Treatment is a journey. A journey that has many highs and lows, and can seem, at times, overwhelming. Yet, you have taken the important and brave first step: learning more about the disease, the treatment options available, and the many resources you and your loved ones have access to.

WHAT’S MCL?

MCL is a cancer that starts in B cells—a type of white blood cell that forms in the bone marrow.

THE EFFECT OF LYMPHOMA ON BONE MARROW

Lymphoma

B cells form in the bone marrow and are released into the bloodstream to help the body fight off germs.

Lymphoma

Bone Marrow Bone Marrow
Red Blood Cell Icon Red Blood Cell
Normal B Cell Icon Normal B Cell
Abnormal B Cell Leukemia Icon Abnormal B Cell (Lymphoma)
Platelet Icon Platelet

B cells form in the bone marrow and are released into the bloodstream to help the body fight off germs.

With MCL, too many abnormal B cells are created. These abnormal B cells crowd out other healthy cells made in the bone marrow, like red blood cells and platelets.

This is what can lead to symptoms like feeling tired or getting sick more often.

CALQUENCE IS DIFFERENT

CALQUENCE is a targeted therapy, meaning that it is designed to delay or prevent the growth of cancer cells. Targeted therapies differ from other kinds of treatment, like traditional chemotherapy.

Aside from targeted therapies and chemotherapy, a variety of other treatment options exist for previously treated MCL. It’s important to remember that not everyone receives the same treatment. Doctors use specific tests to determine the best treatment options for each patient.

Among targeted therapies, each treatment option for previously treated MCL is distinct from others—even ones that may seem similar or that are prescribed first. The “Taking CALQUENCE” section of this website details how CALQUENCE works.

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Important Safety Information

Important Safety Information About CALQUENCE® (acalabrutinib) capsules
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Before taking CALQUENCE, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have had recent surgery or plan to have surgery. Your healthcare provider may stop CALQUENCE for any planned medical, surgical, or dental procedure.
  • have bleeding problems.
  • have or had heart rhythm problems.
  • have an infection.
  • have or had liver problems, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. CALQUENCE may harm your unborn baby and cause problems during childbirth (dystocia).
    • If you are able to become pregnant, your healthcare provider may do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with CALQUENCE
    • Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with CALQUENCE and for at least 1 week after the last dose of CALQUENCE
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if CALQUENCE passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with CALQUENCE and for at least 2 weeks after your final dose of CALQUENCE.

Important Safety Information About CALQUENCE® (acalabrutinib) capsules
+

Before taking CALQUENCE, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have had recent surgery or plan to have surgery. Your healthcare provider may stop CALQUENCE for any planned medical, surgical, or dental procedure.
  • have bleeding problems.
  • have or had heart rhythm problems.
  • have an infection.
  • have or had liver problems, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. CALQUENCE may harm your unborn baby and cause problems during childbirth (dystocia).
    • If you are able to become pregnant, your healthcare provider may do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with CALQUENCE
    • Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with CALQUENCE and for at least 1 week after the last dose of CALQUENCE
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if CALQUENCE passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with CALQUENCE and for at least 2 weeks after your final dose of CALQUENCE.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the­-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking CALQUENCE with certain other medications may affect how CALQUENCE works and can cause side effects. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take a blood thinner medicine.

How should I take CALQUENCE?

  • Take CALQUENCE exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
  • Do not change your dose or stop taking CALQUENCE unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
  • Your healthcare provider may tell you to decrease your dose, temporarily stop, or completely stop taking CALQUENCE if you develop certain side effects.
  • Take CALQUENCE 2 times a day (about 12 hours apart).
  • Take CALQUENCE with or without food.
  • Swallow CALQUENCE capsules whole with a glass of water. Do not open, break, or chew capsules.
  • If you need to take an antacid medicine, take it either 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take CALQUENCE.
  • If you need to take certain other medicines called acid reducers (H2-receptor blockers), take CALQUENCE 2 hours before the acid reducer medicine.
  • If you miss a dose of CALQUENCE, take it as soon as you remember. If it is more than 3 hours past your usual dosing time, skip the missed dose and take your next dose of CALQUENCE at your regularly scheduled time. Do not take an extra dose to make up for a missed dose.

What are the possible side effects of CALQUENCE?

CALQUENCE may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Serious infections can happen during treatment with CALQUENCE and may lead to death. Your healthcare provider may prescribe certain medicines if you have an increased risk of getting infections. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any signs or symptoms of an infection, including fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms.
  • Bleeding problems (hemorrhage) can happen during treatment with CALQUENCE and can be serious and may lead to death. Your risk of bleeding may increase if you are also taking a blood thinner medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any signs or symptoms of bleeding, including blood in your stools or black stools (looks like tar), pink or brown urine, unexpected bleeding or bleeding that is severe or you cannot control, vomit blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds, cough up blood or blood clots, dizziness, weakness, confusion, changes in your speech, headache that lasts a long time, or bruising or red or purple skin marks
  • Decrease in blood cell counts.
    Decreased blood counts (white blood cells, platelets, and red blood cells) are common with CALQUENCE, but can also be severe. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your blood counts regularly during treatment with CALQUENCE.
  • Second primary cancers. New cancers have happened in people during treatment with CALQUENCE, including cancers of the skin or other organs. Your healthcare provider will check you for skin cancers during treatment with CALQUENCE. Use sun protection when you are outside in sunlight.
  • Heart rhythm problems (atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter) have happened in people treated with CALQUENCE. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following signs or symptoms: fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint, chest discomfort, or shortness of breath

The most common side effects of CALQUENCE include headache, diarrhea, muscle and joint pain, upper respiratory tract infection, and bruising.

These are not all the possible side effects of CALQUENCE. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

You may report side effects related to AstraZeneca products by clicking here.

What is CALQUENCE?

CALQUENCE is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received at least one prior treatment for their cancer.

It is not known if CALQUENCE is safe and effective in children.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information.