I was dianosed with stage 3 , HER2 positive, HR-, breast cancer on April 2018. Had Chemo (A/C, Taxol + Herceptin for 1 year), double mastecomy, radiotherapy and finally DIEP surgery. All is OK, but I seem lots of women here who also had Perjeta (Pertuzumab) together with Herceptin. I know Perjeta is commonly used for HER2 metastatic breast cancer, but it seems it is also used with early breast cancer in some cases. Do you when when that is the case?

If I had any kind of HER2+ cancer at any stage I would be trying to see if Perjeta might be a possibility as it increases the likelihood of a pathological complete response which in turn improves survival chances. However it might not be indicated in some circumstances and might not be possible to get it without paying for it. It might be overkill for some smaller cancers without lymph involvement if Herceptin alone could have similar results. I know that I was lucky to get it and I would like anyone who could benefit from it to also get it.I am still hoping for the pathological complete response, however given the findings of the Katherine trial it seems that it is not the end of the world if there is residual cancer, as Kadcyla (if it can be got) greatly improves survival and decreases recurrence outcomes. Hopefully that should mean that it will be added on the PBS for HER2+ EBC where neoadjuvant treatment has not fully knocked over the cancer. Katherine Trial:https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1814017"Among patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer who had residual invasive disease after completion of neoadjuvant therapy, the risk of recurrence of invasive breast cancer or death was 50% lower with adjuvant T-DM1 than with trastuzumab alone."I read far too many oncology journal articles these days! Thanks for wishing me luck. we all need a bit!

I had Perjeta along with Herceptin and Taxol for four doses. This neoadjuvant therapy seemed to work pretty well on my cancer after AC did nothing much. It is only on the PBS for stage 4 as far as I know but I got it through a compassionate program where the drug company and the hospital split the bill. I think this is because my cancer is HER2+ inflammatory breast cancer which has a particularly bad prognosis and is very aggressive. So to boost my survival chances they applied for this. I’m not sure if it is also indicated for node positive non-IBC HER2+ early breast cancer. I have just had my mastectomy so I still don’t know if I had a complete response but I was responding well early on so hopefully it has helped in the fight. I know that the drug that I would want to get if there is residual disease is Kadcyla. Again it’s not on the PBS for early breast cancer but if I need it I am going to hope they will do the same compassionate application thing or otherwise I will just somehow pay for it. Perjeta gave me bad diarrhoea exactly two weeks after each dose for a few days. Also would get it as it was administered from second dose on. My husband said the name is highly accurate because it has purge in it and would call it silly names like purgeatron in an attempt to find humour in the situation.

Hi @Sandes i was diagnosed with stage 1 HER2+/ Er+/ PR- breast cancer in September this year. I Had a lumpectomy followed by taxol and Herceptin. I will also be having 5 weeks of radiation. I have not heard of anyone having Perjeta for early BC. Before starting my treatment I saw 2 oncologists and none of them suggested taking Perjeta. It would be interesting to know if anyone else is having Perjeta for early BC.

I am reading this book (released Sept/2019, so very recent information) from a health journalist Kate Pickard who had HER2, stage 3 a few years ago. The book is not just about her story, but the history of breast cancer reasearch and treatments: Radical : The Science, Culture and History of Breast Cancer in America. Despite the fact that is related to the USA, there are very interesting stories and analysis that may as well be applied to Australia. She discusses treatments trends/evolution along more than 100 years. She does not have metastatic bc, but she was given Herceptin + Perjeta. I read the combination of the two is the best way to treat HER2. I am seeing my oncologist in January and will ask her more about it.

Thank you for sharing that, I might also discuss that with the Onco.. You mentioned about DIEP surgery, what does that stand for, I have not heard that term before.

Anyone having Perjeta for early breast cancer ?

PV123
Member
6 years ago
Thank you for sharing that, I might also discuss that with the Onco.. You mentioned about DIEP surgery, what does that stand for, I have not heard that term before.
Sandes
Member
6 years ago
I am reading this book (released Sept/2019, so very recent information) from a health journalist Kate Pickard who had HER2, stage 3 a few years ago. The book is not just about her story, but the history of breast cancer reasearch and treatments: Radical : The Science, Culture and History of Breast Cancer in America. Despite the fact that is related to the USA, there are very interesting stories and analysis that may as well be applied to Australia. She discusses treatments trends/evolution along more than 100 years. She does not have metastatic bc, but she was given Herceptin + Perjeta. I read the combination of the two is the best way to treat HER2. I am seeing my oncologist in January and will ask her more about it.
PV123
Member
6 years ago
Hi @Sandes
i was diagnosed with stage 1 HER2+/ Er+/ PR- breast cancer in September this year. I Had a lumpectomy followed by taxol and Herceptin. I will also be having 5 weeks of radiation. I have not heard of anyone having Perjeta for early BC. Before starting my treatment I saw 2 oncologists and none of them suggested taking Perjeta. It would be interesting to know if anyone else is having Perjeta for early BC.

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