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Caring for your skin

How to care for your scalp

Dennis, an Optune® user and Patient Ambassador

Tips to minimize skin irritation

Proper scalp care plays an important role in helping prevent irritation and maximizing your time on Optune.

Change arrays

Change transducer arrays at least twice a week (one set of arrays should not be worn for more than 4 days at a time)

Remove gently

Remove arrays gently by pulling back on the edge of the array, taking a minute to remove each array

  • Use baby oil to loosen the edges of the arrays to pull them off OR
  • Unplug the cords from the connector box and step into a warm shower to loosen and remove the arrays. This tip comes from other Optune users

Place carefully

Avoid placing ceramic discs directly over screws, plates, or scars

Shift placement

Shift transducer arrays during routine changes

  • To limit skin irritation, slightly shift the placement of the transducer arrays by about 0.75 inches from the last location. You should change contact sites every time you change them. On your next transducer array change, shift them back to the previous position
  • The ceramic discs leave a slight mark on the surface of your scalp. This allows you or your caregiver to see where to position the new set of arrays

Ensure ventilation

Make sure your transducer arrays receive enough ventilation

Reduce your risk of infection

Wash hands

Wash your hands before each application and removal of transducer arrays

Shampoo

Wash your scalp between transducer array changes

Clean

Clean the electric razor per manufacturer’s guidelines after every shave

What should I do if my skin becomes irritated?

Skin irritation that happens with Optune most often can be managed with proper skin care. You can also use medications such as topical corticosteroids and antibiotics, without discontinuing therapy.

If you experience swelling, redness, excessive itching, or other skin-related symptoms:

  • Take a photograph of the affected area
  • Contact your doctor to discuss treatment options
  • If you have a scheduled appointment at a time when skin irritation is a concern, do not wear arrays to the visit, so your doctor can properly examine your scalp

This information is not intended to take the place of your doctor’s advice.

All about scalp care

Learn more about how to care for your scalp while using Optune.

Download the guide

Maintaining Healthy Skin Hygiene

Optune users and caregivers share tips on how to help keep the scalp from developing skin irritation or infection.

Optune evening routine

Get tips from users

Outdoors with Optune

Get out and about

Optune Buddy Program

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Important Safety Information

What is Optune® approved to treat?

Optune is a wearable, portable, FDA-approved device indicated to treat a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in adult patients 22 years of age or older.

Newly diagnosed GBM

If you have newly diagnosed GBM, Optune is used together with a chemotherapy called temozolomide (TMZ) if:

  • Your cancer is confirmed by your healthcare professional AND
  • You have had surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible

Recurrent GBM

If your tumor 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 is not for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you have:

  • An implanted medical device (programmable shunt), skull defect (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 EKGs). 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 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
  • 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?

The most common side effects of Optune when used together with chemotherapy (temozolomide, or TMZ) were low blood platelet count, nausea, constipation, vomiting, tiredness, scalp irritation from the device, headache, seizure, and depression. The most common side effects when using Optune alone 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 for the Optune Instructions for Use (IFU) 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 labeled 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.

Read more

Important Safety Information

What is Optune® approved to treat?

Optune is a wearable, portable, FDA-approved device indicated to treat a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in adult patients 22 years of age or older.

Newly diagnosed GBM

If you have newly diagnosed GBM, Optune is used together with a chemotherapy called temozolomide (TMZ) if:

  • Your cancer is confirmed by your healthcare professional AND
  • You have had surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible

Recurrent GBM

If your tumor 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 is not for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you have:

  • An implanted medical device (programmable shunt), skull defect (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 EKGs). 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 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
  • 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?

The most common side effects of Optune when used together with chemotherapy (temozolomide, or TMZ) were low blood platelet count, nausea, constipation, vomiting, tiredness, scalp irritation from the device, headache, seizure, and depression. The most common side effects when using Optune alone 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 for the Optune Instructions for Use (IFU) 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 labeled 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.

Leaving Optune.com

Novocure does not review the information contained on this website and/or database for content, accuracy, or completeness. Use of and access to this information is subject to the terms, limitations, and conditions set by the website and/or database producer.

Novocure makes no representation as to the accuracy or any other aspect of the information contained on such website and/or database, nor does Novocure necessarily endorse such website and/or database.

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Bitte klicken Sie auf “Ok” um zu bestätigen dass Sie verstehen, dass sich diese Internet-Seite ausschließlich an Verbraucher/Patienten in Deutschland richtet.

You are currently leaving Optune.com. The site you are about to visit is intended for German users/patients only.

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よろしければ ”OK” をクリックすることで日本の医療従事者向け専用のサイトへ移動します。

You are currently leaving Optune.com. The site you are about to visit is intended for Japanese residents only.

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Terms and conditions

Novocure® provides "Find a Treatment Center" as a resource to help patients within the United States find practitioners who are certified to prescribe Optune. Please be advised: any communication outside this website is not covered by our terms of use. Novocure does not warrant, whether expressed or implied, the accuracy, completeness, or feasibility of the information contained in the "Find a Treatment Center" directory. In no event shall Novocure be liable to you or anyone else for any actions taken by you in reliance on the information contained in the "Find a Treatment Center" directory. Novocure does not make any recommendations, referrals, or endorsements regarding specific physicians with whom patients seek treatment, nor does this site serve as a tool for verification of a physician's credentials, qualifications, or abilities. Only a medically-trained physician is qualified to recommend treatments and/or make diagnoses. You assume full responsibility for your communications and interactions made with any physician you choose to contact from the use of this "Find a Treatment Center" directory. By using the search field below, you agree to and accept the above terms.