruit, gelatin, or popsicles
• Apply moisturizing cream often to soften dry skin
• Use lip balm to avoid painful cracking
• Suck ice chips to relieve dry mouth if you can’t drink enough liquid
• If your doctor has advised you to limit fluids, ask your healthcare team for tips on replacing the fluid in your body

Swelling in the Hands or Feet

• Ask your doctor about wearing special stockings to prevent fluid buildup
• Wear clothing and shoes that are not too tight
• When sitting or lying in bed, raise your feet using a footstool, recliner, or pillows
• Avoid standing on your feet for too long
• Avoid adding salt at the table and during cooking
• Eat less canned soup, bacon, chips, and other salty foods
• Check sodium content on food labels
• Ask your doctor what your daily limit for sodium should be

Taking an active role in your health care may help you feel more in control. One way you can do this is to talk openly and honestly with your healthcare team about everything you are experiencing.

It is important that you talk freely about anything and everything to get the information you want and the support you need. Your team is used to talking with, and listening to, patients with metastatic (meh-tuh-STA-tik) breast cancer.

Ask questions

• There is no such thing as a wrong or silly question when it comes to your health
• Your questions deserve to be answered in a way that you understand. If you don’t understand the answer you’re given, don’t be afraid to speak up and ask for a different explanation
• Stress may cause you to forget things. Write down anything you want to be sure to remember, or bring someone with you to help you remember
• To help you keep track of information, be sure to keep a list of questions to ask your doctor

Get answers that you understand

• If you don’t understand an answer to a question, let your healthcare team know. Be sure that answers to questions or information, such as test results, are explained in a way that isn’t confusing. If you still don’t understand what you’re told, ask to have someone else explain the information to you
• If you feel that a healthcare team member is too busy or that you are being rushed, insist on finding a private place and time to talk
• Take notes during your office visit or ask if you can record the doctor’s advice
• Ask the doctor to say something again if you didn’t get it the first time

• Repeat back what you thought you heard and ask if you got it right
• Ask for a visual aid, like a brochure or fact sheet, that you can read at home