For US Healthcare Professionals

Preparing for Treatment

Tips to prepare for your treatment

What you may expect

Your healthcare team is your key partner and best source of information throughout your lymphoma treatment journey. Here are some of the activities the team will help you navigate, leading up to the first treatment:

Tests

Your healthcare team will order a series of tests to confirm that your body is ready for treatment. The tests may be repeated during treatment to ensure that it is safe to continue.

Pretreatment medicines

To help your body prepare for your cancer treatment, you are likely to receive pretreatment medications.

Financial and other support resources

Your healthcare team can help you identify financial support options for POLIVY®. They can also identify organizations that may help support you through your journey.

If you’re considering or have started treatment with POLIVY and need more information or help understanding coverage or paying for your medicine, Genentech* has programs to help. For more financial support information, please refer to our Financial  Assistance Options.

*Contact the Genentech Patient Resource Center at 1-877-436-3683 (Monday-Friday, 6am-5pm PST) for answers to your questions and to get connected to the right Genentech patient support service.

Tips to prepare for your treatment

POLIVY plus R-CHP treatment cycles may be lengthy, especially the first one. Here are a few tips to help you plan ahead:

  • Eat a light meal before your appointment to help avoid nausea (feeling sick) during or after your treatment. You may also want to bring along a snack in case you get hungry
  • Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated for your appointment
  • Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes for easier infusion access. A blanket may help keep you comfortable if the infusion center is chilly
  • Keep yourself occupied with reading material or an audio device. Your care team may also allow you to bring a friend or family member along for support
  • Arrange transport home prior to your appointment, as you may find it difficult to travel on your own
  • Plan to rest after each treatment cycle, as you may be feeling tired

 

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POLIVY Infusion Checklist

Download the POLIVY Infusion Checklist for the full list of suggested steps to help you prepare for the infusion experience.

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Questions To Ask Your Doctor

The doctor discussion guide provides a set of questions to ask your care team to help make sense of the information related to your diagnosis and treatment.

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Financial Support

Learn about financial support and other resources to help you access POLIVY

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NEXT: How POLIVY Is Given
Important Safety Information and Indication

What does POLIVY® treat?

POLIVY is a prescription medicine used with other medicines (a rituximab product, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone) as a first treatment for adults who have moderate to high risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified (NOS) or high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL).

POLIVY is a prescription medicine used with other medicines, bendamustine and a rituximab product, to treat DLBCL, NOS, in adults who have progressed after at least 2 prior therapies.

Possible serious side effects

Everyone reacts differently to POLIVY therapy, so it’s important to know what the side effects are. Some people who have been treated with POLIVY have experienced serious to fatal side effects. Your doctor may stop or adjust your treatment if any serious side effects occur. Be sure to contact your healthcare team if there are any signs of these side effects.

  • Nerve problems in your arms and legs: This may happen as early as after your first dose and may worsen with every dose. Your doctor will monitor for signs and symptoms, such as changes in your sense of touch, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, nerve pain, burning sensation, any muscle weakness, or changes to your walking pattern
  • Infusion-related reactions: You may experience fever, chills, rash, breathing problems, low blood pressure, or hives within 24 hours of your infusion
  • Low blood cell counts: Treatment with POLIVY can cause severe low blood cell counts. Your doctor will monitor your blood counts throughout treatment with POLIVY
  • Infections: If you have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, cough, or pain during urination, contact your healthcare team. Your doctor may also give you medication before giving you POLIVY, which may prevent some infections, and will monitor your blood counts throughout treatment with POLIVY. Treatment with POLIVY can cause severe low blood cell counts
  • Rare and serious brain infections: Your doctor will monitor closely for signs and symptoms of these types of infections. Contact your doctor if you experience confusion, dizziness or loss of balance, trouble talking or walking, or vision changes
  • Tumor lysis syndrome: Caused by the fast breakdown of cancer cells. Signs include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and lack of energy
  • Potential harm to liver: Some signs include tiredness, weight loss, pain in the abdomen, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eyes. You may be at higher risk if you already had liver problems or you are taking other medication

Side effects seen most often

The most common side effects of POLIVY when used as a first treatment in DLBCL with the medicines rituximab product, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone include

  • Nerve problems in arms and legs
  • Nausea
  • Tiredness or lack of energy
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Hair loss
  • ​​​Redness and sores of the lining of the mouth, lips, throat, and digestive tract

POLIVY may lower your red or white blood cell counts and increase uric acid levels.

The most common side effects of POLIVY when used in DLBCL after at least 2 prior therapies with other medicines, bendamustine and a rituximab product, include

  • Low blood cell counts (platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells)
  • Nerve problems in arms and legs
  • Tiredness or lack of energy
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Fever
  • Decreased appetite
  • Infections

POLIVY may not be for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you are

  • Pregnant or think you are pregnant: Data have shown that POLIVY may harm your unborn baby
  • Planning to become pregnant: Women should avoid getting pregnant while taking POLIVY. Women should use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months after their last POLIVY treatment. Men taking POLIVY should use effective contraception during treatment and for 5 months after their last POLIVY treatment
  • Breastfeeding: Women should not breastfeed while taking POLIVY and for 2 months after the last dose

These may not be all the side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information about the benefits and risks of POLIVY treatment.

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

Please see the full Prescribing Information for additional Important Safety Information.

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