Medication Information Leaflet
Bevacizumab is used to treat some types of cancer (e.g. colorectal cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer and ovarian cancer).
It is a monoclonal antibody which blocks VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), thus preventing the growth of blood vessels which supply oxygen and nutrients to the cancer cells.
Bevacizumab is given as an injection into your vein (intravenous).
Inform your healthcare professional if:
You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
You become pregnant or plan for pregnancy
You should use effective birth control during treatment and for 6 months after your last treatment.
You are breastfeeding
Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 6 months after your last treatment.
You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.
You are going for any surgical procedures (e.g. biopsy, tooth extraction) at least 4 weeks beforehand, as treatment may need to be temporarily stopped.
Early Side Effects (within days after receiving Bevacizumab)
Diarrhea
Drink plenty of clear fluids to replace those lost (2 litres everyday).
Avoid oily or spicy food and milk or dairy products.
Delayed Side Effects (within days to weeks after receiving Bevacizumab)
Increased blood pressure that may cause headache, dizziness or changes in vision
Monitor your blood pressure regularly and record it down. Inform your doctor if you notice an increasing trend.
Protein loss in urine
Your doctor will arrange for a test to check this for you.
Increased chances of low blood counts if you are also receiving chemotherapy
Allergic reactions. Please alert your nurse if you experience this during your treatment. The symptoms of this include one or more of the following:
Chills, rigors
Facial flushing
Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body
Unusual bleeding or bruising, black sticky stools, coughing up blood, or persistent nosebleeds or gum bleeding
Signs of blood clot such as painful leg swelling, tenderness or hardness over a vein, sudden onset of cough, shortness of breath, chest pain or stroke symptoms (e.g. sudden onset of severe headache, trouble talking or moving properly, weakness or numbness in arm or leg)
Wounds that do not heal or are slow to heal
Very bad stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, fever
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see your healthcare professional immediately.
You may refer to the following website if you need more information: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/
If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
Last updated on May 2022
This article was last reviewed on Tuesday, October 04, 2022