Canadian triple positive chemo treatments?

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1982M
1982M Member Posts: 300
edited August 2021 in Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer

Hello,

I'm ewly diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer. I go for a lumpectomy on Thursday and will start chemo sometime after.

I was wondering if anyone knows if perjeta is covered along with herceptin for early stage triple positive cancer? I know it may vary by province, but thought I'd check it out.

Thanks for sharing any info!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited August 2021

    1982M - I am not in Canada, but it is likely that even here in the US you would not be eligible for Perjeta with your posted stats above because the size of your tumor is under 2cm - that is the normal cut off size unless you also have positive nodes.

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  • 1982M
    1982M Member Posts: 300
    edited August 2021

    Thanks SpecialK!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited August 2021

    1982M - of course! If it makes you feel any better my tumor was larger, I was node positive, but didn't get Perjeta because it had not yet been approved for early stage use when I was treated - and I am still here! I totally get wanting to throw everything at Her2+ though - it is scary, right? Hang in there!

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  • DutchieGirl
    DutchieGirl Member Posts: 103
    edited August 2021

    1982M, Im in Canada, and didn’t receive Perjeta. I did ask about it, but my MO felt it wasn’t warranted in my case. I got the feeling that he’s not on board with this particular treatment. I did talk to someone who also lives in Ontario who wanted Perjeta (same sub-type as me) and they had to pay for it. And my understanding is, it isn’t cheap! Think she had a GoFundMe page so that they could off-set the cost.

    Good luck to you! Hope it all works out.

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  • Aram
    Aram Member Posts: 417
    edited August 2021

    Hi 1982M,

    I am in Quebec and I am getting Perjeta. But my biggest tumor was over 3 cm and still my MO was not sure if tumor board would approve it. From the drug manufacturer website, the tumor needs to be at least 2 cm.

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  • 1982M
    1982M Member Posts: 300
    edited August 2021

    Thank you all! It's hard being patient. I feel like it's all moving so slow. I wish I had the opportunity to talk to a complete team early on.

    My tumour is estimated 1.5cm. It could only be measured and visualized well by ultrasound and not MRI or mammogram. I'm hoping the ultrasound is right! I'll find out sooner then later bc that suckers being removed Thursday.

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