New Drug for women with metastatic HER2+ breast cancer
31 January 2023
Exciting news for women with metastatic HER2+ve breast cancer! There is a new drug available- trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd)
T-DXd is a type of therapy that works by targeting specific proteins in cancer cells. This helps to stop the cancer cells from growing and spreading throughout the body. T-DXd is given through an intravenous (IV) injection and is given once every 3 weeks.
One of the main benefits of T-DXd is that it has been shown to be effective in patients who have progressed on other treatments. In clinical trials, T-DXd has been shown to shrink tumours in some patients and slow down the growth of the cancer in others.
Another benefit of T-DXd is that it is generally well-tolerated, with side effects that are similar to those of other cancer treatments. The most common side effects include fatigue, nausea, and hair loss. However, these side effects are usually manageable and do not cause significant problems for most patients.
At present T-DXd is only available via specialised drug access program and is only for women who have metastatic HER2+ve breast cancer who have progressed after 1st line treatment.
Your doctor will be able to advise you on whether T-DXd is a good option for you, based on your individual health and medical history.
