Cindy’s Story

Narrator: This video features a real patient sharing their experience living with folate receptor alpha (FRα)–positive ovarian cancer and being treated with ELAHERE. The information in this video is based on their experiences at the time of recording.

Given the nature of ovarian cancer, experiences may change over time. This is Cindy's story and her experience with ELAHERE. Know that your experience may be different. 

Cindy: My name is Cindy. I'm married and have 2 adult children—a son and a daughter who are both married—and I have 4 grandchildren.

My family history with cancer is not great. My sister passed away from ovarian cancer, so I knew what it could mean. Initially, I was diagnosed about 10 years ago with breast cancer, and I learned that I was positive for the BRCA gene. Given my family's medical history, I agreed to have my ovaries removed. After treatment, I thought I'd be safe from the threat of ovarian cancer. Being diagnosed with it 4 years later was a huge surprise. I was diagnosed with primary peritoneal cancer. My doctor calls it ovarian cancer. I was treated for ovarian cancer with platinum-based chemotherapy and other different kinds of treatment, including enrollment in a clinical trial. But during a CT scan, they saw that my ovarian cancer returned.

Narrator: What is ELAHERE?

ELAHERE is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with folate receptor-alpha positive ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer who:

• have not responded to or are no longer responding to treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy and
• have received 1 to 3 prior types of chemotherapy.

Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that ELAHERE is right for you.

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

While all treatments have certain side effects, it is important to know that eye problems are common with ELAHERE and can be serious. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any eye problems during treatment with ELAHERE, including blurred vision, dry eyes, sensitivity to light, eye pain, eye redness, or new or worsening vision changes.

• Your healthcare provider will send you to see an eye care professional to check your eyes before you start treatment with ELAHERE, during treatment with ELAHERE, and as needed for any worsening signs and symptoms of eye problems
• Your healthcare provider will prescribe steroid eye drops and lubricating eye drops before you start and during your treatment with ELAHERE. You should use eye drops as directed by your healthcare provider
• Do not wear contact lenses throughout your treatment with ELAHERE unless you are told to use them by your healthcare provider

Other serious side effects of ELAHERE include nerve problems and lung problems. ELAHERE can harm your unborn baby. These are not all the side effects that you may experience with ELAHERE.

Remember to review additional Important Safety Information at the end of this video and see the accompanying Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING and Medication Guide.

Cindy: When I found out on the Internet that ELAHERE was available for advanced ovarian cancer, I printed all the information off the ELAHERE patient website and took it to my doctor who was already aware ELAHERE had been approved. I was excited to learn about this treatment option and eager to speak with my doctor.

My doctor began our conversation by referencing my resistance to platinum chemo and then guided our conversation towards my specific cancer sample, which had to be tested for FRα.* I was relieved when the results showed that my tumors had high FRα expression. Before I started treatment, my doctor explained that ELAHERE is given by an infusion every 3 weeks and that I'd still be required to have routine blood work.

She also told me about the potential side effects, like eye problems including blurred vision, lung problems like trouble breathing, peripheral neuropathy, which can feel like numbness or tingling in your hands and feet, among other side effects. My doctor then reviewed the importance of seeing my ophthalmologist regularly. I experienced nausea earlier during treatment. I also experienced diarrhea, which my doctor helped me manage. I still have peripheral neuropathy, which makes it hard to walk on ramps sometimes. I've had a bit of blurry vision as well. Proper eye care is very important when taking ELAHERE.

For anyone starting ELAHERE, my advice would be to place an eye drop reminder app on your phone. I'm using an eye drop alarm, and it's easy to forget your drops on a very busy day. I would also recommend having a spare bottle of eye drops to take with you when you're on the go, if possible. 

I'm eternally grateful for the abundance of support I've received from both family and friends throughout my treatment journey. I've always had my husband by my side for both office appointments and chemotherapy treatments. And when he wasn't able to accompany me, he'd make arrangements for somebody to be with me, and my friends were all too happy to fill in. And always, even to this day, we celebrate each hurdle overcome and goal achieved.

My husband, my children, my brother, and many dear friends have been incredibly supportive throughout the years. They reinforce my mantra about the power of positive thinking. I understand every person may react differently to treatment. I am happy that so far I've been available to be here for my loved ones. I would suggest that people talk to their doctors about FRα testing and if ELAHERE could be right for them.

*Platinum-resistant disease is when a person has not responded to or is no longer responding to treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy.
BRCA=breast cancer gene; CT=computed tomography.