Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check how well your liver is working before you begin treatment with IXEMPRA and as needed during treatment. If blood tests show that you have liver problems, do not receive injections of IXEMPRA along with capecitabine. If you have liver problems, taking these medicines together could increase your chance of serious infection and death due to a very low white blood cell count (neutropenia).

You should not have your injection of IXEMPRA if you are allergic to medicines that contain Cremophor® EL* (polyoxyethylated castor oil) or if you have a low white blood cell count or a low platelet count. Continue to full Important Safety Information below

IXEMPRA a prescription medicine, used to treat breast cancer when certain medicines have not worked or no longer work can be used alone or with capecitabine.

About IXEMPRA® (ixabepilone)

When it is time for another metastatic breast cancer medicine, it is normal to have questions. You may want to know how a medicine may help. And you may wonder what side effects may be possible. It is important to ask your healthcare provider questions you may have about your cancer and treatment options. Ask your healthcare provider if IXEMPRA is an option for you.

IXEMPRA has been studied in women with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. It is important to remember that everyone's cancer is unique. Individual results may vary. Your healthcare provider can answer questions you may have about IXEMPRA in clinical trials and about your own treatment plan.

Important Safety Information

Before you receive treatment with IXEMPRA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including any of the following:

  • Liver problems
  • Heart problems or a history of heart problems
  • An allergic reaction to IXEMPRA (To lower the chance of an allergic reaction, you will receive other medicines about 1 hour before each dose of IXEMPRA)
  • Diabetes
  • Numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands or feet (neuropathy)

In this section, you will learn:

When you have metastatic breast cancer, IXEMPRA may be an option
for you.

IXEMPRA is a chemotherapy that is used to treat locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. IXEMPRA is used when the cancer has spread following certain treatments. IXEMPRA can be used alone or with another cancer medicine called Xeloda.

You should tell your healthcare provider if you:

  • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. IXEMPRA may harm your unborn baby
  • Are breast-feeding. It is not known if IXEMPRA passes into breast milk
  • Take any medicines, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, including St John’s wort. IXEMPRA and certain other medicines may affect each other and cause side effects

What Is IXEMPRA® (ixabepilone)?

IXEMPRA is a prescription medicine used to treat locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer following certain treatments. IXEMPRA can be used alone or with another cancer medicine called Xeloda® (capecitabine).

Talking With Your
Treatment Team About IXEMPRA

If you are just learning about IXEMPRA, you may want to ask your healthcare provider:

  • Is IXEMPRA right for me?

If you have been prescribed IXEMPRA, you may want to ask your healthcare provider:

  • Why is IXEMPRA right for me?
  • What may I expect from treatment with IXEMPRA?

IXEMPRA is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
*Cremophor is a registered trademark of BASF AG.
Xeloda is a registered trademark of Roche Laboratories.
© 2010 Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey 08543 U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Chemotherapy

A type of cancer treatment that uses certain medicines to destroy cancer cells. It can also harm healthy cells

Breast Cancer

A type of cancer treatment that uses certain medicines to destroy cancer cells. It can also harm healthy cells

Anthracycline

A type of medicine that damages the DNA in cancer cells, causing them to die

Anthracycline

A type of medicine that damages the DNA in cancer cells, causing them to die

Locally advanced

Cancer that has spread from the breast to nearby tissue or lymph nodes

Lymph nodes

Small masses of tissue that are an important part of the immune system. The lymph nodes act as filters that trap harmful things in the body

Metastatic

Cancer that has spread from the breast to other parts of the body

Preauthorization

When the insurance company decides if a treatment is medically necessary for the patient and will be paid for by the insurance company

Taxane

A type of medicine that stops cancer cells from dividing

Locally advanced

Cancer that has spread from the breast to nearby tissue or lymph nodes

Metastatic

Cancer that has spread from the breast to other parts of the body

Locally advanced

Cancer that has spread from the breast to nearby tissue or lymph nodes

Locally advanced

Cancer that has spread from the breast to nearby tissue or lymph nodes

Locally advanced

Cancer that has spread from the breast to nearby tissue or lymph nodes

Metastatic

Cancer that has spread from the breast to other parts of the body

Taxane

A type of medicine that stops cancer cells from dividing

Anthracycline

A type of medicine that damages the DNA in cancer cells, causing them to die

Lymph nodes

Small masses of tissue that are an important part of the immune system. The lymph nodes act as filters that trap harmful things in the body