Zevalin Therapy

What is Zevalin?

Zevalin is a treatment for patients with a type of slow growing lymphoma known as B- cell follicular lymphoma (FL) that has stopped responding to most other treatments. Zevalin is a new therapy and is a type of targeted cancer therapy called radioimmunotherapy. Radioimmunotherapy combines the use of a monoclonal antibody and a radioisotope to target and destroy specific cells. The radioisotope used is Yttrium-90.

Why has Zevalin been prescribed for me?

Your doctor has considered many factors to determine if you are suitable for treatment with Zevalin .These include the specific type of lymphoma that you have, as well as several considerations that are important to help minimise potential risks of the therapy.Factors that may be considered include:

What kind of lymphoma therapy you have received before
The number of lymphoma cells in your bone marrow
Your blood counts
Possible allergies or sensitivities that you may have to any part of the Zevalin treatment

What is involved?

On the first day of your treatment (day1) you will receive Rituximab (a monoclonal antibody given before Zevalin to allow Zevalin to better target the lymphoma cells within your body) which is infused into a vein in your arm. One week later, you will receive a second Rituximab infusion which will be on day 8 of your treatment. Within 4 hours of receiving this second Rituximab infusion, you will receive your Zevalin which is also administered to a vein in your arm. This should last about 10 minutes, though your doctor may keep you in the Hospital a bit longer. Therefore, you only need to make 2 hospital visits one week a part.

Do I need any preparation?

You do not need to make any special preparation before you begin treatment with Zevalin You can continue with your normal daily activities.

Are their any side effects?

You may experience some side effects such as weakness, abdominal pain and back pain, shortness of breath, increased cough, chills, throat irritation, fever, headache, vomiting, dizziness and rash. These are generally short term effects and your doctor or nurse can help ease these symptoms. If you experience any side effects, tell your doctor or nurse immediately.

Will I need to stay in the hospital after treatment with Zevalin?

There is no need to stay in the hospital or to avoid contact with friends or family however it is advisable to observe some simple safety precaution

Ensure that you always wash your hands after using the toilet.
No isolation from friends or family is required
During sexual intercourse, use of a condom is recommended to avoid transfer of bodily fluids for one week after treatment is complete.
Throughout therapy and for up to 12 months following treatment, effective contraceptive is recommended.

What about other treatments?

Your doctor will advise you if any other treatment is appropriate. Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, even those you bought without a prescription.

Zevalin must not be given:

If you have an allergy to the active ingredient to yttrium chloride, to mouse proteins or to any other ingredients of Zevalin.
If you are pregnant or could be pregnant.
If you are breast-feeding.

Pregnancy precautions

If you could get pregnant, use reliable contraception (e.g. pills, implants , IUDs, or condoms) .Pregnancy should be excluded before you start treatment, during treatment and for a year after treatment.
Men who have been given Zevalin and who could become father must use reliable contraception during and for a year after stopping treatment.

Breast- feeding

Talk to your doctor before starting breast-feeding after the end of treatment as antibodies are excreted in human milk