Metastatic Breast Cancer

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.

After a median follow-up of 10 months, the overall response rate in patients with PD-L1-expressing metastatic breast cancer was 33.3 percent.

An academically trained skeptic, this single project has turned me into a raving optimist.

In terms of both treatment and the emotional perspective of patients, metastatic breast cancer is different from other stages of the disease.

I led a fairly charmed life up until about the age of 29. Life just always seemed to work out for me. I was the gal who had a flat tire 100 yards from the tire shop.