Anyone get Taxol, Perjeta, Herceptin adjuvant?

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Mommato3
Mommato3 Member Posts: 633
edited October 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

I met my new MO after moving.  He seemed surprised my old MO didn't offer this in the neo adjuvant setting.  I have seen a few that received it this way and was curious if their MO fought for it or their insurance had no problems with covering it.  Thanks!

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  • CoastalXPat
    CoastalXPat Member Posts: 83
    edited June 2014

    Hi Mommato, 

    I got something similar, taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin and perjeta adjuvant.  My insurance covered it. I was surprised since Perjeta isn't technically FDA approved for adjuvant (just neo-adjuvant), but my MO said the insurance companies are realizing that perjeta works well and so are covering it - it sounded like she had done that a number of times. I don't know if she had to work hard to convince them though.

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  • Mommato3
    Mommato3 Member Posts: 633
    edited June 2014

    Thanks for letting me know.  I'm going to see if my insurance will also cover it.  I think it's one more thing to fight this.

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited June 2014

    I am having perjeta in the adjuvent setting. It could be because I had a recurrence but my oncologist was able to get it approved. 

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  • positivenegative
    positivenegative Member Posts: 106
    edited July 2014


    The ER and HER2 positivity along with staging was important.  I am on all 3 and had no probs with insurance coverage...but I'm a MBC patient for what it is worth.  Good luck HER2 sisters...advocate advocate....H&P is working for this lady.

    Peace.

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  • CoastalXPat
    CoastalXPat Member Posts: 83
    edited July 2014

    Hi, I just posted info on this on another thread in this section but figured I'd add it here: 

    I checked with my MO to see if she had to go through any particular hoops to
    get insurance approval, and she said no, she hasn't had any problems. She also mentioned that she hasn't had
    problems getting Perjeta for 1 year (along w/Herceptin) for her Stage II
    and III patients. Now it sounds like there are still some insurance companies that are saying no (don't know if that was before or after Perjeta was improved for neoadjuvant treatment, Oct. 2013). But it certainly doesn't hurt to ask.

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  • Mommato3
    Mommato3 Member Posts: 633
    edited August 2014

    Update:  my new MO has added 4 treatments of Perjeta to the Taxol/Herceptin.  She said my insurance company never questioned it.  She also said there are a lot more insurance companies approving Perjeta in the adjuvant setting because of the success that has been seen in the neo adjuvant setting.  

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  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 2,026
    edited September 2014

    Costal Pat, you are one of the few with the same tumor markers.  I just started Ariamycin, Cytoxan on Monday.  Gave myself the neulasta shot yesterday.  Next round is Taxol, Herceptin, Perjeta.  Then radiation after the 12 weeks of Taxol.. That all puts me into next December before I finish treatment.  I am 71 yrs old and in pretty good health but this seems like an awfully long journey.    

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  • Gretta
    Gretta Member Posts: 70
    edited September 2014

    Girls
    Do you know if you can have Perjeta independently of the taxol & how many doses do you get.  Australian girl who's looking at purchasing the perjeta privately.  We don't have the insurance like you guys do.

     

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2014

    Perjeta Boosts Overall Survival in HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer September 30, 2014

    Final results from the CLEOPATRA study showed that women diagnosed with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who got Perjeta, Herceptin, and Taxotere lived about 1.5 years longer than women who got only Herceptin and Taxotere. Read more...

    The Mods

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited October 2014

    gretta - my understanding is that the Perjeta needs to be given with the Herceptin and a taxane.  Can you get the Herceptin and taxane drug, and pay for the Perjeta separately? Here is the site's info for early stage treatment:

    "If your doctor prescribes neoadjuvant therapy, you may receive PERJETA, Herceptin, and docetaxel in a treatment course that may last up to 18 weeks prior to surgery. PERJETA is given as an intravenous infusion, which means medicine is administered directly and slowly into the bloodstream through a vein. PERJETA is typically given every 3 weeks, on the same day as Herceptin and docetaxel, and during the same visit. Your first dose of PERJETA will be given as an infusion over 60 minutes, Herceptin will be given over 90 minutes, and docetaxel over 60 minutes. There may be an observation period of 30 to 60 minutes between infusions."

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  • Gretta
    Gretta Member Posts: 70
    edited October 2014

    Thanks SpecialK,  I was hoping I could have it just with Herceptin, I'm about to finish taxol in 5 weeks.  Was hoping I might gain some benefit using it just with Herceptin.

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  • positivenegative
    positivenegative Member Posts: 106
    edited October 2014

    Gretta

    I get just herceptin and perjeta now.  i used to get them both with taxol.

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