Early-stage and metastatic HER2+ breast cancer patient closeupEarly-stage and metastatic HER2+ breast cancer patient closeupEarly-stage and metastatic HER2+ breast cancer patient closeup

“There’s a lot of hope beyond the diagnosis...I want to connect with women and I really want them to feel empowered about the decisions they’re making.”

—Erin B, treated with NERLYNX

Having a HER2+ breast cancer diagnosis can bring with it a range of emotions. Some days you may feel irritable, angry, or hopeless. And there are days where you almost forget your diagnosis and feel like yourself again. But no matter how you’re feeling, it’s important to know the facts about what’s going on with your condition.

What is HER2+ breast cancer?

You may already know this, but people with HER2+ breast cancer have a gene mutation that causes their cells to make too much of the HER2 protein. HER2 protein tells cells to grow and divide. If you have too much, your cells may grow faster than normal, and behave aggressively—this causes HER2+ breast cancer.

HER2+ breast cancer is different from other breast cancers. It grows quicker, tends to be more aggressive, and is more likely to come back or spread, even after other treatments. But there are medicines out there that are made to specifically target the HER2 protein.

her2 cell diagram
1 in 5 people with breast cancer have HER2+

What’s the difference between early-stage and metastatic HER2+ breast cancer?

Early-stage HER2+ breast cancer

Early-stage HER2+ breast cancer is cancer that has not spread beyond the breast and the nearby lymph nodes. Even though it’s treatable, it can still come back after chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and trastuzumab-based treatment.

Metastatic HER2+ breast cancer

Metastatic breast cancer, also called stage IV or advanced breast cancer, is cancer that has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body.

In nearly 1 in 4 people with breast cancer diagnosed at an early stage, the cancer will come back as advanced or metastatic breast cancer. In 6% to 10% of new breast cancer cases, the breast cancer is metastatic from the start. This is called de novo metastatic breast cancer.

Early-stage HER2+ breast cancer is cancer that has not spread beyond the breast and the nearby lymph nodes. Even though it’s treatable, it can still come back after chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and trastuzumab-based treatment.

Metastatic breast cancer, also called stage IV or advanced breast cancer, is cancer that has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body.

In nearly 1 in 4 people with breast cancer diagnosed at an early stage, the cancer will come back as advanced or metastatic breast cancer. In 6% to 10% of new breast cancer cases, the breast cancer is metastatic from the start. This is called de novo metastatic breast cancer.

See questions to ask your doctornerlynx download button that may help you better understand HER2+ breast cancer.

Right now, why should I worry about my cancer coming back?

With breast cancer, there is always some level of risk of the cancer returning. That’s why no matter if your diagnosis was a month ago or years ago, it’s important to know what’s ahead so you and your healthcare team can make plans that could help reduce the risk.

In early-stage HER2+ breast cancer the risk of recurrence can be as high as

early stage HER2+ recurrence risk as high as 25 percent
early stage HER2+ recurrence risk as high as 25 percent

Hear from Erin B, treated with NERLYNX, about why she sought a treatment option that may help reduce the risk of recurrence.

Patients providing their experiences were compensated for their time.

Where could NERLYNX fit in my treatment plan?

nerlynx in HER2+ treatment plannerlynx in HER2+ treatment plan

In early-stage breast cancer, NERLYNX is an extended adjuvant anti-HER2 targeted medication following trastuzumab-based therapy.

No time to scroll?

Download this helpful patient brochurenerlynx download button and catch up later.

Our support services are designed with you in mind

Currently taking or thinking about taking NERLYNX? Sign up here to receive information and updates.

Would you like to speak with a mentor?
Have one-on-one conversations with women who have experience with NERLYNX.

All fields are required. All information collected will be used for sending updates only and will not be shared with third parties other than those contracted with Puma to administer and support the program. By providing your email you are agreeing to receive communications. For more details, see our Privacy Policy.

    What is NERLYNX tablets?

  • NERLYNX is a prescription medicine used alone to treat adults with early-stage human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer and who have previously been treated

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about NERLYNX (ner links)?

    NERLYNX may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common side effect of NERLYNX, but it can also be severe. Diarrhea may lead to loss of too much body salts and fluid, which can cause dehydration. Your healthcare provider will prescribe NERLYNX in one of two ways to help manage diarrhea:

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information
I should know about NERLYNX (ner links)?

    NERLYNX may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common side effect of NERLYNX, but it can also be severe. Diarrhea may lead to loss of too much body salts and fluid, which can cause dehydration. Your healthcare provider will prescribe NERLYNX in one of two ways to help manage diarrhea:

    What is NERLYNX tablets?

  • NERLYNX is a prescription medicine used alone to treat adults with early-stage human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer and who have previously been treated with trastuzumab-based therapy.
  • NERLYNX is also used with a medicine called capecitabine to treat adults with HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) and who have received 2 or more anti-HER2 therapy medicines for metastatic breast cancer.

It is not known if NERLYNX is safe and effective in children.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about NERLYNX (ner links)?

NERLYNX may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common side effect of NERLYNX, but it can also be severe. Diarrhea may lead to loss of too much body salts and fluid, which can cause dehydration. Your healthcare provider will prescribe NERLYNX in one of two ways to help manage diarrhea:

      Full dose of NERLYNX:

    • Your healthcare provider will prescribe the antidiarrheal medicine loperamide for you during your first 2 months (56 days) of treatment with NERLYNX and then as needed. Your healthcare provider will tell you exactly how much and how often to take this medicine.
    • If you are prescribed the full dose of NERLYNX from the start of your treatment, be sure that your healthcare provider also prescribes antidiarrheals with NERLYNX. You should start taking loperamide with your first dose of NERLYNX.
    • After 2 months (56 days) of treatment with NERLYNX, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions about taking loperamide as needed to control diarrhea.

        • A lower starting dose of NERLYNX:

      • Your healthcare provider will start you on a lower dose of NERLYNX for the first 2 weeks of treatment and then increase you to a full dose NERLYNX regimen. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop diarrhea; you may be prescribed loperamide as needed.

      To help prevent or reduce diarrhea during treatment with NERLYNX:

    • Your healthcare provider may also need to give you additional antidiarrheals, fluids, and electrolytes to manage diarrhea when you start treatment with NERLYNX. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on how to take antidiarrheal medicines.
    • Always take antidiarrheals exactly as your healthcare provider tells you.
    • While taking antidiarrheals, you and your healthcare provider should try to keep the number of bowel movements that you have at 1 or 2 bowel movements each day.
    • Tell your healthcare provider if you have more than 2 bowel movements in 1 day, or you have diarrhea that does not go away.
    • Call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe diarrhea or if you have diarrhea along with weakness, dizziness, or fever.

Your healthcare provider may change your dose of NERLYNX, temporarily stop, or completely stop NERLYNX if needed to manage your diarrhea.

See “What are the possible side effects of NERLYNX?” for more information about side effects.

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

  • have liver problems. You may need a lower dose of NERLYNX.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. NERLYNX can harm your unborn baby. If you are a female who can become pregnant:
    • Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start taking NERLYNX.
    • You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for at least 1 month after your last dose of NERLYNX.
    • Talk with your healthcare provider about forms of birth control that you can use during this time.
    • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant during treatment with NERLYNX.
    • Males with female partners who can become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of NERLYNX.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if NERLYNX passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 1 month after your last dose of NERLYNX.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take medicines used to decrease stomach acid, called proton pump inhibitors or PPIs. You should avoid taking these medicines during treatment with NERLYNX.

What should I avoid while taking NERLYNX?

You should avoid eating products that contain grapefruit during treatment with NERLYNX.

What are the possible side effects of NERLYNX?

NERLYNX may cause serious side effects, including:

See “What is the most important information I should know about NERLYNX?”

  • Liver problems. Changes in liver function tests are common with NERLYNX. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests before you begin treatment, monthly during the first 3 months, and then every 3 months as needed during treatment with NERLYNX. Your healthcare provider will stop your treatment with NERLYNX if your liver tests show severe problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems:
    • tiredness
    • nausea
    • vomiting
    • pain in the right upper stomach-area (abdomen)
    • fever
    • rash
    • itching
    • yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes
    The most common side effects of NERLYNX when used alone include:
  • diarrhea
  • nausea
  • stomach-area (abdomen) pain
  • tiredness
  • vomiting
  • rash
  • dry or inflamed mouth, or mouth sores
  • decreased appetite
  • muscle spasms
  • upset stomach
  • nail problems including color change
  • dry skin
  • swelling of your stomach-area
  • nosebleed
  • weight loss
  • urinary tract infection
    The most common side effects of NERLYNX when used with capecitabine include:
  • diarrhea
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • decreased appetite
  • constipation
  • tiredness/weakness
  • weight loss
  • dizziness
  • back pain
  • joint pain
  • urinary tract infection
  • upper respiratory tract infection
  • swelling of your stomach-area
  • kidney problems
  • muscle spasms

These are not all of the possible side effects of NERLYNX. For more information, ask your Healthcare Provider.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or that does not go away. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1‑800‑FDA‑1088.

Please see Patient Information.