Herceptin for stage4 bone mets expenses
hello all,
Iam recently diagnosed with stage 4 invasive ductal carcinoma with distant mets to hip bone...My profile is
ER strong positive
PR strong positive
HER2 strong positive
Done with 10 cycles of radiation... 4 rounds of herceptin 2 more left...I live in India where the expenses are out of pocket...My oncologist just said that i have to be on herceptin indefinitely for effective progression free survival...I would like to know if there is any alternate chemo drugs available for treatment of her2 positive other than herceptin...Feeling worried.....
Comments
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Welcome to BCO, RayG. We are very sorry for your diagnosis, but glad you found us. You are not alone in your fears, nor in your illness.
Here is a link to a fairly recent news item relating to the efficacy of a lower-cost, biosimilar version of Herceptin. I do not know if it is available in the Indus region. You might contact Roche (as to Herceptin) and Biocon/Mylan (as to its biosimilar medicine) to find out about any reduced cost programs they may have for Indus region patients, and also have your Oncologist look into clinical trials that would provide your medicine or appreciably reduce its cost for you.
http://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/biosimilar_trastuzumab_comparable_to_brand,_asco_hears_1034837
In the HealthUnlocked website, there is a forum titled Breast Cancer India, in which the problem of getting more affordable Herceptin seems to be a common topic. Much of the content on HeathUnlocked is hidden from unregistered viewers, so I recommend registering with HeathUnlocked for access to read through the content in its Breast Cancer India section. On the upper right part of the page in the Breast Cancer India section is a little search box where you can search for the term Herceptin to find relevant discussion threads. Here are some example threads from there:
https://healthunlocked.com/breastcancerindia/posts/133937798/price-of-herceptin
https://healthunlocked.com/breastcancerindia/posts/132028005/info-and-price-of-herceptin
https://healthunlocked.com/breastcancerindia/posts/133928307/herceptin-price-and-finance-help
Here at BCO, we have two Forum sections that we hope will also be very helpful to you --
We have this discussion section on HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer topics:
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80
And this discussion section for Stage IV members:
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8
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This item linked here indicates that that Celltrion is marketing its biosimilar drug Herzuma in South Korea.
http://www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Biosimilars-of-trastuzumab
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Roche India has this "Blue Tree" program to help. Here is information.
http://www.rocheindia.com/home/media/Providingconfidenceandsupporttopatients.html
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Oh RayG,
I am on indefinite Herceptin every 3 weeks IV. Now I do not know if it is even the correct thing for me but I have scans in 3 weeks that will reveal all.
Regarding being in India, I have no idea what your availability or cost is. I do know that it would cost nothing to contact the pharmaceutical maker and plead your case. If not that then maybe long term Tamoxifen which is what I was told in a second opinion. Good luck Carolyn
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