1. What is targeted therapy for breast cancer?
Targeted therapy is the name given to a group of drugs that block the growth and spread of cancer. They target and interfere with processes in the cells that help cancer grow.
The type of targeted therapy you’re offered will depend on the features of your breast cancer.
2. When is targeted therapy given?
Targeted therapy can be given:
- To shrink a larger cancer before it’s removed by surgery
- To reduce the chances of breast cancer coming back after surgery
- If breast cancer has come back or spread to another part of the body
3. Targeted therapy drugs for breast cancer
Trastuzumab (Herceptin)
The most commonly used targeted therapy for breast cancer is trastuzumab.
It’s used to treat breast cancer that is HER2-positive.
Other targeted therapy drugs
Other common targeted therapy drugs for HER2-positive breast cancer include:
Some targeted therapies are used to treat HER2-negative, oestrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer that has spread. These include:
Targeted therapies use to treat some triple negative breast cancers include:
Olaparib (Lynparza) is a targeted therapy to treat some people with HER2-negative breast cancer who also have an altered gene. It’s a type of treatment known as a PARP inhibitor.
Denosumab (Xgeva) is a targeted therapy used for treating secondary breast cancer in the bone.
4. Side effects of targeted therapies
Like any treatment, targeted therapies can cause side effects.
The side effects will depend on which targeted therapy drug you’re having.
If you’re having targeted therapy at the same time as other treatments, such as or , you may have side effects from those as well.
Side effects are listed on our individual targeted therapy drugs pages – use the links above to find out more.
5. Further support
If you’d like any further information and support or just want to talk things through, speak to one of our expert nurses by calling our free helpline on 0808 800 6000.
You might want to speak to someone who knows what it’s like. If you’ve had a primary breast cancer diagnosis, our Someone Like Me service can put you in touch with someone who’s had a similar experience to you, so you can talk through your worries and share experiences over the phone or by email.
Visit our forum where you can talk to other people having the same treatment as you.
