When someone you love has advanced prostate cancer, you may feel overwhelmed. The tips below can help as you navigate care of your loved one during treatment with RUBRACA

Prepare for discussions about treatment

  • Be prepared for what’s to come by asking your loved one’s doctors questions about what treatment will look like with RUBRACA and what side effects to expect. Doctors can offer you information as well as give you brochures, guides, and more information to help you navigate treatment

Take notes on how your loved one is responding to treatment

  • Keep a list of side effects your loved one may be experiencing and any prominent changes you notice to share with their healthcare team

Help your loved one with daily tasks

  • You can help your loved one by assisting with daily hygiene, running errands, encouraging exercise, and reminding them to take their RUBRACA twice a day

Provide emotional support

  • Make time for your loved one and encourage them to come to you with concerns and different feelings about treatment. You can also encourage them to continue hobbies they are able to do
Elder couple holding hands.
Elder couple holding hands.

You don't need to put your own health aside when caring for someone you love. Ensure you are maintaining your mental and physical health with the following tips

Take care of your body

  • Ensure you are keeping active during this time when stress may be high for you. Activities like walking, running, yoga, hiking, swimming, and dancing are great for your body and mind
  • Keep a balanced diet and focus on whole foods, which can provide you with energy and help you to feel your best during stressful times
  • Make sure you are getting enough sleep; caregiving can become emotionally and physically taxing

Keep up with your own needs

  • Stay on top of your own medical appointments and medications to ensure you are staying healthy
  • Make time for your hobbies. Taking breaks to do things you love ensures you are feeling as fulfilled as possible and helps your mental health
  • Consider keeping a journal to track your feelings and thoughts
  • You might want to try meditation or relaxation techniques that can help you remain as relaxed as possible

Find your own support

  • If you have children, pets, or others you care for besides your loved one with prostate cancer, see if you can rely on trusted family and friends to help share those additional responsibilities. You don’t have to do everything on your own!
  • Having a full-time job during this time can feel impossible. It’s important to speak to your employer when you decide to become a care partner and see if they are able to provide some support or accommodations for you
  • Rely on your loved one’s care team for the things you are not able to take on. They may be able to assist you or refer you to someone who can help
  • Find books and podcasts about caring for those with prostate cancer. It can be helpful to hear from others who have been in your position, and you may even receive some tips and tools
  • Confide in close family and friends when you need to talk, or find a therapist who can help you. You can also find online or in-person support groups with others like you who can offer advice and solace

More resources for care partners

Connecting with a community of people like you can be very helpful when caring for a loved one with cancer. In addition to finding support groups on social media or online, contacting the organizations below can provide more information on being a care partner for someone with cancer:

American Cancer Society®

Cancer.org/cancer/caregivers.html
1-800-227-2345

CancerCare®

CancerCare.org
1-800-813-HOPE (4673)

Caregiver Action Network

CaregiverAction.org
1-202-454-3970

Family Caregiver Alliance®

Caregiver.org
1-800-445-8106 or 1-415-434-3388

Help for Cancer Caregivers

HelpForCancerCaregivers.org

Imerman Angels

ImermanAngels.org
1-866-IMERMAN (463-7626)

National Alliance for Caregiving

Caregiving.org
1-202-918-1013

Download important information that can help you navigate treatment

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is RUBRACA used for?

RUBRACA tablets are a prescription medicine used in adults for:

  • The treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (prostate cancer that no longer responds to medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone):
    • That has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), and
    • Has a certain type of inherited (germline) or acquired (somatic) abnormal BRCA gene, and you have been treated with certain medicines for your cancer.
  • Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure RUBRACA is right for you.
It is not known if RUBRACA is safe and effective in children.

What Warnings should you know about RUBRACA?

RUBRACA tablets may cause serious side effects including: Bone marrow problems called Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) or a type of cancer of the blood called Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Some people who have cancer and who have received previous treatment with chemotherapy or certain other medicines for their cancer have developed MDS or AML during or after treatment with RUBRACA. MDS or AML may lead to death. If you develop MDS or AML, your healthcare provider will stop treatment with RUBRACA. Symptoms may include weakness, weight loss, fever, frequent infections, blood in urine or stool, shortness of breath, feeling very tired, bruising or bleeding more easily. Symptoms of low blood cell counts are common during treatment with RUBRACA, but can be a sign of serious problems, including MDS or AML.

Before you take RUBRACA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you are a male with a female partner who is pregnant or able to become pregnant, effective birth control should be used during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of RUBRACA. Do not donate sperm during use and for 3 months after the last dose of RUBRACA. 

What other important information should I know about RUBRACA?

Your healthcare provider will do blood tests before and every month during treatment with RUBRACA to monitor your blood cell counts. Weekly blood tests will be performed if you have low blood cell counts for a long time. Your healthcare provider may stop treatment with RUBRACA until your blood cell counts improve.

Avoid spending time in sunlight while on RUBRACA since your skin may become more sensitive to the sun and may sunburn more easily. You should wear a hat and clothes that cover your skin and use sunscreen to help protect against sunburn if you have to be in the sunlight.

What are the side effects of RUBRACA?

The most common side effects of RUBRACA in people with prostate cancer include: Tiredness or weakness, nausea, decrease in hemoglobin (anemia), changes in liver function tests, decreased appetite, rash, constipation, low blood cell counts, vomiting, and diarrhea. These are not all the possible side effects of RUBRACA. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.

What other medications might interact with RUBRACA?

RUBRACA can increase the amounts of other medications you may be taking, which can increase the risk of side effects. Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions and all medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to pharma& at 1-800-506-8501.
This information is not comprehensive.
How to get more information:
  • Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist.
Please see full Prescribing Information for RUBRACA.

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