Your healthcare team will determine the treatment plan that’s right for you. Those with early breast cancer are treated differently than those with metastatic breast cancer.
Did you know...
The treatment schedule with PHESGO is exactly the same as with PERJETA (pertuzumab) + Herceptin (trastuzumab).
If you’re already receiving PERJETA + Herceptin, your doctor may be able to switch you to PHESGO if they think it’s right for you.
Totally new to breast cancer treatment?
Take a closer look at exactly what the treatment schedule for PHESGO is expected to be.
PHESGO for early breast cancer
If you are taking PHESGO for early breast cancer, you will take it every 3 weeks for a total of 1 year (up to 18 cycles) unless side effects become too difficult to manage or the cancer comes back sooner.
You will also get chemotherapy, but the dosing schedule and number of cycles will depend on which type of chemotherapy you are getting. Chemotherapy is typically stopped sooner than PHESGO. Your doctor will decide what chemotherapy regimen is right for you.
Treatment and surgery
For some people, it may be beneficial to start treatment with PHESGO before having surgery, which is called neoadjuvant treatment. One of the goals of neoadjuvant treatment is to help reduce or get rid of cancer cells before surgery.
Most patients should then continue to receive treatment after surgery, which is called adjuvant treatment. The goal of adjuvant treatment is to kill any cancer cells left behind after surgery, to help keep you cancer free for as long as possible.
If you and your doctor decide that starting PHESGO before surgery is right for you, your treatment plan might look like this:
Your doctor may also decide to start you on PHESGO for the first time after surgery, in which case your treatment plan might look like this:
*Unless side effects become too difficult to manage or the cancer comes back sooner.
✝You will also get chemotherapy, but the dosing schedule and number of cycles will depend on which type of chemotherapy you are getting. Chemotherapy is typically stopped sooner than PHESGO. Your doctor will decide which chemotherapy regimen is right for you.
The goal of treatment in HER2+ early breast cancer is cure.
Keep in mind that not all cancers respond to neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment. It’s possible that the cancer may still return after treatment.
PHESGO for metastatic breast cancer
Metastatic breast cancer is treatable but not curable. A goal of metastatic breast cancer treatment is to help control cancer growth.
PHESGO may be one of the first treatments you get when you are diagnosed with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer. This is known as “first-line therapy,” as in, the first line of defense.
PHESGO is given every 3 weeks until the cancer progresses or side effects become too difficult to manage.
PHESGO is given in combination with a type of chemotherapy called docetaxel. Docetaxel is given for a minimum of 6 cycles. If your doctor stops docetaxel (for example, due to side effects), you can continue receiving PHESGO.
Your treatment plan with PHESGO may look something like this:
Your doctor will continue to monitor and adjust your plan over time and determine when you might need a new treatment.
What is PHESGO?
PHESGO is a prescription medicine approved for use in combination with chemotherapy for:
- use prior to surgery (neoadjuvant treatment) in adults with HER2+, locally advanced, inflammatory, or early stage breast cancer (tumor is greater than 2 cm in diameter or node-positive). PHESGO should be used as part of a complete treatment regimen for early breast cancer.
- use after surgery (adjuvant treatment) in adults with HER2+ early breast cancer that has a high likelihood of coming back.
PHESGO is also approved for use in combination with docetaxel in adults who have HER2+ breast cancer that has spread to different parts of the body (metastatic) and who have not received anti-HER2 therapy or chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer.
What are the most serious side effects of PHESGO?
PHESGO may cause heart problems, including those without symptoms (such as reduced heart function) and those with symptoms (such as congestive heart failure).
- The risk for and seriousness of these heart problems are highest in people who received both PHESGO and a certain type of chemotherapy (anthracycline)
- Your doctor will check for signs of heart problems before, during, and after treatment with PHESGO. Based on test results, your doctor may hold or discontinue treatment with PHESGO
- Contact a healthcare professional immediately for any of the following: new onset or worsening shortness of breath, cough, swelling of the ankles/legs, swelling of the face, palpitations, weight gain of more than 5 pounds in 24 hours, dizziness or loss of consciousness
Receiving PHESGO during pregnancy can result in the death of an unborn baby and birth defects.
- Birth control should be used while receiving PHESGO and for 7 months after your last dose of PHESGO. If you are a mother who is breastfeeding, you should talk with your doctor about either stopping breastfeeding or stopping PHESGO
- If you think you may be pregnant, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately
- If you are exposed to PHESGO during pregnancy, or become pregnant while receiving PHESGO or within 7 months following the last dose of PHESGO, you are encouraged to report PHESGO exposure to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555
PHESGO may cause serious lung problems.
- Your doctor may check for signs of lung problems including:
- Severe shortness of breath
- Fluid in or around the lungs
- Weakening of the valve between the heart and the lungs
- Not enough oxygen in the body
- Swelling of the lungs
- Scarring of the lungs
Who should not receive PHESGO?
- PHESGO should not be used in patients who are allergic to pertuzumab, trastuzumab, hyaluronidase, or to any of the ingredients in PHESGO
What are other possible serious side effects?
- PHESGO may worsen low white blood cell counts caused by chemotherapy: Low white blood cell counts can be life threatening and were seen more often in patients receiving Herceptin® (trastuzumab) plus chemotherapy than in patients receiving chemotherapy alone. Your doctor may check for signs of low white blood cell counts when he or she examines you
- PHESGO may cause administration-related reactions: PHESGO is given as an injection. The active ingredients in PHESGO have been associated with severe administration reactions, including hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis, which can be fatal. Talk to your doctor if you feel any symptoms. The most common symptoms include dizziness, nausea, chills, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, hives, swelling of the skin, breathing problems, or chest pain
What are the most common side effects?
The most common side effects of PHESGO when given with chemotherapy as part of an early breast cancer regimen are:
- Hair Loss
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Low levels of red blood cells
- Weakness
The most common side effects of PHESGO when given with docetaxel for treatment of breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) are:
- Diarrhea
- Hair loss
- Low levels of white blood cells with or without fever
- Nausea
- Feeling tired
- Rash
- Damage to the nerves (numbness, tingling, pain in hands/feet)
What should I know about side effects with PHESGO?
- Not all people have serious side effects; however, side effects with PHESGO therapy are common. It is important to know what side effects may happen and what symptoms you should watch for
- Your doctor may stop treatment if serious side effects happen. Be sure to contact your healthcare team right away if you have questions or are worried about any side effects
You are encouraged to report side effects to Genentech and the FDA. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.
Talk to a healthcare professional for more information about the benefits and risks of PHESGO.
Please see full Prescribing Information for additional Important Safety Information, including most serious side effects.
If you cannot afford your medication, visit phesgo.com/financial-support for financial assistance information.