Tykerb Description

Tykerb is an anticancer drug prescribed to treat HER2-receptor positive advanced breast cancer or breast cancer that has spread to other parts of your body and has not responded positively to other treatments. Tykerb is usually taken along with other anticancer drugs to slow the progression of the disease at different stages, but it is not a cure.

How Tykerb Slows Cancer Growth

The active ingredient in Tykerb is called Lapatinib. When taken as directed, it inhibits the activity of an enzyme called tyrosine kinase, a subgroup of the larger class of protein kinases. Sometimes protein kinases can mutate and cause unregulated growth of the cell which makes it a target for the development of cancer.

Tykerb is effective because it attaches to receptors inside the cancer cells. This action slows down the cancer growth. The receptors that the drug binds to are called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal receptor type 2 (HER2).

More Info About Her2-positive Breast Cancer

HER2-positive breast cancer can develop due to the presence of genetically programmed cells that generate more of the HER2 protein. Self-examination or a mammogram may be able to detect a lump in your breast that could be cancerous, but for the most part there are seldom any symptoms early on.

Besides taking Tykerb, your oncologist may recommend surgery or chemotherapy to increase survival rates and decrease the risk of a recurrence. Although the HER2 gene is not inherited and you cannot pass it on to your children, the genes in your DNA and breast cancer in general have a relationship. HER2 stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. HER2-positive breast cancer is among the fastest growing types of cancer, especially for young women, so it’s important to have regular checkups for early detection and treatment.

Before You Take Tykerb

Tell your prescribing doctor if you are pregnant or may become pregnant as Tykerb could pose a risk to an unborn baby. You should not nurse your infant while taking Tykerb as it is unknown whether it can pass into breast milk.

Discuss your medical history and provide the doctor with a list of Rx drugs and OTC medicine you are taking, including homeopathic remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements. Combining Tykerb with other meds could change its efficacy or cause unintended side effects. Swallow Tykerb whole as a crushed or broken pill can be dangerous if the contents get on your exposed skin.

Tykerb Precautions

Swallow Tykerb whole as a crushed or broken pill can be dangerous if the contents get on your exposed skin.Tykerb may cause liver damage which can be severe or life-threatening. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: itching, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, unusual bleeding or bruising, or pale or dark stools.

Possible Side Effects of Tykerb

• Back pain
• Heartburn
• Trouble sleeping
• Diarrhea
• Sore, red hands and feet (hand-foot syndrome)

Drugs Similar to Tykerb

• Nolvadex D
• Femara
• Arimidex