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WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF OPTUNE LUA TREATMENT?

Skin irritation was the most common device-related side effect.

Skin irritation may look like a red rash, small sores, or blisters on your chest or back. Identifying it early and contacting your doctor will help ensure you don't miss any time on treatment.

About skin irritation

In the study, the only common side effect caused by Optune Lua was skin irritation. Any other side effects were due to the cancer itself or the cancer drugs* used with the device. Optune Lua directly targets cancer cells and doesn’t increase chemotherapy- or immunotherapy-related side effects.

In the study, 63% of people experienced mild to moderate skin irritation. None of these cases of skin irritation caused damage to the skin that could not be healed.

About 4% of people had a severe skin issue that required a break from Optune Lua treatment. Most people were able to treat their skin irritation with a prescription medication applied to the skin provided by their doctor. 

In all cases, the skin issue resolved after stopping or taking a break from treatment. 

Tips for managing skin irritation

Keep in touch with your doctor

The earlier you identify irritation, the sooner your doctor can help you take care of it.

Ask your care partner for help

They can help you apply or change the arrays and look out for irritation in hard-to-see places, like your back.

Prescription steroid cream may be an option

Your doctor may prescribe steroid cream to help with skin irritation. It's important to use it so the skin irritation does not become more serious. If it becomes worse, talk to your doctor.

*Cancer drugs=PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors or docetaxel.

Other side effects related to cancer drugs* used with Optune Lua

Side effects for people using Optune Lua with cancer drugs* occurred at a similar rate to those using cancer drugs* alone.

 

In the study, these side effects occurred:

 

Infections

  • Optune Lua with cancer drugs*: 23%
  • Cancer drugs* alone: 16%

 

Breathing disorders

  • Optune Lua with cancer drugs*: 18%
  • Cancer drugs* alone: 16%

 

Other side effects may occur. See the Patient Information and Operations Manual (PIOM) for more information.

*Cancer drugs=PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors or docetaxel.

See the ways you can fit Optune Lua into your life

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Important Safety Information and Indication

Who should not use Optune Lua?

Optune Lua for mNSCLC is not for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you have:

  • An electrical implant. Use of Optune Lua together with electrical implants has not been tested and may cause the implanted device not to work properly
  • A known sensitivity to gels like the gel used on electrocardiogram (ECG) stickers or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) electrodes. In this case, skin contact with the gel used with Optune Lua may commonly cause increased redness and itching, and rarely may even lead to severe allergies such as a fall in blood pressure and difficulty breathing

Do not use Optune Lua if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Optune Lua is safe or effective during pregnancy.

 

What should I know before using Optune Lua?

Optune Lua should only be used after receiving training from qualified personnel, such as your doctor, a nurse, or other medical staff who have completed a training course given by Novocure®, the maker of Optune Lua.

  • Do not use any parts that did not come with Optune Lua Treatment Kit sent to you by Novocure or given to you by your doctor
  • Do not get the device or transducer arrays wet
  • Please be aware that Optune Lua has a cord that plugs into an electrical socket. Be careful of tripping when it's connected 
  • If you have an underlying serious skin condition where the transducer arrays are placed, discuss with your doctor whether this may prevent or temporarily interfere with Optune Lua treatment

 

What are the possible side effects of Optune Lua?

The most common side effects of Optune Lua when used together with certain immunotherapy and chemotherapy drugs were dermatitis, pain in the muscles, bones, or joints, fatigue, anemia, alopecia (hair loss), dyspnea, nausea, cough, diarrhea, anorexia, pruritus (itching), leukopenia, pneumonia, respiratory tract infection, localized edema (swelling), rash, pain, constipation, skin ulcers, hypokalemia (low potassium levels), hypoalbuminemia (low albumin levels), hyponatremia (low sodium levels), and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).

 

Other potential adverse effects associated with the use of Optune Lua include treatment related skin irritation, allergic reaction to the adhesive or to the gel, overheating of the array leading to pain and/or local skin burns, infections at site where the arrays make contact with the skin, local warmth and tingling sensation beneath the arrays, medical device site reaction, muscle twitching, and skin breakdown/skin ulcer. Talk to your doctor if you have any of these side effects or questions.

 

What is Optune Lua® approved to treat?

Optune Lua is a wearable, portable, FDA-approved device used together with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors (immunotherapy) or docetaxel. It is indicated for adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) who have progressed on or after a platinum-based regimen.

 

Please see Patient Information and Operation Manual (PIOM) for Optune Lua.

 

Important Safety Information and Indication

Who should not use Optune Lua?

Optune Lua for mNSCLC is not for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you have:

  • An electrical implant. Use of Optune Lua together with electrical implants has not been tested and may cause the implanted device not to work properly
  • A known sensitivity to gels like the gel used on electrocardiogram (ECG) stickers or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) electrodes. In this case, skin contact with the gel used with Optune Lua may commonly cause increased redness and itching, and rarely may even lead to severe allergies such as a fall in blood pressure and difficulty breathing

Do not use Optune Lua if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Optune Lua is safe or effective during pregnancy.

 

What should I know before using Optune Lua?

Optune Lua should only be used after receiving training from qualified personnel, such as your doctor, a nurse, or other medical staff who have completed a training course given by Novocure®, the maker of Optune Lua.

  • Do not use any parts that did not come with Optune Lua Treatment Kit sent to you by Novocure or given to you by your doctor
  • Do not get the device or transducer arrays wet
  • Please be aware that Optune Lua has a cord that plugs into an electrical socket. Be careful of tripping when it's connected 
  • If you have an underlying serious skin condition where the transducer arrays are placed, discuss with your doctor whether this may prevent or temporarily interfere with Optune Lua treatment

 

What are the possible side effects of Optune Lua?

The most common side effects of Optune Lua when used together with certain immunotherapy and chemotherapy drugs were dermatitis, pain in the muscles, bones, or joints, fatigue, anemia, alopecia (hair loss), dyspnea, nausea, cough, diarrhea, anorexia, pruritus (itching), leukopenia, pneumonia, respiratory tract infection, localized edema (swelling), rash, pain, constipation, skin ulcers, hypokalemia (low potassium levels), hypoalbuminemia (low albumin levels), hyponatremia (low sodium levels), and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).

 

Other potential adverse effects associated with the use of Optune Lua include treatment related skin irritation, allergic reaction to the adhesive or to the gel, overheating of the array leading to pain and/or local skin burns, infections at site where the arrays make contact with the skin, local warmth and tingling sensation beneath the arrays, medical device site reaction, muscle twitching, and skin breakdown/skin ulcer. Talk to your doctor if you have any of these side effects or questions.

 

What is Optune Lua® approved to treat?

Optune Lua is a wearable, portable, FDA-approved device used together with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors (immunotherapy) or docetaxel. It is indicated for adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) who have progressed on or after a platinum-based regimen.

 

Please see Patient Information and Operation Manual (PIOM) for Optune Lua.

 

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