New treatments for HER 2 early breast cancer

Girlstrong

Like all of you, I have been investigating treatments for HER. 2 Positive breast cancer. There has been talk about Perjeta. In fact the FDA will be doing an expedited review of this; if passed Perjeta maybe approved to treat early HER2 as soon as October. Has anyone talked to their MO about this? I'm wondering if I am a candidate and so will discuss at my next appointment.

PollyP

Check out the Aphinity trial...phase 3 study on perjeta for early BC. Double blind, so you may not be getting it. There's a thread on it.

SpecialK

My understanding is that Perjeta for use in early stage Her2+ BC would be neoadjuvent (prior to surgery) as that is where they have seen the demonstrated benefit for early stagers.  Also, the decision by the review panel is due in October, but that may not translate to widespread use at that point.

Here is a link to an article concerning this:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57602238/perjeta-may-be-first-early-stage-breast-cancer-pharmaceutical-option/

Girlstrong

Thanks Special K. I am going to hope it is available sooner than later. I knew about this when I first became diagnosed and so that was one of the reasons I chose not to have surgery first. Neoadjuvant chemo was my choice and I am done with my first 2 rounds. Herceptin is to start in late October.

soriya123

Girlstrong, I will ask my onc tomo. I still have 2 more chemo to go, so I hope I get it, I hope the insurance approve it.

soriya123

why cant FDA approve regardless chemo first or not. why cant we have perjeta n herceptin combined for HER+ for the rest of the year? Is it becuse of the cost of perjeta? too expenive?

SpecialK

soriya - it has only been in clinical trials for neoadjuvent, so that is how they will prescribe it. It is not a cost thing, it is how the drug was proven to work. This is much like the vast majority of docs prescribing Herceptin with chemo, instead of Herceptin alone. In trials it was shown to work more effectively when combined.

soriya123

Specal K, I got it now. So sad that I had my cancer a little early...Thank you!

SpecialK

soriya - mine was a lot early so I didn't get it either, lol! I am guessing that since hormonal therapy is not available for you adding another drug for the Her2+ part would be reassuring. Hang on to the thought that chemo and Herceptin did their thing!

soriya123

special K, that exactly how i see, once my chemo over i have no pill, so having perjeta/herceptin that would ease my mind or make me feel confident that i see myself in 5 year or more.

LoriKnous

Hello ladies, I haven't visited BC.ORG in quite a while. I had been hearing great things about Perjeta so I figured I better get caught up. As I was reading the article I kinda wondered just how I fit in. I had my cancer in 2007 (chemo, r-rad mast, radiation, 1 year Herceptin) and now again with stage IV mets, in 2012. I was told that after my chemo last year (TCH) I would be on Herceptin for the rest of my life. When Perjeta was approved last year my MO wasn't sure if it would be approved for me but, thankfully it was. My bc mets went to my bladder/ovary and the surgeon and MO felt it would be to invasive to remove. Thanks to the H/P combo my affected area is stable to date.

positivenegative

greetings  HER2 sistas.  Lori  send me a pm if you want to  talk furth...i  am on perjeta  herceptin taaxoll and nupogen for my tx.   AC did nothhing for HER2+.  so far so good.   SEs suck though.  special k and soriiya go to perjeta.com  your staging, mets,  and HER2 and how the onc writes it up is whaat insurance looked at for me.  btw i hhad mr bmx pre chemo and target theraapy or radiation.  btw also...perjeta is wickked expensive.  good uck to both of you.  keep posting.