Ovarian cancer: Anyone here on Enhertu?

I just Googled Enhertu, and learned that it was approved by the FDA three weeks ago for HER2 positive solid tumors, other than breast, gastric, and non-small cell lung cancers, where it was previously approved. So people in other support groups might have more insight into things like side effects.

But it sounds like it could be a good option if your cancer is HER2-positive.

@corday7578 Are you continuing with your cancer care team at Northwestern? This is a good place to ask your question about Enhertu. @val64 made the comment that Enhertu was just approved by the FDA within the past three weeks so it sounds to me that your gyn/onc is very much on top of the latest research. How do you feel about your gyn/onc's recommendation?

@corday7578 Do you get CURE? I found this article in my online edition of CURE right after I posted my response to you. Here is an article about Enhertu:

Enhertu Marks First Therapy Approved Across HER2-Positive Solid Tumors:

-- https://www.curetoday.com/view/enhertu-marks-first-therapy-approved-across-her2-positive-solid-tumors?ekey=RUtJRDo5QTc0NjQyOC04NjVCLTRCN0ItOTI5Ni01NDlFNEZBQUE2REE%3D&utm_campaign=emailname&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=304488245&utm_source=hs

I retired from Northwestern & know many of the physicians. My team goes over & beyond & are so on top of things. I feel confident he’s offering me the best treatment for right now. I’m praying it works!

Yes, thank you! I’ve been reading all I can on this drug. They’re coming up with new treatments all the time so trying to be hopeful & positive.

Yes, I’m in 4 support groups which is very supportive. I’m also involved with many zoom calls with ovarian cancer patients & a well known gyn/onc will hold discussions. Very informative.

I keep hearing terms like HER2- positive, etc. from other people. My oncologist has never even mentioned things like this. Should I be asking for more information on my tumor/cancer type?

The first chemo left me with several tumors which were in areas that the cancer surgeon said they couldn’t be removed. He thought chemo would get rid of them but it didn’t.

I’ve been on Avastin for several months which has stopped their growth. I figure that fairly soon, I will be in the position of “What do I do next?”

@jo72 I looked back through your other posts and saw that you were considering a second opinion. Did you do that yet? With your questions and the stage of ovarian cancer getting another opinion is what I do. I'd go to a comprehensive cancer center whether there is ton of experience, ongoing research, and physicians who collaborate with one another. You mentioned Stanford as an option. You might also consider UC San Francisco. Your primary care provider could make the referral for you.

Did you have a biopsy or surgery prior to starting on chemotherapy? Your question about HER2 positive could be found on your pathology report. Any tissue that was examined or removed would go to a pathologist who is a medical doctor. It's the pathologist that will make the diagnosis.

It's definitely a good idea to ask what the options are if/when the current treatment doesn't work so well anymore. Might be worth asking both your oncologist and a second opinion.

They probably didn't test for HER2 on your original pathology report, but they can go back and test for that, or any other protein that's a target of a specific drug, any time they want. Tests like that ("immunohistochemistry" or "IHC") are inexpensive and take a couple days. If the next plan is one of these targeted drugs, they can probably order those tests now to see which drug might work for you.

You could also ask if they can do a DNA sequencing test on your tumor, which might suggest clinical trial possibilities. Sequencing is expensive and takes longer, but should be covered by insurance in your situation. (I just had a biopsy on one of my metastatic tumors so that its DNA can be sequenced. Hope it works and there aren't any insurance snafus.)

Hello Teal Sister, I am 74, have ovarian cancer and have been on Enhertu, via a grant from the drug companies, since October, 2023. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 1B or 1C, August 2019. Went through the usual stuff and thought I was free and clear until October of 2022 when I had a reoccurrence in my pelvic region. Had 6 rounds of Liposomal doxorubicin and carboplatin with excellent results. However, a couple of spots remained. I elected not to take Avastin with the chemo or as a single agent. I finished that regiment in April, 2023. Had a wonderful summer, our son got married, but I knew I had to begin a new treatment.. With Mayo’s help, (social services?) applied to Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca to receive Enhertu for free. My insurance would not cover it as it was not FDA approved, but covered everything else. The two tumors that I still have have gotten a bit smaller, certainly stable. They are both under one cm. The infusions are every three weeks and after the initial one, Enhertu takes about 30 minutes. I have found Enhertu a lot easier than chemo. I have pretty well worked out my schedule of when I will feel not so great and plan accordingly, but by day 8-10 I am back playing pickleball. Can walk all the other days and have worked to get the most out of my time. I could have stopped, at infusion 10, but I am now too scared to stop, and plan on going another 3 months. I did join a Facebook group for Enhertu and some people have a rough time while others are more like I am. I have not lost my hair, maybe some thinning. Have to watch constipation, nausea for a few days around day 4 or so, but not bad and controlled with Ondansetron. I take some naps but lucky me I am 74 and retired. My tumors are HER2 positive. Hope this helps.