Help - Lapatinib for my sister

Andraw

Hi,dear all,

 Did you hear about the new medicine Lapatinib for brease cancer? My sister had the procedure in May, 2008, but last month she was found, the cancer cell mets her lung and liver, now she has difficulty to talk.

My sister is in China.

The doctor recommend her the new medicine Lapatinib, did anybody have any idea about the medicine? I search from internet, it's said this medicine is for HER2+ patient, is it right? My sister is HER2-, can she use this medicine? if she can, how can I purchase it, because it needs priscription?

Thank you, good luck to all of you.

Andraw 

Bugs

Hi Andraw,

I'm very sorry to hear about your sister.  You will probably get more responses in the Stage IV forum as this is a chemo mostly used for our mets sisters.

krcll

Hi Andraw,

Bugs is right- Lapatinib (also called Tykerb in the USA and Tyverb in Europe) is mostly used by the stage IV women and you will find the most expertise if you post on their forum. I am stage III but am on the ALTTO trial and get Lapatinb. I admit that I don't understand why the doctors recommend Lapatinib for your sister who is HER2-. It is a targeted therapy for HER2+ women that is given either together with or instead of Herceptin. Of course, there are always trials trying out the drugs in new ways, but I haven't heard of it being given to HER2- women before. It is made by Glaxo Kline Smith.This is their Chinese website:

http://www.gsk-china.com/chinese/index.asp

Good luck with your sister!

Andraw

Thank you all for your reply.

Krcll: I will check the website. thanks.