IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
No breast cancer journey is the same, but there’s one rule that always applies: You can navigate the journey in whatever way feels right to you and your doctor. Katie Edick has taken this approach to heart since she was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer seven years ago.
We sat down with Edick to hear her story and all the ways she’s found empowerment, courage, and joy along the way—from establishing a trusted relationship with her doctor and finding the right treatment for her to relishing in everyday moments with her family and friends. These are her Breast Cancer Diaries.
“Going into treatment without having to pack multiple meals for the day or an entire suitcase full of activities, and instead having just one cup of coffee and my purse makes me feel lighter—it’s liberating.”
If you or someone you love is
living with HER2-positive breast cancer, consider asking your doctor about Phesgo.
Learn More
“I was utterly shocked. I just sat there crying, asking the doctor if I was going to die.”
When Edick’s children were 10 and 12 years old, she and her husband traveled to New York to celebrate her 40th birthday. Before leaving for the weekend, Edick remembers having chest pain, which she brushed off as anxiety—until she stood in front of the hotel bathroom’s large mirrors and noticed some visible differences in her breasts.
Upon returning home, she visited her doctor and learned via mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy that she had an “angry lump” in her breast. A few days later, the office called with lab results that confirmed it was HER2-positive breast cancer. “At the young age of 40, that pushed me into the life and world of breast cancer.”
The Start of Her Journey
By day, Katie Edick is an occupational therapist for children under three years old. By night, she’s a mom to two teenagers, a wife, a painter, and a Broadway-musical megafan.
Edick’s breast cancer diagnosis in 2016 hasn’t changed that impressive bio, but she does refer to cancer as her “part-time job.” It’s this sense of honesty and levity that has helped her navigate her journey so gracefully, and that keeps her looking forward with courage and hope.
Meet Katie Edick
“As a mom with two young kids, hearing that my breast cancer was considered terminal was huge. I spent lots of time praying. I’m still working through the whole thing.”
Following those initial results, Edick’s doctor sent her to an oncologist to get more information about her specific type of breast cancer and potential treatment options. There, the doctor expressed concern and encouraged her to schedule additional testing, which revealed she had Stage IV, also known as metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer.
HER2-positive breast cancer, which is one of the more aggressive types, is caused by an overproduction of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Edick’s diagnosis was classified as metastatic because it had spread beyond her breast to other parts of her body.
“When I went back for those results, the doctor told me that my
cancer was no longer curable—and that we’d treat it for as long as possible. She really didn’t give me any hope.” Together with her care team, Edick decided her best course of treatment would be a combination of two HER2-targeted therapies. Every three weeks, she would go into the clinic for IV infusions and chemotherapy. This meant long days at the clinic, but she believed it was the right treatment plan for her at the time because of the benefits and risks that she discussed with her doctor.
The Prognosis
(Scroll for more important safety information about Phesgo, including the most serious side effects.)
At a breast cancer symposium in Texas, Edick came across a booth sharing information on Phesgo® (pertuzumab/trastuzumab/
hyaluronidase-zzxf), an injectable HER2 targeted treatment that combines two of the IV medicines that she was already receiving.
Edick learned that Phesgo is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in adults with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer like hers. She was informed it would be given every three weeks and take ~five minutes (or ~eight for the initial dose) for a doctor to administer Phesgo under the skin of her thigh, and she would need to sit for an additional 15 to 30 minutes to monitor for any reactions.
Edick returned home to talk to her doctor about Phesgo. Her doctor discussed the benefits and risks associated with Phesgo, including the most serious potential side effects such as heart and lung problems. Although Edick 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.
Equipped with all this information, Edick and her doctor made the decision to switch from the IV infusion of HER2-targeted therapy to Phesgo. She worked with her care team to get it covered by her insurance, and became the first patient to ever receive the medicine at her clinic, paving the way for future eligible patients.
Now having completed her chemotherapy treatment and three treatment rounds in with Phesgo, Edick is loving how fast the administration time is compared to the longer time she’d grown accustomed to with IV administration—and she’s not the only one. In a clinical study of 160
Advocacy
As someone who constantly supports others in both her personal
and professional life, Edick finds moments of self care through daily walks and yoga classes, plus time spent painting watercolors—a hobby she’s taken up since her diagnosis—and jamming out to her favorite Broadway soundtrack (spoiler: it’s ).
As for her family, she practices staying present with them and savoring the simple things. “We just live our life,” she says.
“We don’t live in fear.”
Self Care
Edick is still working on accepting that breast cancer will be part of her story forever, and she hopes her support network can accept that, too—even when she seems to be thriving. “When I looked sick, I got a lot of attention. Now that my hair has grown back, people forget that cancer’s still part of my life,” she says. “So check on your people, especially anyone in longer-term treatment, and let them know you’re thinking of them.”
In the meantime, Edick stays hopeful and she looks forward to monthly nights at the local theater with her husband and cozy mornings wrapped in her beloved handmade Broadway quilt.
Looking Forward
“I hope my kids see that I haven’t let cancer take me down. I hope they see that you can do great things, even when life feels overwhelming.”
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“[Breast cancer] isn’t just pink. As a society, we’ve made it look kind of pretty and easy, which minimizes our journey and how hard it is. There’s so much more to it.”
Adjusting to her new normal, Edick channeled her initial emotions into action. In looking back, she recognizes how her job as an occupational therapist, showing kids and parents how to advocate for themselves, has inspired her. In a way, her work makes her uniquely suited to approach her journey with strength—but also a lot of self love.
Whether it’s leading retreats with a breast cancer advocacy group, lobbying with a non-profit organization, or keeping tabs on treatment options by attending scientific meetings, her involvement in and passion for the breast cancer community motivates her to keep moving forward. “There was so much that I couldn’t control, like how I felt and what I had to do, so I decided to take control by learning the science and research.”
While she appreciates the widespread attention breast cancer gets, she’s determined to rewrite the narrative around “fighting” the disease—especially when metastatic disease is considered incurable—and focus instead on honoring the strength and courage living with metastatic breast cancer requires every day.
Empowering Herself and Others
close
Diarrhea
Hair loss
Low levels of white blood cells with or without fever
Nausea
Feeling tired
Rash
Damage to the nerves (numbness, tingling, pain in hands/feet)
The most common side effects of PHESGO when given with docetaxel for treatment of breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) are:
Hair Loss
Nausea
Diarrhea
Low levels of red blood cells
Weakness
The most common side effects of PHESGO when given with chemotherapy as part of an early breast cancer regimen are:
What are the most common side effects?
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
PHESGO is given as an injection. The active ingredients in PHESGO have been
PHESGO may cause administration-related reactions:
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
Low white blood cell counts can be life threatening and
PHESGO may worsen low white blood cell counts caused by chemotherapy:
What are other possible serious side effects?
PHESGO is a prescription medicine approved for use in combination with docetaxel in adults who have HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to different parts of the body (metastatic) and who have not received anti-HER2 therapy or chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer.
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.
PHESGO® (pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and hyaluronidase-zzxf) is a prescription medicine approved for use in combination with chemotherapy for:
What does PHESGO treat?
If you cannot afford your medication, visit phesgo.com/financial-support for financial assistance information.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.
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.
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 should I know about side effects with PHESGO?
PHESGO should not be used in patients who are allergic to pertuzumab, trastuzumab, hyaluronidase, or to any of the ingredients in PHESGO
Who should not receive PHESGO?
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
Your doctor may check for signs of lung problems including:
PHESGO may cause serious lung problems.
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
Receiving PHESGO during pregnancy can result in the death of an unborn baby and birth defects.
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
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).
Important Safety Information & Uses
people, 85 percent of people preferred the injectable Phesgo over the IV administration of the same medicines because of less time spent in the clinic, whereas 14 percent preferred IV administration because it felt more comfortable. With the time she has back on treatment days, Edick loves helping her kids with homework or grabbing lunch with friends.
scroll
for more
If you cannot afford your medication, visit phesgo.com/financial-support for financial assistance information.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.
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.
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 should I know about side effects with PHESGO?
Diarrhea
Hair loss
Low levels of white blood cells with or without fever
Nausea
Feeling tired
Rash
Damage to the nerves (numbness, tingling, pain in hands/feet)
The most common side effects of PHESGO when given with docetaxel for treatment of breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) are:
Hair Loss
Nausea
Diarrhea
Low levels of red blood cells
Weakness
The most common side effects of PHESGO when given with chemotherapy as part of an early breast cancer regimen are:
What are the most common side effects?
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
PHESGO may cause administration-related reactions:
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
Low white blood cell counts can be life threatening and
PHESGO may worsen low white blood cell counts caused by chemotherapy:
What are other possible serious side effects?
PHESGO should not be used in patients who are allergic to pertuzumab, trastuzumab, hyaluronidase, or to any of the ingredients in PHESGO
Who should not receive PHESGO?
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
Your doctor may check for signs of lung problems including:
PHESGO may cause serious lung problems.
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
Receiving PHESGO during pregnancy can result in the death of an unborn baby and birth defects.
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
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).
PHESGO is a prescription medicine approved for use in combination with docetaxel in adults who have HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to different parts of the body (metastatic) and who have not received anti-HER2 therapy or chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer.
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.
PHESGO® (pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and hyaluronidase-zzxf) is a prescription medicine approved for use in combination with chemotherapy for:
What does PHESGO treat?
Important Safety Information & Uses
close
“I was utterly shocked. I just sat there crying, asking the doctor if I was going to die.”
When Edick’s children were 10 and 12 years old, she and her husband traveled to New York to celebrate her 40th birthday. Before leaving for the weekend, Edick remembers having chest pain, which she brushed off as anxiety—until she stood in front of the hotel bathroom’s large mirrors and noticed some visible differences in her breasts.
Upon returning home, she visited her doctor and learned via mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy that she had an “angry lump” in her breast. A few days later, the office called with lab results that confirmed it was HER2-positive breast cancer. “At the young age of 40, that pushed me into the life and world of breast cancer.”
The Start of Her Journey
close
“As a mom with two young kids, hearing that my breast cancer was considered terminal was huge. I spent lots of time praying. I’m still working through the whole thing.”
close
close
“[Breast cancer] isn’t just pink. As a society, we’ve made it look kind of pretty and easy, which minimizes our journey and how hard it is. There’s so much more to it.”
Adjusting to her new normal, Edick channeled her initial emotions into action. In looking back, she recognizes how her job as an occupational therapist, showing kids and parents how to advocate for themselves, has inspired her. In a way, her work makes her uniquely suited to approach her journey with strength—but also a lot of self love.
Whether it’s leading retreats with a breast cancer advocacy
group, lobbying with a non-profit organization, or keeping tabs
on treatment options by attending scientific meetings, her involvement in and passion for the breast cancer community motivates her to keep moving forward. “There was so much that I couldn’t control, like how I felt and what I had to do, so I decided to take control by learning the science and research.”
While she appreciates the widespread attention breast cancer gets, she’s determined to rewrite the narrative around “fighting” the disease—especially when metastatic disease is considered incurable—and focus instead on honoring the strength and courage living with metastatic breast cancer requires every day.
Empowering Herself and Others
close
At a breast cancer symposium in Texas, Edick came across a booth sharing information on Phesgo® (pertuzumab/trastuzumab/
hyaluronidase-zzxf), an injectable HER2 targeted treatment that combines two of the IV medicines that she was already receiving.
Edick learned that Phesgo is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in adults with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer like hers. She was informed it would be given every 3 weeks and take ~five minutes (or eight for the initial dose) for a doctor to administer Phesgo under the skin of her thigh, and she would need to sit for an additional 15 to 30 minutes to monitor for any reactions.
Edick returned home to talk to her doctor about Phesgo. Her doctor discussed the benefits and risks associated with Phesgo, including the most serious potential side effects such as heart and lung problems. Although Edick 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.
Equipped with all this information, Edick advocated to transition her treatment of IV infusion to Phesgo: and worked with her care team to get it covered by her insurance. She became the first patient to ever receive the medicine at her clinic, paving the way for future patients.
Now having completed her chemotherapy treatment and three treatment rounds in with Phesgo, Edick is loving how fast the administration time is compared to the longer time she’d grown accustomed to with IV administration—and she’s not the only one. In a clinical study of 160 people, 85% of people preferred the injectable of Phesgo over the IV
close
close
(Scroll for more important safety information about Phesgo, including the serious side effects.)
Equipped with all this information, Edick advocated to transition her treatment of IV infusion to Phesgo: and worked with her care team to get it covered by her insurance. She became the first patient to ever receive the medicine at her clinic, paving the way for future patients.
Now having completed her chemotherapy treatment and three treatment rounds in with Phesgo, Edick is loving how fast the administration time is compared to the longer time she’d grown accustomed to with IV administration—and she’s not the only one. In a clinical study of 160 people, 85% of people preferred the injectable of Phesgo over the IV administration of the same medicines because of less time spent in the clinic, whereas 14% preferred IV administration because it felt more comfortable. With the time she has back on treatment days, Edick loves helping her kids with homework or grabbing lunch with friends.
close
Learn More
If you or someone you love is
living with HER2-positive breast cancer, consider asking your doctor about Phesgo.
“Going into treatment without having to pack multiple meals for the day or an entire suitcase full of activities, and instead having just one cup of coffee and my purse makes me feel lighter—it’s liberating.”
close
“I hope my kids see that I haven’t let cancer take me down. I hope they see that you can do great things, even when life feels overwhelming.”
Looking Forward
close
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As someone who constantly supports others in both her personal and professional life, Edick finds moments of self care through daily walks and yoga classes, plus time spent painting watercolors—a hobby she’s taken up since her diagnosis—and jamming out to her favorite Broadway soundtrack (spoiler: it’s ).
As for her family, she practices staying present with them
and savoring the simple things. “We just live our life,” she says. “We don’t live in fear.”
Edick is still working on accepting that breast cancer will be part of her story forever, and she hopes her support network can accept that, too—even when she seems to be thriving. “When I looked sick, I got a lot of attention. Now that my hair has grown back, people forget that cancer’s still part of my life,” she says.
“So check on your people, especially anyone in longer-term treatment, and let them know you’re thinking of them.”
In the meantime, Edick stays hopeful and she looks forward to monthly nights at the local theater with her husband and cozy mornings wrapped in her beloved handmade Broadway quilt.
(Scroll for more important safety information about Phesgo, including the serious side effects.)
(Scroll for more important safety information about Phesgo, including the serious side effects.)