Targeted therapies attack certain molecular agents or pathways involved in the development of cancer. For example, the drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) targets a certain gene's protein called HER2/neu that is found on the surface of some cancer cells.
Unlike chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapies can kill cancer cells with little harm to healthy cells. One of the drawbacks of these therapies is they only work on cancers that have the specific agents they were designed to target. Therefore, many people are not candidates for these therapies.
Targeted therapies offer promise for current and future breast cancer treatments.
Learn about trastuzumab in the treatment of early and locally advanced breast cancer.
Learn about trastuzumab and other targeted therapies in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.
To learn more about a specific targeted therapy drug, visit the National Institutes of Health’s Medline Plus website.
Treatment guidelines
Although the exact treatment for breast cancer varies from person to person, guidelines help ensure quality care. These guidelines are based on the latest research and the consensus of experts. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and National Comprehensive Care Network (NCCN) are two respected organizations that regularly update and post their guidelines online. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) also has overviews of treatment options.
Prescription drug assistance
Targeted therapy drug costs can quickly become a financial burden for you and your family. Medicare and many insurance providers offer prescription drug plans. One may already be included in your policy or you may be able to buy an extra plan for prescriptions.
You may also qualify for assistance from programs that help with drug costs or offer low-cost or free prescriptions.
Learn more about insurance plans and prescription drug assistance programs.
Komen Advocacy Alliance Position on Oral Chemotherapy Parity
|
Oral chemotherapy is generally covered under a prescription drug benefit, in which patients are required to pay for the cost of the drug out-of-pocket, which is typically at a much higher rate than generic medications. Some patients are faced with out-of-pocket costs of hundreds or even thousands of dollars a month.
The Komen Advocacy Alliance believes health decisions should be made between a patient and their doctor. Treatment decisions should not be constrained by financial factors. People who are fighting cancer should be protected from high out-of-pocket medical costs that could lead to financial hardship and even bankruptcy.
The Komen Advocacy Alliance supports efforts at the state and federal level to require group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans to provide coverage for oral chemotherapy drugs on terms no less favorable than the coverage provided for intravenously-administered chemotherapy. At the same time, we must ensure that in adopting oral chemotherapy parity, health insurers are not allowed to reduce the coverage of intravenous therapies.
Learn more about the Komen Advocacy Alliance.
|
Updated 04/17/12
