Abemaciclib -nice approval today

Not yet but  I am guessing that they may need approval for local funding despite NICE guidance and I think it is a draft not finalised? Its good to see CDK4/6 inhibitors coming in to use for those with higher recurrence risk. I will ask my oncologist about the process next week, but I think its for women who have locally advanced disease (without clear posterior margin for example) rather than loco-regional disease (cancer contained within breast and lymph nodes). 

There's a research study at the Marsden called TRAK-ER for ER positive, HER neg breast cancer that is for women with higher recurrence risk. For 3 years they monitor free tumour DNA in the blood. If tumour DNA starts to rise, its an indicator that things are on the move, so the person then gets randomised to palbociclib and fulvestrant or a placebo. Obviously if there was evidence of metastatic disease on scans rather than just a change in blood markers you would be treated on that basis rather than staying in the trial. Apparently its easy enough for an oncologist to refer women through an online form.

Will let you know what my oncologist says next week.

Thank you. I’m not seeing mine again for a few weeks but will ask also. 

That sounds positive. I don’t even know if I’ve met yet with my oncologist. I was seen two days ago by a team of 3 people to do my X-rays for radium but I wasn’t introduced. They never sat and spoke to me other than the normal consent questions then took measurements and off I went. 
I was hoping I would be sat down and spoken to.  
im hoping when radium starts they talk to you then 

just it runs high in my family with mum her sister and my Nan all having breast cancer. I wasn’t offered the oncotype test and when I initially asked about genetic testing. They said there wasn’t eough information 

x

Hi Army, when they say not enough info, they mean they need full name, dob, cancer diagnosis and age diagnosed, and ideally hospital where they were seen too. It’s not that they definitely won’t offer test, just that they don’t have enough information to make decision. Even if they decide not to offer gene test you might be eligible for additional screening. For example, I will be having annual mammograms from 40-60 based on family history alone. That’s more than I would have based on my breast cancer diagnosis. Maybe gather all the information and ask again to be referred to genetics. 

Thanks Zephyr

i did fill in a lot of forms. But wasn’t sure if some of the info back then. I will bring this back up. With the oncologist as I would like to receive yearly screening for this reason. I did mention it to consultant but wasn’t told anything about extra screening. I was offered it initially for 5 years when I was 45 . Then when I hit 50 it went to 3 years   Which funnily enough 53 and last mammogram I was diagnosed. 
so hoping I continue on annual mammograms do I  discuss this with oncologist or consultant do you know x thank you  x

I think you can ask any doctor, including your GP. Just get as much info as you can about it all, even addresses or dates of diagnosis. The more info they have the faster they can work out your risk and what screening you should be offered.  x

Just to say the referring doctor needs to Include the cancer info in the letter ideally. If you wrote it down and kept your own copy that would help so they can send it with the referral letter to genetics. X

Found the actual paper:

Reads like it’s for node positive and final publication is expected 20/7

www.nice.org.uk/.../final-appraisal-determination-document

Thank you I will def be mentioning this again x