Who is receiving Perjeta?

['lizbeth]

Please share if you are receiving Perjeta as part of a clinical trial. Or in treatment after the approval. Or as compassionate use.

[Lauriesh]

I will start getting perjeta on oct 8. I am getting it " off label".
I am lucky that my dh has really good ins through his work and they decided to cover it.


Laurie

[debsing]

I did the herceptin/perjeta/taxotere regimen a year ago. The taxotere was removed after 6 cycles and I was on the herceptin/perjeta combo for about two months then I had progression

['lizbeth]

Debsing,

Are you ER/PR positive or negative?

You are currently on TDM1 correct? Are you in the same boat with Lauriesh - the progression is liver mets?

@Lauriesh,

Wow, are you lucky to receive it off label. I hope it is very effective and keeps you NED for a long time. Keep us posted.

[debsing]

I am triple positive.. 95% er+, 5% PR+ and her2 3+, grade 3 tumors

[debsing]

Oh, and mets to the liver, bones, omentum and skin

['lizbeth]

When you were on the Herceptin & Perjeta - did you take anything to block the Estrogen?

[debsing]

So for some reason, I went from herceptin/perjeta/taxotere, to herceptin/perjeta, then to herceptin/perjeta/ navelbine and now tdm1 without any estrogen blockers though I've often wondered why

['lizbeth]

I only ask because ER 95%, and since you progressed in such a short time on the herceptin/perjeta. . . I would wonder about this too. Are you in a clinical trial? I'd ask your medical team about this.

I'm not very familiar with ER+ treatments, but I had a friend who was similar and kept progressing. She hadn't received ER treatments - except prior to the first recurrence.

TDM1 has worked magic for others, hope it is good to you.

[debsing]

Did your friend stop progressing after the estrogen was addressed? Was she her2+ as well?

['lizbeth]

My friend's cancer was ovarian, BRCA positive. I'm not sure if they tested for Her2. My concern was her estrogen was not addressed after the initial treatment. She didn't add them back in, because it didn't "work" initially.

Your cancer is very different.

I wouldn't stress over it, just keep it in mind. Something to read up on and ask your medical team about. I'm just a fan of learning about options.

[jacqueline1102]

I am receiving Herceptin and Perjeta and have since August 1, 2012. See my signature line. Good luck.

[MikeF]

My wife Barb has been on Perjeta/Herceptin/Taxotere since January with excellent results. The only concern I have had is I cant be sure the Taxotere is accomplishing anything other than wearing her down. My thought is the two inhibitors are doing the work. At this point we and her doctor dont want to stop the chemo for fear it will flare up again. Side effects for Barb on Taxotere have been minimal so we continue with the present combo. I have checked in here frequently to see how you all have been but have been afraid to post Barbs progress for fear of jinxing her Im knocking/beating on my wooden desk at work as I post this. Keep up the fight you are all an inspiration to us.

['lizbeth]

Mike,

I'm happy to hear the combination is working. (giving a little knock knock on wood too).

The Taxotere is tough stuff. I see that the Perjeta/Herceptin/Taxotere has been effective since January. That is awesome.

[CoolBreeze]

I've been getting perjeta for 6 months or so??? Not quite sure I remember. I get perjeta with herceptin. Few side effects, easy as herceptin, definitely is stopping my cancer in its tracks.

['lizbeth]

CoolBreese,

So happy for you that the Perjeta & Herceptin has stopped the cancer.

Did you discontinue Zometa in July? or just Gemzar?

Are you currently NED?

It seems like your luck with treatments is turning from bad to good. I sincerely wish that you can keep those unwanted cells at bay with just the targeted therapies.

[CoolBreeze]

I still do Zometa, it was just the Gemzar that I had to quit. I can't do any chemo since my grans won't come up above 1.0, or at least, they haven't since January. So it's good that the SBRT seems helpful as does the perjeta without any chemo.

I am not sure they are ever going to say NED with me as I've had a lot of unusual treatments that muddy the waters, but they do say that the tumors look inactive and have "decreased enhancement." My next PET scan will tell a clearer tale but the perjeta had taken a very hot spot down to cold before we did the SBRT so the radiation was done on a spot that was already becoming inactive. How long it stays that way is anybody's guess, but the good news is there are no new lesions anywhere in the liver. Some minor and very tiny spots on the lung but nobody is concerned about it being cancer so I am not either.

I have learned not to expect absolutes from the medical world.

I don't take estrogen blockers either - I asked my doctor, and he said it was because I failed so quickly on tamoxifen and I was only weakly ER+, so he didn't think I'd get any further benefit. I was also pre-menopausal and that played a role but I now forget what it is.

I really think perjeta has done well by me - I hope everybody who qualifies gets a chance to see if it does for them.