For US Healthcare Professionals

Helpful Words to Know About Cancer

After a cancer diagnosis, you will hear many new words from your healthcare team. It’s like learning a whole new language. This glossary will help you learn some key terms so you can better understand cancer and its treatments.

    A
    Abnormal cell

    A type of cell that behaves differently than normal. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) starts when abnormal cells form in your liver.

    Antibody

    A protein made by the immune system that attaches to specific cells. It can affect the immune system’s ability to target and kill abnormal cells.

    C
    Cancer

    A disease where abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and can take over nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.

    Carcinoma

    A type of cancer that starts in the skin or in tissues that cover internal organs.

    Cell

    The basic part of all living things. Cells make the substances responsible for everything that happens inside the body.

    Cirrhosis

    A condition where the liver gets permanently damaged. It stops your liver from working normally and may cause liver cancer.

    F
    First-line therapy

    A type of treatment that doctors prescribe first before using other treatments.

    H
    Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

    A type of liver cancer that starts in the liver. It’s often caused by damage to the liver over time from a condition called cirrhosis.

    I
    Immune system

    A collection of special cells and substances that help protect you from infections and other diseases.

    Immunotherapy

    A type of treatment that is designed to help the immune system find and fight the cancer.

    Infusion

    An infusion is a method of putting fluids, including drugs, into the bloodstream. Also called intravenous infusion.

    Infusion reaction

    Any sign or symptom you might get during or soon after the infusion of fluids into your blood. These fluids include medicines.

    M
    Metastatic

    When cancer starts in one organ and spreads to another part of the body.

    P
    Protein

    A molecule that helps make up the cells inside the body. Proteins are important for all biological functions.

    S
    Systemic therapy

    Most medicines for HCC are systemic therapies. This means the medicine goes in your blood and travels all over your body, affecting cells all over.

    T
    Targeted drug therapy

    A type of treatment that may work to cut off blood and nutrients from reaching the tumor. Or it may use other targets to help keep the cancer from growing and spreading.

This list covers many of the terms you may hear during cancer treatment. Remember that there is always more to learn. You can find more terms in the National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms.

Please be aware that links to third-party sites are provided for convenience only. Genentech is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained on a third-party site and does not recommend or endorse the content provided on the site.

The information provided by these organizations is meant for informational purposes only and is not meant to replace a doctor’s medical advice. Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of use for such sites.
 

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Important Safety Information and Indication

Indication

What is TECENTRIQ?

TECENTRIQ is a prescription medicine used to treat:

Adults with a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TECENTRIQ may be used with the medicine bevacizumab when your liver cancer:

  • has spread or cannot be removed by surgery, and
  • you have not received other medicines by mouth or injection through your vein (IV) to treat your cancer.

It is not known if TECENTRIQ is safe and effective when used:

  • in children for the treatment of HCC.

 

What is the most important information about TECENTRIQ?
TECENTRIQ 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. You can have more than one of these problems at the same time. These problems may happen anytime during your treatment or even after your treatment has ended.

Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worse signs or symptoms, including:

Lung problems

  • 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 (abdomen) 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 heartbeat 
  • 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 of your ankles 
  • loss of appetite

Skin problems

  • rash 
  • itching 
  • skin blistering or peeling
  • painful sores or ulcers in mouth or nose, throat, or genital area 
  • fever or flu-like symptoms 
  • swollen lymph nodes

Problems can also happen in other organs.
These are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen with TECENTRIQ. Call or see your healthcare provider right away for any new or worse signs or symptoms, including:

  • Chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, or 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 eyesight
  • Persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps
  • Low red blood cells, bruising

Infusion reactions that can sometimes be severe or life-threatening. Signs and symptoms of infusion reactions may include:

  • chills or shaking 
  • itching or rash 
  • flushing 
  • shortness of breath or wheezing
  • dizziness 
  • feeling like passing out 
  • fever 
  • back or neck pain

Complications, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in people who have received a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). These complications can be serious and can lead to death. These complications may happen if you underwent transplantation either before or after being treated with TECENTRIQ. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for these complications.

Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare provider will check you for these problems during your treatment with TECENTRIQ. Your healthcare provider may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. Your healthcare provider may also need to delay or completely stop treatment with TECENTRIQ if you have severe side effects.

Before you receive TECENTRIQ, 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
  • have a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. TECENTRIQ can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with TECENTRIQ. Females who are able to become pregnant:
    • Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with TECENTRIQ.
    • You should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for at least 5 months after the last dose of TECENTRIQ.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if TECENTRIQ passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 5 months after the last dose of TECENTRIQ.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

The most common side effects of TECENTRIQ when used in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with bevacizumab include:

  • high blood pressure
  • feeling tired or weak
  • too much protein in the urine

TECENTRIQ may cause fertility problems in females, which may affect the ability to have children. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility.

These are not all the possible side effects of TECENTRIQ. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information about the benefits and side effects of TECENTRIQ.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
You may also report side effects to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.

Please see full TECENTRIQ Prescribing Information and full Avastin Prescribing Information for additional Important Safety Information.

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