Tykerb Question

[Annemarie]

Are the oncologists able to prescribe only Tykerb monotherapy or does it have to be combined?

[chrisy]

The FDA approval was for the narrow definition of Stage IV with progression on Herceptin. In combination with Xeloda.

That said, your oncologist can prescribe it as monotherapy if he wants, but that might be considered an "off label" use.

[Lolly]

Yep, Chrisy's right, and as an "off label" use we run into the tricky problem of whether or not insurance will cover it unless it's prescribed exactly how the FDA approved it. A lot depends on the insurance liason person in your onc's office.

<3 Lolly