Early stage treatment discussion

[Hopeful]

My insurance paid for the Herceptin, even though given without chemotherapy. I was dx in June 2006, after the Herceptin presentations at San Antonio but before the FDA approved Herceptin for use in early stage patients. At the time, any use of Herceptin in early stage bc outside of the clinical trials was considered "off label." I questioned my onc as to whether my insurance would pay for Herceptin if dispensed in a manner other than given in the trials (meaning without chemo) and he assured me that they would, and he was right. I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to make that choice and have my insurance company pay for my treatment. Since that time, the FDA has approved Herceptin for use in early stage bc patients in conjunction with chemotherapy. The wording of that approval makes it very difficult for patients to get the drug without also getting chemo, as well as getting insurers to pay for it.

Hopeful