Cabozantinib

What is Cabozantinib

Cabozantinib is a medication used in the treatment of various types of cancer also known as Cometriq and Cabometyx. It is classified as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor it is also known as an antineoplastic drug used to treat cancer. Cabozantinib works by blocking the action of certain proteins that promote cancer cell growth and spread.

Uses of Cabozantinib

Cabozantinib (KA boe ZAN ti nib) is a prescribed medication that targets proteins in the cancer cell and stops the cancer cell from growing. Cabozantinib comes in two forms a tablet (Cabometyx) is used to treat renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer), hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), and differentiated thyroid carcinoma, and a capsule (Cometriq) is used to treat medullary thyroid cancer. That has spread to other parts of the body.

How does the Cabozantinib Work?

Cabozantinib  is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that works in 2 ways, stops cancers from growing their own blood vessels which supply food and oxygen to grow cancer cells, and blocks the messages that tells the cancer cells to grow.

How to take Cabozantinib

Cabozantinib belongs to the group of anticancer drugs. Take this medication once a day or as advised by your physician. Swallow the medicine with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. It should not be taken with food. You should not eat anything for at least 2 hours before and for 1 hour after taking the medicine.

The side effect of Cabozantinib

When taking Cabozantinib, certain side effects are relatively common and occur in more than 10% of people.

• Breathlessness, difficulty breathing and a cough
• Bruising, bleeding gums or nose bleeds
• Changes in the levels of thyroid hormones
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Changes in the levels of minerals, protein and fat in your body
• Taste changes
• Dizziness
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Skin changes
• Pain in different parts of your body

Occasional side effects

These side effects happen in between 1 and 10 out of every 100 people (between 1 and 10%). You might have one or more of them. They include:

• increased risk of infection due to a low number of white blood cells in the body

• hearing problems such as tinnitus, rarely you may have partial or complete hearing loss
• Inflammation of the pancreas which can cause tummy pain and feeling or being sick
• piles which can cause pain when you open your bowels or a painful tear in your anus
• piles which can cause pain when you open your bowels or a painful tear in your anus
• problems with the healing of wounds

Precaution and warning in cabozantinib

• Do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit or any foods or supplements that contain grapefruit or grapefruit juice while you are taking this medication.
• Pregnancy warning: This medicine can have harmful effects on the unborn baby. Women of childbearing potential should use effective methods of birth control during your cancer treatment and for 4 months after stopping treatment. Let your doctor know right away if you think you may be pregnant.
• Breastfeeding warning: Women should not breastfeed during treatment and for 4 months after stopping treatment because this medicine could enter the breast milk and cause harm to a breastfeeding baby.
• Fertility warning: In men and women both, this medicine may affect your ability to have children in the future. Talk with your doctor or nurse if you plan to have children. Ask for information on sperm or egg banking.