I have been thinking that some of my friends may be interested in knowing more about the actual treatment plan. I’m sure that most people have a sense of the general aspects of chemo, however there are actually three different treatment protocols. The appropriate protocol is determined based on the results from a cancer patient’s receptors. A receptor is a protein molecule that receives chemical signals from outside a cell (thank you, Wikipedia). These receptors are tested for estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and herceptin (HER2). For me, all three of these tested positive. This means that the appropriate chemo protocol for me is FEC-D.

What is FEC-D? This treatment consists of Fluorouracil, Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide (FEC) for the first three rounds of treatment. A round is 21 days. The last half of treatment is Docetaxel (D), hence FEC-D. However, I get lucky again, and because I am HER2 positive, then I also get to add Herceptin (H) to my treatments. Herceptin will start with the first D treatment, however I will be treated with H for a full year.

You would think that this is quite enough drugs being pumped into my system. But no, not so…it turns out there is one more! Because the breast cancer has already spread to the lymph glands, the Medical Oncologist has also recommended that I add Pertuzumab (P) to my treatments, effectively making my protocol FEC-D+H+P. Adding the P to the D and the H means that the last half of my treatments will be spread out over four rounds instead of the three rounds that it would be for just D or D+H. At the end of the day, I will go through seven rounds of treatment.

However, Pertuzumab, while it is FDA-approved, is not funded in Canada. And it costs $20,000…but don’t worry, I’m not looking for donations! The insurance company required my Medical Oncologist to complete a Prior Authorization form with supporting documentation on the need for P in my treatments. Last week I sent in the request for approval, and on Thursday I received the good news that the P is going to be covered by my company healthcare plan. I am so lucky…my work provides us with AMAZING medical coverage! Don’t forget the other injection at $3,000 a pop that I need for each of the seven rounds. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m the luckiest unlucky person!