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Patients
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- About Bladder Cancer
- About VALSTARTM (valrubicin)
- What is VALSTAR?
- How often do I get treatment with VALSTAR?
- How is VALSTAR given?
- What are the risks of treating with VALSTAR
- What should I expect after administration?
- What side effects are common with VALSTAR?
- What you should do while you're on therapy
- What you can do after your therapy is complete
- If you have more questions
- Glossary
- Resources
- Complete Product Information
- Important Safety Information
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Healthcare Professionals
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- Important Safety Information
- Register with VALSTAR
VALSTAR is a liquid medicine put into the bladder with flexible tubing (a catheter) and is used for patients whose bladder cancer (CIS) did not respond to BCG therapy and for those that cannot have surgery right away to take out the bladder. This type of treatment is called intravesical therapy, which means "within the bladder."
Important Safety Information
Tell your doctor if you have had a reaction or a close family member has had a reaction to any of the ingredients in VALSTAR and if a doctor has ever said you have a hole in your bladder or a weak bladder wall. Tell your doctor if you have a urinary tract infection or if you go to the bathroom a lot because of a small bladder. VALSTAR should not be used if you have any of these conditions.
VALSTAR treatment may result in full remission of bladder cancer (CIS) in about 1 in 5 patients (about 18%) whose cancer did not respond to BCG therapy. Waiting to have all or part of your bladder taken out could lead to the spread of bladder cancer (CIS) and even death. You should talk with your doctor about the risks of waiting for surgery.
If your bladder cancer (CIS) does not respond to the medicine after 3 months or if your bladder cancer (CIS) comes back, you should talk with your doctor again about having the surgery to take out your bladder.
You may have pain or irritation of your bladder during or shortly after getting the medicine. You may not be able to hold the medicine in the whole time or it may leak out. For the first day after getting the medicine, your urine may have a red color. This is normal. Tell your doctor right away if you have pain or if you have red-colored urine after the first day of getting the medicine.
If you plan to be sexually active, talk with your doctor about possible risks and use the birth control method recommended by your doctor.
During or after getting the medicine, you may experience some common side effects reported by other patients. These side effects may include going to the bathroom a lot, not going to the bathroom enough, not making it to the bathroom in time, or pain when urinating. The side effects most reported by other patients included urinary tract infections, stomach pain, nausea, weakness, headache, a general feeling of being sick, and not going to the bathroom enough.
Safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.
You are asked to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
For more information, ask your doctor or call 1-800-462-3636.
