This is where you'll find the most basic information about Hycamtin, such as how it works, how long treatment takes, and what side effects you may experience. Here are some questions that patients often ask about Hycamtin:
How does Hycamtin work?
How does Hycamtin fit in the overall treatment of my disease?
How will Hycamtin be administered? Does treatment hurt?
How often will I receive Hycamtin? How long will treatment last?
How will I know if Hycamtin is working?
What should I know about the side effects of Hycamtin?
Will treatment with Hycamtin interfere with my everyday activities? Will I be able to work during treatment?
Can I drink alcoholic beverages or smoke during chemotherapy?
Will the treatment affect me sexually or emotionally?
Will Hycamtin affect any medical condition I already have, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes?
Will there be interactions with other medications I am taking?
How does Hycamtin work?
Hycamtin has a different mode of action compared to other chemotherapy drugs approved for ovarian cancer. It belongs to a class of drugs known as topoisomerase I (topo-I) inhibitors. Topo-I is produced in the body and is involved in cell division of both normal and cancer cells. In order for cancer cells to divide, which leads to tumor growth, these cells must copy the genetic material contained in their DNA. Treatment with Hycamtin damages DNA, which results in the death of dividing cancer cells and causes therapy-related side effects. [1]
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How does Hycamtin fit in the overall treatment of my disease?
When patients are first diagnosed with ovarian cancer, there are a number of treatments that may be pursued. While these "first-line" therapies will be a subject for you to discuss with your doctor, Hycamtin may not be considered for these early stages of treatment.
In those situations where cancer recurs after first-line therapy, Hycamtin has demonstrated proven efficacy with mild to moderate nonhematologic toxicities. [1] Many clinicians consider relapsed ovarian cancer to be a chronic disease requiring treatment for the duration of a patient's lifetime. Hycamtin may be a valuable part of "second-line" treatment during which a number of agents may be used in a carefully monitored sequence.
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How will Hycamtin be administered? Does treatment hurt?
Hycamtin is administered by intravenous (or IV) infusion for 30 minutes, using a thin needle that is inserted into a vein, usually in the hand or lower arm. In most cases, Hycamtin is given at the oncologist's office. Getting an IV generally feels like having blood drawn for a blood test. Sometimes patients report feeling an unusual sensation in the injection area. Be sure to report these sensations to your doctor or nurse, as well as any pain, burning, or discomfort that occurs during or after the IV treatment.
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How often will I receive Hycamtin? How long will treatment last?
Although many different administration regimens are being studied in clinical scientific studies, the FDA-approved regimen for Hycamtin includes 5 days of treatment every 21 days. On days 1 through 5, patients receive a 30-minute IV infusion of Hycamtin each day, followed by 16 days of no treatment. In ovarian cancer, patients may receive 4 to 6 courses of Hycamtin over a period of 3 to 5 months. Since only your physician can judge how long treatment will last, so be sure to ask questions about the duration of your treatment with Hycamtin.
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How will I know if Hycamtin is working?
Your doctors will use several tests to check how well your treatment is working, including blood tests, scans, and X-rays, as well as physical exams. Do not hesitate to ask about your test results and what they mean.
Please note that the presence or lack of side effects is not an indicator of whether treatment is working. Sometimes patients think if they have a lot of side effects, the treatment is working—and if they don't experience side effects, they think the treatment is not working.
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What should I know about the side effects of Hycamtin?
The greatest concern associated with Hycamtin is a reduction in blood cell counts. Therefore, your doctor will have to carefully monitor your blood during therapy with Hycamtin. The 3 most important conditions your doctor will be looking for are the following:
- Low white blood cell count—which can impair your ability to fight infection
- Low red blood cell count—which can lead to fatigue
- Low platelet count—which can cause abnormal bruising and bleeding
To learn more about managing side effects, click here.
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Will treatment with Hycamtin interfere with my everyday activities? Will I be able to work during treatment?
During treatment with Hycamtin most patients can continue their daily activities and do the things they love and need to do—including work. Try to schedule your treatment late in the day so it interferes with work or other activities as little as possible. Remember, reductions in red blood cell counts may make you feel tired, so be sure to get plenty of rest. [5]
Also, the risk of infection is greatest 7 to 10 days after chemotherapy. The best way to prevent infection is to minimize the number of days with low white blood cell counts, so discuss treating your low white blood cell count with your health care team. You should also limit your exposure to germs by avoiding close contact with family members, coworkers, and friends who have a cold or the flu. The most important way to prevent infection is thorough hand washing, especially before meals and after using the bathroom. [5]
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Can I drink alcoholic beverages or smoke during chemotherapy?
Questions about drinking alcoholic beverages or smoking during chemotherapy should be directed to your doctor. As a general rule, it may be best to limit consumption of alcoholic beverages and avoid smoking during chemotherapy. [5]
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Will the treatment affect me sexually or emotionally?
Hycamtin is not generally associated with sexual or emotional side effects such as impotence, loss of sexual desire, or depression. [1] However, the physical and emotional stresses of having cancer and receiving chemotherapy may result in a decline in sexual interest or increased feelings of anxiety, anger, fear, or depression. [5] To help you cope with and manage these feelings, there are many sources of support including your doctors and oncology nurses, counseling professionals, family members and friends, and cancer support groups.
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Will Hycamtin affect any medical condition I already have, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes?
Questions about the effects of Hycamtin on other medical conditions should be discussed with your doctor. Although Hycamtin does not generally affect other diseases, your doctor will need to be aware of any other medical conditions you have and the medications you are taking for them. Remember, not all patients can use Hycamtin. Hycamtin should not be used by patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding or by those with severe bone marrow depression. Furthermore, Hycamtin should not be used by patients who have severe sensitivity to the drug or any of its ingredients. [1]
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Will there be interactions with other medications I am taking?
Your doctor will need to take precautions to ensure that adverse drug interactions do not occur. Be sure to tell your doctor about any other prescription drugs and over-the-counter (OTC) medications you are taking. Sometimes these other medications can interfere with chemotherapy and possibly lessen the effectiveness of treatment, or make adverse effects worse. Many OTC pain relievers containing aspirin and ibuprofen can affect platelet function, which controls your blood's ability to clot. As described earlier, Hycamtin may cause a reduction in platelet counts, and using OTC pain relievers may worsen platelet function, increasing the risk of bruising and bleeding. [1,5] Do not take any other medication without first checking with your doctor.
Remember, no one source can answer all your questions or replace the information provided by your doctors and nurses. This Web site is not intended to replace ongoing communication between you and your health care team.
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Important Safety Information
Use of Hycamtin
Hycamtin is used for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer.
Reasons Not to Use Hycamtin
Do not use if you have had an allergic reaction to Hycamtin, if you are pregnant, if you are breast-feeding, or if you have low blood counts.
Side Effects
Hycamtin can interfere with your body’s ability to make white and red blood cells. Your doctor may prescribe a supportive therapy to help your body make more blood cells.
Side effects often associated with Hycamtin included nausea (64%), vomiting (45%), diarrhea (32%), hair loss (49%), fatigue (29%), and shortness of breath (22%). Most of these side effects were mild to moderate.
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