Herceptin

Littleone22
Littleone22 Member Posts: 10
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

My mother in law has stage 4 UPSC. She has tried many treatments (several chemos, radiation, tamoxifen, and surgeries) and they have all failed. Her oncologist has said her foundation one tumor testing indicates that herceptin may be an option for her. Her insurance is refusing to cover Herceptin as it is not approved for her condition and they are saying there is no solid proof is an effective treatment. We are applying for compassionate use, but not sure will get it. Out of pocket is out of the question ($8K per week estimate). I have seen some posts on these boards that some people here have been treated with Herceptin. How did you get approval? Any ideas/thoughts?

We feel we are running out of options and time. 


 

 

 

 

   

Comments

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,486 Member
    edited August 2018 #2
    Littleone, I am not sure if

    Littleone, I am not sure if any of the ladies here have taken herceptin or not.  Maybe they remember someone else will or give ideas on the funding question.  Your family is in my prayers.

  • Lcmartin
    Lcmartin Member Posts: 8
    edited August 2018 #3
    New Drug Combo Improves

    New Drug Combo Improves Survival of Women with Rare Uterine Cancer.

    Adding the monoclonal antibody drug trastuzumab—already used to treat certain breast cancers—to the chemotherapy regimen of women with a rare form of uterine cancer lengthens the amount of time their tumors are kept from growing, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers conducting a small phase II trial of the regimen, testing its safety and value.

    The results of the trial, published online ahead of print on March 27 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, show that the drug extended the length of time to tumor progression by four to eight months in the seven-year trial. The researchers say this may lead to new national guidelines for treating this cancer subtype, known as uterine serous carcinoma. 

    Adding trastuzumab (Herceptin) to standard chemotherapy regimen improves survival in women with rare form of uterine cancer. 

    HER2/neu mutation guides personalized uterine cancer treatment in new phase II trial. Read the entire article at https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/new_drug_combo_improves_survival_of_women_with_rare_uterine_cancer

    I believe that new guidelines may have been established for the use of Herceptin for stage 4 UPSC (with HER2 mutation). My 79 year old mother just started Herceptin yesterday for stage 4 UPSC. I hope this information is helpful. 

  • Lcmartin
    Lcmartin Member Posts: 8
    #4
    Herceptin in the NCCN Guidelines

    I just checked and Herceptin for UPSC is already listed in the NCCN Guidelines Version 2.2018, page ENDO-D1 OF 2

    Endometrial Carcinoma: Carboplatin/paclitaxel/trastuzumab (for HER2-positive uterine serous carcinoma)5,f

    Share this with your oncologist and have him send it to your insurance company. Best wishes. Len

  • hopeful56
    hopeful56 Member Posts: 73
    #5
    Herceptin

    Hi Littleone22,

    So sorry about your mother-in-law.  You have come to the right place to ask questions.  I had put a post prior about Herceptin being used for treatment in uterine cancer after my check-up in June.  This is recent for uerine cancer as it is a treatment for breast cancer.  

    I would have your mother-in-laws doctor/oncologist follow up with the insurance company with recent study to support approval.  Ladies in their posts have been kind enough to post information.

    I hope this treatment can get approved for her.

    You are wonderful to be so supportive.

    My best,

    Sandra 

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,486 Member
    #6
    I knew the wonderful ladies

    I knew the wonderful ladies would come along with help!!!!  Thank you Lcmartin and Sandra.  You will help others as they come here and search for herceptin.  

  • Little Annie
    Little Annie Member Posts: 28 Member
    #7
    Herceptin coverage

    My wife had stage 3A UPSC.   6 rounds of chemo, followed by 5 and half weeks of radiation.   So far, two rounds of Herceptin.   Go to genentech website,   gene.com,  go to tab "for patients"   look for "help for coverage".    Little Annie is scheduled for Herceptin infusion every three weeks for one year......I believe Genentech is picking up the tab.

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,486 Member
    #8
    Little Annie said:

    Herceptin coverage

    My wife had stage 3A UPSC.   6 rounds of chemo, followed by 5 and half weeks of radiation.   So far, two rounds of Herceptin.   Go to genentech website,   gene.com,  go to tab "for patients"   look for "help for coverage".    Little Annie is scheduled for Herceptin infusion every three weeks for one year......I believe Genentech is picking up the tab.

    I need to correct myself! 

    I need to correct myself!  The ladies, families, and HUSBANDS here Wink

  • Littleone22
    Littleone22 Member Posts: 10
    #9
    Thank you so much for this

    Thank you so much for this helpful information. Will pass it on to her oncologist and will try it. Thank you again. 

  • Littleone22
    Littleone22 Member Posts: 10
    edited August 2018 #10
    Lcmartin said:

    Herceptin in the NCCN Guidelines

    I just checked and Herceptin for UPSC is already listed in the NCCN Guidelines Version 2.2018, page ENDO-D1 OF 2

    Endometrial Carcinoma: Carboplatin/paclitaxel/trastuzumab (for HER2-positive uterine serous carcinoma)5,f

    Share this with your oncologist and have him send it to your insurance company. Best wishes. Len

    your posts are full of

    your posts are full of invaluable information. thank you for sharing this.

  • Littleone22
    Littleone22 Member Posts: 10
    edited August 2018 #11
    Little Annie said:

    Herceptin coverage

    My wife had stage 3A UPSC.   6 rounds of chemo, followed by 5 and half weeks of radiation.   So far, two rounds of Herceptin.   Go to genentech website,   gene.com,  go to tab "for patients"   look for "help for coverage".    Little Annie is scheduled for Herceptin infusion every three weeks for one year......I believe Genentech is picking up the tab.

    thank you so much. I hope it

    thank you so much. I hope it works to help your wife and that she is feeling well!

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