locally advanced BC and Abemacyclib

Thanks Wendy - I'm glad to hear of 9 years on for you. Ive had the holy trinity of treatment now, chemo, mastectomy and radiation. now on letrazole against recurrence, which is apparently very effective.  My Doc was obliged to tell me about Abemaciclib bc of the Monarche research - they gave it to stage 3 bc patients very similar pathology to mine, and found a significant improvement in overall survival in patients that took it.  if it wasnt such a cost, Id just say yes now, but trying to judge whether its worth the high cost.  I think anything that improves your chances must be good though - and maybe it will come on to the PBS for stage 3 within 2 years (hopefully!)

Hi@Pope17,
I was on a combination of abemaciclib and a a drug called faslodex, I used to have 2 injectioins once a month whilst on the other drug,it was part of the criteria of the access scheme,I was on them for around 20 months, so in the scheme of things yes as it gave me that extra time before going on the next treatment which I am on now which is ivchemo, I wont lie and say it was a picnic,because it wasnt, but we are all different so you may not experience the side effects as bad, what other options is your oncologist offering you?  I was also on a drug called capecitibine which has a very good record of reducing tumours, have a good chat with your oncologist se what he has to say,unless you can get the abemaciclib on a compassionate access scheme $5000 a month is a lot of money if there are other drugs you can use. I am 9 years now since diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, and I have been given just about everything there is to give me,but I am still here and will try whatever my oncologist suggests.!!!

wendy55 

thanks wendy55. Do you think it was worth taking it for you?

Hi @Pope17,
yep that sounds about the right price,my onc, emailed the drug company EliLilly In Indianappolis in the USA and I was able to access the drug as I said on a compassionate access program, the drugs were posted to my Oncs rooms and I picked them up at the pharmacy within his practice.
Do hope you have success,if not I am sure your oncologist will come up with something.
I must admit the drug does come with some side effects look them up on the website.

wendy55

thanks wendy55 - my doc said i can access it, but for $5,000 per month. as it is not yet approved for stage 3 on PBS.  Im double checking that though

Hi @Pope17,
I cannot answer your question regarding stage 3 and abemaciclib as I am stage 4, I was on abemaciclib for about 20 months, I was on a compassionate access program so did not have to pay, it now is on the pbs as you say, can you not access it because you are only stage 3 and not stage 4? I do know that these drug companies do have different sets of criteria for these drugs, could your oncologist not get the drug for you on compassionate access grounds as mine did, worth asking the question,

wendy55