Daily Life with Optune

Daily Life with Optune

Osmond, an Optune user.

Optune is a portable medical device that will become part of your daily life.

You should use Optune for at least 18 hours a day to get the best response to treatment. Use Optune as many hours per day as possible, only taking short breaks when needed. You can carry Optune with you through the day, and you can wear it while you sleep at night.

YOU CAN RECEIVE CONTINUOUS TREATMENT WITH OPTUNE ALMOST ANYWHERE

You may be able to use Optune while you go about your daily routine at work, for some travel, and at social functions. You will want to speak with your doctor about whether it is okay for you to continue working or to travel. Your nCompass Patient Support Team can work with you to provide additional batteries or other accommodations to use Optune at your office or while travelling.

If you’re planning more extensive travel, nCompass has you covered with 24/7 technical support and helpful travel information. To help prevent stress and treatment disruption, contact nCompass before your travel dates so we can help.

International travel support from nCompass is dependent on Optune’s approval status in the destination country.

nCompass cannot provide you with medical advice. Consult your doctor for medical-related questions

ALARMS MAY OCCUR DURING YOUR DAILY ROUTINE

Like most devices, Optune has its own set of features that you will learn about. You may hear some alarms, but the Optune Troubleshooting Tips guide will help you through them. If an alarm goes off, check your arrays, batteries, connections, and device.

The alarm may go off due to:

  • Room and body temperature
  • Array contact with the skin
  • Low battery
  • Loose or unplugged array connector cables
  • Device malfunction
  • Device is ON, but the therapy is not activated

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT OPTUNE OR NEED HELP TROUBLESHOOTING?

nCompass can help. Call 1-866-320-2006 (toll-free) to speak with someone. The Optune User Manual can be found here.

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WHAT IS OPTUNE APPROVED TO TREAT?

Optune is a portable medical device indicated to treat a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in adult patients 18 years of age or older.

Newly diagnosed GBM

If you have newly diagnosed GBM, Optune is used together with a standard of care maintenance chemotherapy if:

  • Your cancer is confirmed by your healthcare professional AND
  • You have had surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible and completed radiation therapy

Recurrent GBM

If your tumour has come back, Optune can be used alone as an alternative to standard medical therapy if:

  • You have tried surgery and radiation and they did not work or are no longer working AND
  • You have tried chemotherapy and your GBM has been confirmed by your healthcare professional

Who should not use Optune?

Optune for GBM is not for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you have:

  • An implanted medical device {programmable shunt), skull defect (such as missing bone with no replacement), or bullet fragment. Optune has not been tested in people with implanted electronic devices, which may cause the devices not to work properly, and Optune has not been tested in people with skull defects or bullet fragments, which may cause Optune not to work properly
  • A known sensitivity to conductive hydrogels (the gel on the arrays placed on the scalp like the ones used on ECGs). When Optune comes into contact with the skin, it may cause more redness and itching or may rarely cause a life-threatening allergic reaction

Do not use Optune for GBM if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Optune is safe or effective during pregnancy.

What should I know before using Optune?

Optune should only be used after receiving training from qualified personnel, such as your doctor, a nurse, or other medical staff who have completed a training course given by Novocure, the maker of Optune.

  • Do not use any parts that did not come with the Optune Treatment Kit sent to you by Novocure or given to you by your doctor
  • Do not get the device or transducer arrays wet
  • Please be aware that Optune has a cord that may cause tripping when connected to an electric socket
  • If you have an underlying serious skin condition on the scalp, discuss with your doctor whether this may prevent or temporarily interfere with Optune treatment

What are the possible side effects of Optune?

Common side effects of Optune when used together with chemotherapy for GBM were low blood platelet count, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, seizure, and depression.

The most common side effects when using Optune alone for GBM were scalp irritation (redness and itchiness) and headache. Other side effects were malaise, muscle twitching, fall and skin ulcers..

Talk to your doctor if you have any of these side effects or questions.

Please click here to see the Optune User Manual for complete information regarding the device’s indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions.

On this site, patient and healthcare professional videos as well as all images labelled as Optune users, caregivers, or healthcare professionals depict actual patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. All other depictions of patients and caregivers are actor portrayals. Patient images reflect the health status of the patients at the time each photo was taken.