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The panel concludes with Danielle Hicks sharing where viewers can go to learn more about the information and resources discussed in the panel, including safety information. Sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb.
Danielle Hicks: We've talked a lot today about a lot of different things, and I want to take a moment to thank both Dr. Towe and Dr. Mohindra for their time and perspectives today. I also want to direct anyone watching to where you can go for more information. To learn more about lung cancer, GO2 for Lung Cancer is a great resource. Visit us at GO2.org. That's GO2.org. And if you've heard us talk a bit today about Opdivo, for the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. For more information on Opdivo visit OPDIVO.com. And please continue listening for some Important Safety Information.
Indication
OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is a prescription medicine used in combination with chemotherapy that contains platinum and another chemotherapy medicine, before you have surgery, for adults with early-stage lung cancer (called non-small cell lung cancer).
It is not known if OPDIVO is safe and effective in children younger than 12 years of age with melanoma or MSI- H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer.
It is not known if OPDIVO is safe and effective in children for the treatment of any other cancers.
Important Safety Information for OPDIVO® (nivolumab)
What is the most important information I should know about OPDIVO?
OPDIVO is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. OPDIVO can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended. You may have more than one of these problems at the same time. Some of these problems may happen more often when OPDIVO is used in combination with another therapy.
Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worse signs or symptoms, including:
- Lung problems: new or worsening cough; shortness of breath; chest pain
- Intestinal problems: diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than usual; stools that are black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus; severe stomach-area (abdominal) pain or tenderness
- Liver problems: yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes; severe nausea or vomiting; pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen); dark urine (tea colored); bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
- Hormone gland problems: headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches; eye sensitivity to light; eye problems; rapid heart beat; increased sweating; extreme tiredness; weight gain or weight loss; feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual; urinating more often than usual; hair loss; feeling cold; constipation; your voice gets deeper; dizziness or fainting; changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness
- Kidney problems: decrease in your amount of urine; blood in your urine; swelling in your ankles; loss of appetite
- Skin problems: rash; itching; skin blistering or peeling; painful sores or ulcers in the mouth or nose, throat, or genital area
Problems can also happen in other organs and tissues. These are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen with OPDIVO. Call or see your healthcare provider right away for any new or worsening signs or symptoms, which may include:
- Chest pain; irregular heartbeat; shortness of breath; swelling of ankles
- Confusion; sleepiness; memory problems; changes in mood or behavior; stiff neck; balance problems; tingling or numbness of the arms or legs
- Double vision; blurry vision; sensitivity to light; eye pain; changes in eye sight
- Persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness; muscle cramps
- Low red blood cells; bruising
Getting medical help right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare team will check you for these problems during treatment and may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. Your healthcare team may also need to delay or completely stop your treatment if you have severe side effects.
Possible side effects of OPDIVO
OPDIVO can cause serious side effects, including:
- See “What is the most important information I should know about OPDIVO?”
- Severe infusion reactions. Tell your healthcare team right away if you get these symptoms during an infusion of OPDIVO: chills or shaking; itching or rash; flushing; shortness of breath or wheezing; dizziness; feel like passing out; fever; back or neck pain
- Complications of bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). These complications can be severe and can lead to death. These complications may happen if you underwent transplantation either before or after being treated with OPDIVO. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for these complications.
The most common side effects of OPDIVO, when used in combination with chemotherapy, include: nausea; decreased appetite; feeling tired; rash; pain in muscles, bones, and joints; vomiting; constipation; and pain, tingling, or burning in your hands and feet.
These are not all the possible side effects. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before receiving OPDIVO, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have immune system problems such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus
- have received an organ transplant
- have received or plan to receive a stem cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic)
- have received radiation treatment to your chest area in the past and have received other medicines that are like OPDIVO
- have a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. OPDIVO can harm your unborn baby.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if OPDIVO passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with OPDIVO and for 5 months after the last dose of OPDIVO.
Females who are able to become pregnant:
Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start receiving OPDIVO.
- You should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for 5 months after the last dose of OPDIVO. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that you can use during this time.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with OPDIVO.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the- counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Please see U.S. Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for OPDIVO.
