Marcia as Patient Advocate

For US residents only

Be strong, strive to live life to the fullest potential, embrace each day.

Marcia Strassman, a veteran stage and screen actress who has made her mark in nurturing roles, is a shining example of a woman who is soldiering on, despite having recently been diagnosed with breast cancer that spread to her bones.

Marcia is trying to maintain an active lifestyle – walking her dog, cherishing moments with her friends and 22-year-old daughter Lizzie, and speaking out about what has helped her manage her disease.

“My doctors agreed that we needed to stabilize my bones and manage my cancer. Since March 2007, when I was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, I've had my regular monthly infusion of Zometa - every 28 days. Just recently, a bone scan revealed no further damage to my bones and I'm continuing Zometa treatment in accordance with my physicians' guidance to continue to defend my bones against the cancer. Today, I continue to strive to maintain my active lifestyle.”

To learn more about Marcia’s treatment with Zometa*, please click here.
*Indiviual results may vary.

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Photos of Marcia

Metastatic Breast Cancer Event in San Antonio

Additional Resources

Professional Organizations

American Society of Clinical Oncology www.asco.org

Oncology Nursing Society www.ons.org

Patient Advocacy Groups

General Cancer Resources

American Cancer Society www.cancer.org.

Cancer Care, Inc. www.cancercare.org.

Cancer Information Service (CIS) of the National Cancer Institute www.cancer.gov.

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) www.canceradvocacy.org.

Breast Cancer Resources

African American Breast Cancer Alliance, Inc.(AABCA) www.geocities.com/aabcainc.

Avon's Breast Cancer Awareness Crusade www.avoncompany.com/women/avoncrusade .

BreastCancer.Org www.breastcancer.org.

National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) www.natlbcc.org.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation www.komen.org.

Breast Cancer Network of Strength www.networkofstrength.org.

Lung Cancer Resources

Lung Cancer Alliance www.alcase.org.

Prostate Cancer Resources

National Prostate Cancer Coalition www.zerocancer.org.

Prostate Cancer Foundation www.prostatecancerfoundation.org.

Prostate Cancer Research Institute www.prostate-cancer.org.

Us Too www.ustoo.com.

Multiple Myeloma Resources

International Myeloma Foundation www.myeloma.org.

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation www.multiplemyeloma.org.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society www.leukemia.org.

Indication & Important Safety Information

INDICATION

ZOMETA is a treatment to reduce and delay bone complications due to multiple myeloma and bone metastases from solid tumors; used with anti-cancer medicines. ZOMETA is not an anti-cancer therapy. If you have prostate cancer, you should have failed treatment with at least one hormonal therapy prior to taking ZOMETA.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not use ZOMETA if you have had a severe allergic reaction to zoledronic acid or any components of ZOMETA. These reactions, including rare cases of hives and angioedema (swelling often near your eyes and lips), and very rare cases of life-threatening allergic reactions, have been reported. ZOMETA is in a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, and contains the same active ingredient as that found in Reclast® (zoledronic acid). If you are treated with ZOMETA, you should not be treated with Reclast.

If you have kidney problems, tell your doctor. The risk of adverse reactions (especially related to the kidney) may be greater for you. ZOMETA treatment is not for patients with severe kidney problems. Patients with kidney problems on multiple cycles of ZOMETA or other bisphosphonates are at greater risk for further kidney problems. It is important to get your blood tests while you are receiving ZOMETA. Your doctor will monitor your kidney function before each dose. Tell your doctor if you are on other drugs, including aminoglycosides, loop diuretics, and drugs which may be harmful to the kidney.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) has been reported mainly in cancer patients treated with intravenous bisphosphonates, including ZOMETA. Many of these patients were also receiving anti-cancer drugs and corticosteroids, which may make it more likely to get ONJ. If you have advanced breast cancer or a type of cancer called multiple myeloma, or if you have had dental extraction, periodontal disease, local trauma, including poorly fitting dentures, you may be at greater risk of getting ONJ. Many reports of ONJ involved patients with signs of local infection, including bone/bone marrow inflammation. You should maintain good oral hygiene and have a dental examination with preventive dentistry prior to beginning ZOMETA. While on treatment, avoid invasive dental procedures, if possible, as recovery may take longer. If you develop ONJ while on bisphosphonate therapy, dental surgery may worsen the condition. If you require dental procedures, there are no data available to suggest whether stopping ZOMETA treatment reduces the risk of ONJ. A causal relationship between bisphosphonate use and ONJ has not been established. Based on your condition, your doctor will determine the treatment plan you will receive.

Do not use ZOMETA if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or if you are breast-feeding.

Severe and occasionally incapacitating bone, joint, and/or muscle pain has been reported in patients taking bisphosphonates, including ZOMETA. Do not continue using ZOMETA if severe symptoms develop, as some patients had the symptoms reappear after taking ZOMETA or another bisphosphonate again. In aspirin sensitive patients, bronchoconstriction (tightening of the airways in the lungs) has been observed while taking bisphosphonates.

Common side effects include bone pain, nausea, fatigue, anemia, fever, vomiting, constipation, shortness of breath, diarrhea, weakness, muscle pain, anorexia, cough, joint pain, lower-limb swelling, worsening of your cancer, headache, dizziness (excluding vertigo), insomnia, decreased weight, back pain, numbness/tingling, and abdominal pain.

Cases of inflammation of the uvea or sclera of the eye have been reported, and in some cases these events did not go away until the drug was discontinued.

You should be taking an oral calcium supplement of 500 mg and a multiple vitamin containing 400 IU of vitamin D daily.

Please see full Prescribing Information and talk to your doctor for more information.

For the full prescribing information, please click here.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

ZOM-500015

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Marcia's Career

Marcia has been performing for television, film and Broadway audiences for more than 45 years. The 60-year-old actress is best known for her role as nurse Margie Cutler in early episodes of “M*A*S*H”, playing Gabe Kaplan’s wife, Julie, in the popular 1970s TV series “Welcome Back Kotter” and as “Honey” in the “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” movies