spotlight on health The Facts On A Common Cancer (NAPSA)One of the most common types of cancer is also one of the most treatable. Colorectal cancer has a 90 percent survival ratebut only when it’s detected at an early stage. Unfortunately, just 39 percent of all colorectal cancer cases are caught early, and the disease which is the third-most-common type of cancer in the U.S.was responsible for more than 55,000 deaths in one year alone. Fighting Colorectal Cancer Dr. Robert Baybutt is a colorectal cancer survivor (with two years disease free). He was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer after a routine colonoscopy in December 2003. He had surgery less than one month after being diagnosed and biopsies showed that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes. The next step after surgery was to begin chemotherapy treatment with a drug called Eloxatin (oxaliplatin injection). Eloxatin is an anti-cancer “chemotherapy” medicine that is used with other anti-cancer medicines called 5-fluorouracil (5-FU/LV) to treat adults with Stage III colon cancer who have been previously group was sponsored by sanofiaventis and it raised $20,000 for cancer research. New Outlook “It was an amazing experience When diagnosedearly, colorectal cancer has a 90 percent survival rate. treated with surgery, and to treat adults with advancedcolonor rectal cancer. The drug is manufactured by sanofi-aventis, which, coincidentally, is the company where Dr. Baybutt is employed. After being given a copy of Lance Armstrong’s first book during his treatment, Dr. Baybutt decided to ride in one of Armstrong’s LiveSTRONG Challenge cycling events to raise money for cancer. Two years later, he joined some colleagues to do just that. The cyclists, called the pharma fliers, included 10 employees. The for me to make this comeback and actually compete in the 100-mile course,” says Dr. Baybutt. On event day, the fliers pedaled 50 miles through hilly terrain, followed by a cushy 25 miles along flat roads through the city of Philadelphia, then another several miles to the finish. After six and a half hours, all team members who committed themselves to finishing the 100mile course did so. Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors High-fat, low-fiber diets, family medical history and inflammatory bowel disease all increase a person’s risk of developing colon cancer, as does increasing age. More than 90 percent of cases are diagnosedin individuals older than 50. Colorectal cancer is also associated with polyps, which are benign growths that become malignant over time. Visit www.Eloxatin.com for more information. wane enn e enn eee nnn enn enn enn eee OE. ----- +e eeeeneeeneeeee Note to Editors: PATIENT INFORMATION ELOXATIN (OXALIplatin for injection) and ELOXATIN (OXALIplatin injection) INJECTION Read this information carefully as you start using ELOXATIN.It will help you learn more about ELOXATIN. This information does not take the placeof talking to your doctor about your medical condition or your treatment. Ask your doctor about any questions you have. What is ELOXATIN? ELOXATIN (eh-LOX-ah-tin) is an anticancer (chemotherapy) medicine that is used with other anti-cancer medicines called 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV): to treat adults with stage II colon can- cer after surgery to remove the tumor, to treat adults with advanced colon or rectal cancer (colo-rectal cancer). ELOXATIN with infusional 5-FU and LV was shown to lower the chance of colon cancer returning when given to patients with stage III colon cancer after surgery to remove the tumor. It is not known ifELOXATINincreases survival in patients with stage III colon cancer. ELOXATIN with infusional 5-FU and LV wasalso shown to increase survival, shrink tumors and delay growth of tumors in some patients with advanced colorectal cancer. The use ofELOXATINin children has not been studied. Who should not use ELOXATIN? Do not use ELOXATIN if: You are allergic to platinum. The active ingredient in ELOXATINis oxaliplatin, which is a platinum-containing drug. Cisplatin (Platinol) and carboplatin (Paraplatin) are other chemotherapy medicines that also contain platinum. You are pregnant. ELOXATIN may harm your unborn child. You should avoid becoming pregnant while taking ELOXATIN. Talk with your doctor about how to avoid pregnancy. Tell your doctor: You are breast-feeding. We do not know if ELOXATIN can pass through your milk and if it can harm your baby. You will need to decide whether to stop breast-feeding or not to take ELOXATIN. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines and herbal supplements. ELOXATIN mayaffect how they work in your body. How is ELOXATIN given to me? ELOXATINis given to you through your veins (blood vessels). Your doctor will prescribe ELOXATINin an amount that is appropriate for you. Your doctor will treat you with several medicines for your cancer. It is very important that you do exactly what your doctor and nurse have taught you to do. Some medicines may be given to you before ELOXATINto help prevent nausea and vomiting. ELOXATINis given with 2 other chemotherapy drugs, leucovorin and 5-FU. Each treatment course is given to you over 2 days. You will receive ELOXATINon the first day only. There are usually 14 days between each chemotherapy treatment course. Treatment Day 1: ELOXATIN and leucovorin are put into a vein through a thin plastic tube (intravenous infusion or LV.) and given for 2 hours. You will be watched by a healthcare provider during this time. Right after the ELOXATIN andleucovorin are finished, 2 doses of 5-FU will be given. The first dose is given right away into your IV. tube. The second dose will be given into your LV. tube over the next 22 hours, using a pump device. Treatment Day 2: You will not get ELOXATIN on Day 2. Leucovorin and 5-FU will be given the same way as on Day 1. During your treatment with ELOXATIN: It is important for you to keep all appointments. Call your doctor ifyou must miss an appointment. There may be special instructions for you. Your doctor may change how often you get ELOXATIN, how much you get, or how long the infusion will take. You and your doctor will discuss how many times you will get ELOXATIN. The 5-FU will be given through your LV. with a pump. Ifyou have any problems with the pump or the tube, call your doctor, your nurse, or the person who is responsible for your pump. You should never allow anyone other than a healthcare provider to touch your infusion pump or tubing. Whatactivities should I avoid while under treatment with ELOXATIN?Avoid cold temperatures and cold objects. Cover your skin ifyou must go outside in cold temperatures. Do not drink cold drinks or use ice cubes in drinks. Do not put ice or ice packs on your body. See the end ofthis leaflet, “How I can help reduce the side effects caused by cold temperatures?”) You need to discuss your level of activity during treatment with your doctor and your nurse. You should follow their advice. What are the possible side effects ofELOXATIN? ELOXATINcan cause allergic reactions. Get emergency help right away if: You suddenly have trouble breathing, your throatfeelslike it is closing up. Call your doctor right away ifyou have any of the following signs ofallergic reaction: rash, hives, swelling ofyour lips or tongue, sudden cough. Call your doctor ifyou get any of the following: fever or signs of infection (redness and swelling at the intravenous site, pain on swallowing, cough that brings up mucous, sore throat, shivering, pain on urination), vomiting that is persistent, diarrhea (frequent, loose, watery bowel movements), Signs of dehydration (too much water loss), tiredness, thirst, dry mouth, lightheadedness (dizziness), decreased urination. Tell your doctor ifyou get adry cough and have trouble breathing (shortness of breath) before your next treatment. These may be signs of a serious lung disease. ELOXATIN can affect how your nerves work and make you feel (peripheral neuropathy). Tell your doctor right away, ifyou get any signs of nerve problemslisted here: very sensitive to cold temperatures and cold objects, trouble breathing, swallowing, or saying words, jaw tightness, odd feelings in your tongue, or chest pressure, pain, tingling, burning, (pins and needles, numb feeling) in your hands, feet, or around your mouth or throat, which may cause problems walking or performing activities of daily living. The first signs of nerve problems may occur with the initial treatment. The nerve problems can also start up to 2 days afterwards. Ifyou develop nerve problems, the amount ofELOXATINin your next treatment may be changed. For information on ways to lessen or help with the nerve problemssee the endofthis leaflet, “How I can help reduce the side effects caused by cold temperatures?” Other common side effects from ELOXATINinclude nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, mouth sores, stomach pain, fever, loss of appetite, and tiredness. These are not all the possible side effects ofELOXATIN. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. How can I reduce the side effects caused by cold temperatures? Cover yourself with a blanket while you are getting your ELOXATINinfusion. Do not breathe deeply when exposed to cold air. Wear warm clothing in cold weatherat all times. Cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or a pull-down cap (ski cap) to warm the air that goes to your lungs. Don’t take things from the freezer or refrigerator without wearing gloves. Drink fluids warm or at room temperature. Always drink through a straw. Do not use ice chips ifyou have nausea or mouth sores. Ask your nurse about what you can use. Be aware that most metals are cold to touch especially in the winter. These include your car door and mailbox. Wear gloves to touch cold objects. Do not run the air conditioning at high levels in the house or in the car in hot weather. Ifyour body gets cold, warm up the affected part. Ifyour hands get cold, wash them with warm water. Always let your nurse and doctor know before your next treatment how well you did since your last visit. This list is not complete and your healthcare provider may have other useful tips for helping you with these side effects. General Information about the safe and effective use ofELOXATIN. Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. This leaflet summarizes the most important information about ELOXATIN.Ifyou would like more information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about ELOXATINthatis written for health professionals .Paraplatin and Platinol are registered trademarks ofBristol-Myers Squibb Company.