Get Answers to Frequently
Asked Questions

“Metastatic” refers to a stage of lung cancer. Metastatic lung cancer is cancer that began in the lungs and has spread to other parts of the body. Metastatic lung cancer is the most advanced lung cancer stage and can also be referred to as stage 4 cancer.

 

“Locally advanced” refers to a stage of lung cancer. Locally advanced lung cancer is cancer that began in the lungs and has spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes.

 

Your healthcare providers may vary, but the care team may include:

  • A medical oncologist—a doctor who treats cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, etc. They should have you tested for biomarkers to determine the appropriate treatment options for your type of cancer
  • A pulmonologist—a doctor who treats conditions related to your lungs (breathing and the chest)
  • A nurse navigator—can answer your questions and help you communicate with your other healthcare team members
  • A pathologist—a doctor who studies the samples provided by your thoracic surgeon or medical oncologist to find out the type and stage of cancer
  • An oncology nurse—a nurse who specializes in treating and caring for people who have cancer
  • An infusion nurse—if you receive chemotherapy infusions as part of your treatment plan, an infusion nurse will manage your infusions and any lab work that may be needed

 

Testing for biomarkers is an important part of your lung cancer diagnosis. Biomarker testing can reveal mutations (sometimes called biomarkers) present in your type of lung cancer that may cause your cancer to grow and spread. In patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC, biomarker testing is done by either a biopsy (where tissue is removed from the tumor so it can be tested) or for patients diagnosed with metastatic NSCLC, a blood test (also known as a liquid biopsy). Your doctor will decide which test is right for you. Finding out which mutation you may have, such as an EGFR mutation, can help your doctor determine the treatment options that may work for your type of lung cancer. Biomarker testing is sometimes referred to as genomic testing, molecular testing, or mutation testing.

 

EGFR, or epidermal growth factor receptor, is a type of protein found on the surface of cells in the body. Sometimes this protein changes or mutates and becomes too active. If it does mutate, that means certain cells are being told to grow and spread faster than they should. This may lead to cancer. If your doctor finds an EGFR mutation using biomarker testing, this means an EGFR mutation is driving your cancer growth.

 

Non-small cell lung cancer with an EGFR mutation is known as EGFR+ NSCLC. This means that the cancer has a mutation in the EGFR gene that causes the cancer to grow and spread. In the United States, approximately 1 in 4 people with stage 4 NSCLC has cancer that tests positive for an EGFR mutation.

 

Targeted therapies are treatments designed to target specific types of cancer cells. They are not the same as immunotherapy or standard chemotherapy. Targeted therapies can help slow the growth and spread of the specific type of cancer cells and cause them to die, but can also affect normal cells.

 

TAGRISSO is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has certain abnormal epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene(s):

  • to help prevent your lung cancer from coming back after your tumor(s) has been removed by surgery, or
  • as your first treatment when your lung cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), or
  • when your lung cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) and you have had previous treatment with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) medicine that did not work or is no longer working, or
  • in combination with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy, as your first treatment when your lung cancer has spread to nearby tissues (locally advanced) or to other parts of the body (metastatic).

Your healthcare provider will perform a biomarker test to make sure that TAGRISSO is right for you.
It is not known if TAGRISSO is safe and effective in children.

Learn more about TAGRISSO for stage 4 EGFR+ lung cancer.

 

TAGRISSO is a pill you take once a day. Take it with or without food, at the same time every day, and you may be able to take it at home. Take TAGRISSO exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.   Learn more.

 

TAGRISSO may cause serious side effects, including lung, heart, eye, and skin problems, inflammation of the blood vessels in your skin, and blood and bone marrow problems. Some may lead to death. The most common side effects of TAGRISSO are low white blood cell counts, low platelet counts, diarrhea, low red blood cell counts (anemia), rash, muscle, bone, or joint pain, changes in your nails, dry skin, mouth sores, tiredness, and cough.

Learn more about the Important Safety Information associated with TAGRISSO.

 

TAGRISSO targets EGFR and chemotherapy works alongside TAGRISSO to treat your specific type of cancer.

If you have locally advanced or metastatic EGFR+ NSCLC, your doctor may decide that TAGRISSO + chemotherapy is the right treatment plan for you.

Learn more about TAGRISSO + chemotherapy.

 

TAGRISSO may cause serious side effects, including lung, heart, eye and skin problems, inflammation of the blood vessels in your skin, and blood and bone marrow problems. Some may lead to death. The most common side effects of TAGRISSO + chemotherapy are low white blood cell counts, low platelet counts, rash, diarrhea, mouth sores, changes in your nails, dry skin, and an increase of a substance in the blood called creatinine.

Learn more about the Important Safety Information associated with TAGRISSO + chemotherapy.

 

AstraZeneca may be able to help you access the medicine you need. To find out more, visit MyAccess360.com or call 1-844-ASK-A360 (1-844-275-2360).

 

Glossary of Cancer Terms

  
 

Adenocarcinoma

A cancer that starts in cells found in
tissues that line certain organs, such as the lungs or breast.
 

Biomarker

A biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues. A biomarker is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease. Your doctor may recommend you be tested for biomarkers or mutations such as EGFR mutation. Testing for biomarkers is an
important part of a complete diagnosis.
 

Cancer

A disease in which abnormal cells divide out of control, at a very fast rate. These abnormal cells can spread to other nearby organs and tissues.
 

Cancer cells

Abnormal cells that divide at a very fast rate and spread throughout the body, interfering with normal cells and normal cell activity.
 

Chemotherapy

Drug therapy that can kill cancer cells or stop them from dividing. Chemotherapy can also affect healthy cells.
 

Disease-free survival (DFS)

The amount of time after the primary treatment of disease, such as cancer, that the patient lives without any signs or symptoms of that cancer. In a clinical trial, measuring disease-free survival is one way to see how well a treatment works.
 

Dose

The amount of medicine you receive each time you take a treatment.
 

Early stage

Cancer that is early in its growth and started in one area such as the lungs but has not spread to other parts of the body such as the liver or brain (not metastatic). In lung cancer, early stage can be defined as stage 1-3.
 

EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor)

A protein found on the surface of some cells. Sometimes mutations (changes) in EGFR may cause cancer cells to grow excessively and spread as tumors. EGFR is one of the NSCLC biomarkers.
 

Gene

A gene carries information about traits
passed from parent to child. Most contain instructions for making a specific protein.
 

Immunotherapy

A type of biological therapy that uses
substances to stimulate the immune system to help the body fight cancer. Immunotherapy can also affect healthy cells.
 

Late-stage

Late-stage refers to NSCLC that has spread to nearby tissues around the lungs (also called locally advanced) or to other parts of the body (also called metastatic). Locally advanced NSCLC may include patients who are not eligible for curative surgery or radiotherapy.
 

Lobectomy

A surgery to remove one of the lobes of the lungs.
 

Median

The middle number in a group of numbers
arranged from the lowest to the highest.
 

Micrometastasis

Individual cancer cells that have spread from the primary tumor to other sites in the body and are too few to be picked up in a screening or diagnostic test.
 

Mutation (gene mutation)

Any change in the DNA sequence of a cell. Mutations may be caused by mistakes during cell division or by exposure to

DNA-damaging agents in the environment. They can be harmful, beneficial, or have no effect. Certain mutations may lead to cancer or other diseases. 

 

NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer)

One of the two main types of lung cancer. NSCLC is more common.
 

Overall survival (OS)

The length of time from either the date of diagnosis or the start of treatment for a disease, such as cancer, that patients diagnosed with the disease are still alive. In a clinical trial, measuring the overall survival is one way to see how well a treatment works.
 

Pneumonectomy

A type of surgery to remove one of your lungs because of cancer, trauma, or some other condition.
 

Progression

When a therapy stops working and cancer cells grow or spread.
 

Progression-free survival (PFS)

The length of time during and after the treatment of a disease, such as cancer, that a patient lives with the disease without it growing or spreading. In a clinical trial, measuring the progression-free survival is one way to see how well a treatment works.
 

Protein

A molecule that plays a role in many of the
processes that happen in cells, such as skin and hair growth.
 

Resistance

When cancer cells are no longer harmed by the drugs used to kill or disrupt them. Tumors can be resistant from the start of treatment or become resistant during the course of treatment.
 

Side effect

An unwanted reaction in the body after taking a treatment or therapy.
 

Stage

The measurement of cancer in the body. A doctor may determine the stage by the size of the tumor, whether cancer has entered the lymph nodes, and if the cancer has spread from where it started to other parts of the body.
 

Targeted therapy 

Targeted therapies work on certain types of cancer to block the growth and spread of cancer cells. Biomarker testing can
determine if you are eligible for a targeted therapy designed for your specific cancer type. Targeted therapies can also affect healthy cells.
 

Tissue

A group or layer of cells that work together to perform a specific function.
 

TKI (tyrosine kinase inhibitor)

A molecule that prevents enzymes called
tyrosine kinases from working. These enzymes are involved in the growth and division of cells, including cancer cells. TKIs are a type of targeted therapy.
 

Tumor

An abnormal growth of cells that may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

TAGRISSO may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Lung problems. TAGRISSO may cause severe lung problems that may lead to death. Symptoms may be similar to those symptoms from lung cancer. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new or worsening lung symptoms, including trouble breathing, shortness of breath, cough, or fever
  • Heart problems, including heart failure. TAGRISSO may cause heart problems that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider should check your heart function before you start taking TAGRISSO and during treatment as needed. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of a heart problem: feeling like your heart is pounding or racing, shortness of breath, swelling of your ankles and feet, dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or feeling faint
  • Eye problems. TAGRISSO may cause eye problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms of eye problems which may include watery eyes, sensitivity to light, eye pain, eye redness, or vision changes. Your healthcare provider may send you to see an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) if you get eye problems with TAGRISSO
  • Skin problems. TAGRISSO may cause skin problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop skin reactions that look like rings (target lesions), severe blistering or peeling of the skin
  • Inflammation of the blood vessels in your skin. TAGRISSO may cause blood vessel problems in your skin. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop purple spots or redness of the skin that does not fade in color when pressed (non-blanching) on your lower arms, lower legs, or buttocks or large hives on the main part of your body (trunk) that do not go away within 24 hours and look bruised
  • Blood and bone marrow problems. TAGRISSO may cause a condition where your bone marrow cannot make enough new blood cells (aplastic anemia), and which may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will monitor your blood cell counts before you start and during treatment with TAGRISSO. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs and symptoms of blood and bone marrow problems, including a new fever or fever that does not go away (100.4 °F), easy bruising or bleeding that will not stop, unusually pale skin, infection, tiredness, or weakness

Before taking TAGRISSO, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have lung or breathing problems other than your lung cancer
  • have heart problems, including a condition called long QTc syndrome
  • have problems with your electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, calcium or magnesium
  • have a history of eye problems
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. TAGRISSO can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant during treatment with TAGRISSO or think you may be pregnant
  • Females who are able to become pregnant should have a pregnancy test before starting treatment with TAGRISSO. You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with TAGRISSO and for 6 weeks after the last dose of TAGRISSO
  • Males who have female partners that are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with TAGRISSO and for 4 months after the last dose of TAGRISSO
  • females who are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if TAGRISSO passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with TAGRISSO and for 2 weeks after your last dose of TAGRISSO. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during this time

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take a heart or blood pressure medicine

The most common side effects of TAGRISSO when given alone include:

  • low white blood cell counts
  • low platelet counts
  • low red blood cell counts (anemia)
  • diarrhea
  • rash
  • muscle, bone, or joint pain
  • changes in your nails, including: redness, tenderness, pain, inflammation, brittleness, separation from the nailbed, and shedding of nail
  • dry skin
  • mouth sores
  • tiredness
  • low white blood cell counts
  • low platelet counts
  • low red blood cell counts (anemia)
  • diarrhea
  • rash
  • muscle, bone, or joint pain
  • changes in your nails, including: redness, tenderness, pain, inflammation, brittleness, separation from the nailbed, and shedding of nail
  • dry skin
  • mouth sores
  • tiredness

The most common side effects of TAGRISSO when given alone after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation treatment include:

  • low white blood cell counts
  • lung problems
  • low platelet counts
  • rash
  • diarrhea
  • changes in your nails, including: redness, tenderness, pain, inflammation, brittleness, separation from the nailbed, and shedding of nail
  • cough
  • COVID-19
  • low white blood cell counts
  • lung problems
  • low platelet counts
  • rash
  • diarrhea
  • changes in your nails, including: redness, tenderness, pain, inflammation, brittleness, separation from the nailbed, and shedding of nail
  • cough
  • COVID-19

The most common side effects of TAGRISSO in combination with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy include:

  • low white blood cell counts
  • low platelet counts
  • rash
  • diarrhea
  • mouth sores
  • changes in your nails, including: redness, tenderness, pain, inflammation, brittleness, separation from the nailbed, and shedding of nail
  • dry skin
  • increase of a substance in the blood called creatinine
  • low white blood cell counts
  • low platelet counts
  • rash
  • diarrhea
  • mouth sores
  • changes in your nails, including: redness, tenderness, pain, inflammation, brittleness, separation from the nailbed, and shedding of nail
  • dry skin
  • increase of a substance in the blood called creatinine

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of TAGRISSO. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

What is TAGRISSO?

TAGRISSO is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has certain abnormal epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene(s):

  • to help prevent your lung cancer from coming back after your tumor(s) has been removed by surgery, or
  • when your lung cancer has spread to nearby tissues (locally advanced), that is unable to be removed (unresectable) by surgery and has responded or stabilized following chemotherapy and radiation treatment, or
  • as your first treatment when your lung cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), or
  • in combination with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy, as your first treatment when your lung cancer has spread to nearby tissues (locally advanced) or to other parts of the body (metastatic), or
  • when your lung cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) and you have had previous treatment with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) medicine that did not work or is no longer working.

Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that TAGRISSO is right for you.
It is not known if TAGRISSO is safe and effective in children.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

EGFR is epidermal growth factor receptor; EGFR+ is epidermal growth factor receptor mutation-positive; NSCLC is non-small cell lung cancer.

EGFR+ is epidermal growth factor receptor mutation-positive; NSCLC is non-small cell lung cancer.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

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