Deltra, a woman taking TRODELVY, sat down for an interview to share her experience through an initial diagnosis of metastatic TNBC and the importance of developing a treatment plan. Deltra’s insights can be a useful resource in developing your own plan.
Deltra’s story is only one woman’s story. It will not be the same as your story. Her story is informative and meant to be representative of the experiences and choices that you may face on your own path. Talk with your healthcare provider and your family to determine what choices may be best for you.
Having a plan is important. I’ve never felt like I was a person who needed control. I’m not a stick to the schedule kind of person, but you can’t feel any more out of control than you do with cancer. Once you have a plan, it may be easier to handle some of your anxiety.
For all my treatments, my oncologist will bring up the name, saying she thinks this is what we should do next. She gives me an actual printout of the information, so I can go and read it myself. I appreciate this because I like to have something in front of me. That way, I can avoid getting lost on the internet finding answers that might scare me.
I usually just ask everyone to send me good vibes as I go in. I bring my headphones and a guided meditation. I have one that’s specifically for cancer treatment. It helps me visualize the treatment coming in like it’s a light, helping to fight my cancer.
It can be scary starting a different treatment, but it’s also exciting. Everyone has their own story. Even if you have the exact same diagnosis as someone else, your story is your own. I went into my treatment with TRODELVY feeling like this might be the next thing that’s going to help me get from point A to point B (whatever those points may be). So, as much as there is some anxiety with starting any treatment, there’s a lot of hope and excitement to be had.
My breast surgeon and her team recommended a group to me that really helped to distract me. People in that group don’t share posts related to anxiety surrounding cancer or what’s happening with their treatment. It’s basically a breast cancer-focused group that posts memes and happy things.
Oh yes, definitely. Treatment helps me in my life, but I have to do the actual living. I really enjoy traveling, so whenever I can, I love to go on trips.
TRODELVY® (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with triple-negative breast cancer (negative for estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors and HER2) that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) or cannot be removed by surgery, and who have received two or more prior treatments, including at least one treatment for metastatic disease.
It is not known if TRODELVY is safe and effective in people with moderate or severe liver problems or in children.
Do not receive TRODELVY if you have had a severe allergic reaction to TRODELVY. Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure.
Allergic and infusion-related reactions which can be serious and life-threatening. Tell your healthcare provider or nurse right away if you get any of the following symptoms during your infusion of TRODELVY or within 24 hours after: swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; hives; skin rash, itching, or flushing of your skin; fever; difficulty breathing or wheezing; lightheadedness, dizziness, feeling faint, or pass out; or chills or shaking chills (rigors).
Nausea and vomiting are common with TRODELVY and can sometimes be severe. Before each dose of TRODELVY, you will receive medicines to help prevent nausea and vomiting along with medicines to take home with instructions about how to take them. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have nausea or vomiting that is not controlled with the medicines prescribed for you. Your healthcare provider may decide to decrease your dose or stop TRODELVY if your nausea and vomiting is severe and cannot be controlled with anti-nausea medicines.
Before receiving TRODELVY, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Certain medicines may affect the way TRODELVY works.
The most common side effects of TRODELVY include decreased white blood cell (leukocyte and lymphocyte) and red blood cell counts, feeling tired or weak, hair loss, constipation, increased sugar levels in the blood, decreased protein levels (albumin) in the blood, decreased appetite, changes in kidney function test, increased levels of enzyme called alkaline phosphatase in the blood (test for liver or bone problems), and decreased levels of magnesium, potassium, and sodium in the blood.
These are not all of the possible side effects of TRODELVY. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please click to see Important Facts about TRODELVY, including Important Warning.