Metastatic Breast Cancer

How we think about things can have a powerful impact on our experiences. Here's why that matters for people with cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Verzenio (abemaciclib) for use in combination with a hormonal therapy for initial treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Using some simple reminders that life is still happening can help put cancer anxiety and fear back where they belong.

Individual advocates and larger organizations offer hope as they help us understand what future treatments are in the pipeline.

Until recently, Herceptin, which is used to treat patients with metastatic breast cancer, was fully covered under Humana’s South Florida Medicare Advantage plans. But, after taking it off the preferred drug list, patients will now be responsible for 20 percent of the drug’s cost, better aligning South Florida’s plans with Humana’s other Medicare Advantage plans.

As costs decrease, and physicians move to address barriers to genetic testing, a panel of physicians, researchers and a patient advocate highlighted the importance for people to get tested.

Lynparza (olaparib) was granted approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with BRCA-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer who have previously received chemotherapy. Also, patients who have HR-positive disease should have prior endocrine therapy or they would not be considered appropriate for such treatment.

Treatment for metastatic cancer can mean asking a tough question every single day.

A patient with metastatic breast cancer discusses what helps her find comfort.

The two oral medicines will be packaged together, only requiring one prescription and one copay, for HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

Being cured and being healed are two different things, and one can happen without the other.

People across the nation are participating in the Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Project to help researchers steer the approach in fighting the disease.

Recent findings may make way for a less expensive treatment option for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Postmenopausal women with locally-advanced or metastatic HR-positive breast cancer benefited from the use of Faslodex (fulvestrant) as a frontline treatment.

Five years ago, I was stricken with metastatic breast cancer. This heartbreaking diagnosis came not long after I finished treatment for early stage, HER2+ cancer.

O’Shaughnessy highlighted a group of agents that encompasses entirely new ideas and new options for patients as well as novel avenues from follow-up data from clinical trials.

CURE speaks with Joyce O’Shaughnessy, MD, on the rise of treatment options for patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive metastatic breast cancer.

In this issue of CURE magazine, we review the current approaches for the evaluation and treatment of metastatic breast cancer, and what the future holds.