This Breast Cancer Survivor Explains The Importance Of Speaking Up

Her doctor didn’t think it was breast cancer at first, but Monica was glad she trusted her gut and pressed her doctor to look more closely. While learning more, she discovered a treatment option she preferred.

The following information was provided to BuzzFeed by Genentech.

Three weeks shy of Monica Ellis’s 40th birthday, she felt a small lump in her left breast that was not there before.

“At this point in my life, I never thought it would be cancer,” Monica recalls. Yet her instincts told her that something wasn’t right. She decided to listen to her body and went to a doctor for further examination. But since Monica was not yet 40 — the recommended age to consider starting routine mammograms — the doctor was quick to dismiss her cancer concerns. The experience didn’t sit right with Monica, so instead of standing down, she decided to speak up. It may have saved her life.

Monica remembers being initially told, “This is nothing, it is likely a cyst.” But just to be sure and for her own peace of mind, she pressed for a mammogram to investigate the lump.

That’s when things started to move fast. That same day, she got the news that no one wants to receive. “They told me, ‘You may have cancer. We’d like you to stay for a biopsy and more testing.’”

Her biopsy showed she had HER2-positive breast cancer — one of the more aggressive types of breast cancers — caused by an overproduction of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) on the surface of breast cancer cells. In 2021 alone, estimates suggested that close to 40,000 women in the U.S. would be diagnosed with this subtype of breast cancer.

Monica’s insistence on receiving a mammogram may have led to an earlier cancer detection and her ability to start treatment earlier. Had she not spoken up about her concerns, her Stage II breast cancer could have possibly gone undetected until her next exam. That lost time could have been deadly with this aggressive cancer.

Following a mastectomy, Monica was put on an initial treatment regimen of chemotherapy plus HER2-targeted therapy. Every 21 days, she would spend five to six hours in the hospital receiving intravenous (IV) infusions through a port implanted in her chest. While the days were long and tiring, Monica continued to work. As she looked ahead at facing up to a year’s worth of infused HER2-targeted therapy as part of the second phase of her treatment plan, she was adamant that cancer would not get in the way of her living life to the fullest. She began evaluating her treatment options with her doctor and discovered a medicine that had a faster administration time.

Monica learned about Phesgo® (pertuzumab/trastuzumab/hyaluronidase-zzxf), an injectable option that combined two of the IV medicines that she was already receiving. She talked to her doctor about whether this fixed-dose, targeted therapy option might be the right fit for the next phase of her treatment plan, which did not involve chemotherapy.

Monica’s doctor explained that unlike most targeted therapies that are given through an IV infusion, Phesgo is a subcutaneous injection that is given under the skin by a healthcare professional. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in combination with chemotherapy before surgery as part of a complete treatment regimen for HER2-positive early breast cancer, and after surgery in adults with HER2-positive early breast cancer that has a high likelihood of returning.

Monica and her doctor discussed the benefits and risks associated with Phesgo, including the most serious potential side effects, such as heart and lung problems. Although Monica was not pregnant when she was diagnosed and started treatment, she was advised about the risks that Phesgo poses to pregnant women. Use of Phesgo in pregnant women may result in serious risks to the unborn baby, including death and birth defects. More important safety information can be found below in this article.

Every three weeks, Monica now goes into the clinic to receive her treatment with Phesgo and no longer has a port. The injection is given just under the skin of the thigh and takes approximately five minutes (the initial dose takes approximately eight minutes) to administer and Monica sits for 15-30 minutes afterward while she’s monitored for any reactions.

“I prefer this faster treatment approach because I don’t have to spend as much time in the clinic. Now I have more time for me,” Monica says.

“What cancer patients want most is to get back to a routine,” Monica says. For her, that means getting the chance to travel again, continue to work, and spend time with family and friends.

It was important to Monica that she could continue working at the job she loves as an area manager at a staffing agency, and she received the OK from her doctors to do so. Though her working hours were scaled back during her initial treatment, she credits the support from her co-workers for aiding in her road to recovery.

Since completing the chemotherapy portion of her treatment plan, Monica’s hair has grown back. She also has been able to work more and has more time to spend with the friends and family who have supported her throughout her entire diagnosis.

“I am starting to feel like my old self again,” Monica says. “I’m returning to my routine while I’m still under treatment.”

Monica recently marked the first anniversary of her cancer diagnosis. A transplant to the U.S. from Ecuador, Monica found strength in her husband, three kids, and family and friends in both the U.S. and her home country. She hopes that others will find strength in her story, and in the future, she would like to create a foundation that offers all kinds of resources for women with breast cancer, including how to advocate for themselves.

“I want to give back to my community and other cancer patients,” she says. “A lot of my knowledge has come from my support group, so I want to give it back to my community and hopefully one day my country.”

To learn more about advances in breast cancer treatment and other breast cancer types, visit Genentech’s Breast Cancer Hub.

Phesgo Important Safety Information & Uses

What does PHESGO treat?

PHESGO® (pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and hyaluronidase-zzxf) is a prescription medicine approved for use in combination with chemotherapy for:

• use prior to surgery (neoadjuvant treatment) in adults with HER2-positive, 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-positive early breast cancer that has a high likelihood of coming back.

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

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

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.

All images via Genentech

M-US-00013870(v2.0)