Understanding CLL and Treatment With TREANDA

This Web site will help you understand your disease and how TREANDA may be a treatment option for you. It will give you some information about chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), how to take TREANDA, and what you can expect from treatment, including side effects.

To learn more about leukemia, a general name given to different kinds of blood or bone marrow cancers, click here. To learn more about CLL, a cancer of some types of white blood cells called lymphocytes, click here. And to learn more about treatment options for CLL, click here.

TREANDA is FDA-approved for the treatment of newly diagnosed CLL. TREANDA is a chemotherapy that has been shown to kill cells that cause CLL. The exact way in which TREANDA kills cells is unknown. In a clinical study, TREANDA was compared to another drug called chlorambucil. For more information about the study results for TREANDA, click here.

The most common non-blood-related side effects (occurring in ≥15% of patients) with TREANDA included fever, nausea, and vomiting. The most common blood-related side effects (occurring in ≥15% of patients) with TREANDA are reduction of red blood cells (anemia), reduction of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia), reduction of neutrophils (white blood cells) (neutropenia), reduction of lymphoid cells in the blood (lymphopenia), and low counts of leukocytes (white blood cells) (leukopenia).

> Next section: Understanding CLL

The information on this Web site is not meant to take the place of speaking with your doctor and healthcare team about your disease or treatment. If you have any questions, you should talk about them with your healthcare team.

Indications

TREANDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Efficacy relative to first-line therapies other than chlorambucil has not been established.

TREANDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that has progressed during or within 6 months of treatment with rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen.

Important Safety Information

• The most common non-blood-related side effects (occurring in ≥15% of patients) with TREANDA are pyrexia (fever), nausea, and vomiting
• The most common blood-related side effects (occurring in ≥15% of patients) with TREANDA are reduction of red blood cells, reduction of blood platelets, reduction of neutrophils (white blood cells), reduction of lymphoid cells in the blood, and low counts of leukocytes (white blood cells)
• Allergic Reactions: There is a possibility of mild or serious allergic reactions with TREANDA. Immediately report rash, facial swelling, or difficulty breathing during or soon after infusion because these symptoms may become severe or even life-threatening
• Myelosuppression: TREANDA may cause a decrease in white blood cells, platelets, and red blood cells. You will need frequent monitoring of your blood cells. Report shortness of breath, significant fatigue, bleeding, fever, or other signs of infection because these symptoms may become severe or even life-threatening
• Pregnancy and Nursing: TREANDA can cause fetal harm. Women should avoid becoming pregnant throughout treatment and for 3 months after TREANDA therapy has stopped. Men receiving TREANDA should use reliable contraception for the same time period. Report pregnancy immediately. Avoid nursing while receiving TREANDA
• Fatigue: TREANDA may cause tiredness. Avoid driving any vehicle or operating any dangerous tools or machinery if you experience this side effect
• Nausea and Vomiting: TREANDA may cause nausea and/or vomiting. You should report nausea and vomiting to your doctor so that you can get treatment for these symptoms
• Diarrhea: TREANDA may cause diarrhea. You should report diarrhea to your doctor so that it can be treated
• Rash: A mild rash or itching may occur during treatment with TREANDA. Immediately report severe or worsening rash or itching to your doctor
• Some side effects may lead to the dose of TREANDA being lowered, stopped, or delayed
• You should not take TREANDA if you have a known allergy to bendamustine or mannitol