Bevacizumab

What is Bevacizumab for?

Bevacizumab is used to treat some types of cancer (e.g. colorectal cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer and ovarian cancer).

It is a monoclonal antibody which blocks VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), thus preventing the growth of blood vessels which supply oxygen and nutrients to the cancer cells.

How should I take or use Bevacizumab?

• Bevacizumab is given as an injection into your vein (intravenous).

What precautions should I take when taking or using Bevacizumab?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
• You become pregnant or plan for pregnancy
  • You should use effective birth control during treatment and for 6 months after your last treatment.
• You are breastfeeding
  • Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 6 months after your last treatment.
• You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.
• You are going for any surgical procedures (e.g. biopsy, tooth extraction) at least 4 weeks beforehand, as treatment may need to be temporarily stopped.

What are some common side effects of Bevacizumab?

Early Side Effects (within days after receiving Bevacizumab)

• Diarrhea
  • Drink plenty of clear fluids to replace those lost (2 litres everyday).
  • Avoid oily or spicy food and milk or dairy products.

Delayed Side Effects (within days to weeks after receiving Bevacizumab)

• Increased blood pressure that may cause headache, dizziness or changes in vision
  • Monitor your blood pressure regularly and record it down. Inform your doctor if you notice an increasing trend.
• Protein loss in urine
  • Your doctor will arrange for a test to check this for you.
• Increased chances of low blood counts if you are also receiving chemotherapy

What are some rare but serious side effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

• Allergic reactions. Please alert your nurse if you experience this during your treatment. The symptoms of this include one or more of the following:
  • Chills, rigors
  • Facial flushing
  • Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Itchy skin rashes over your whole body
• Unusual bleeding or bruising, black sticky stools, coughing up blood, or persistent nosebleeds or gum bleeding
• Signs of blood clot such as painful leg swelling, tenderness or hardness over a vein, sudden onset of cough, shortness of breath, chest pain or stroke symptoms (e.g. sudden onset of severe headache, trouble talking or moving properly, weakness or numbness in arm or leg)
• Wounds that do not heal or are slow to heal
• Very bad stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, fever