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Guiding You Through Your Metastatic Breast Cancer Diagnosis

A METASTATIC BREAST CANCER (mBC)icon DIAGNOSIS can be shocking and even scary. That's understandable. What's important is what comes next for you.

Consider making time to map out a treatment plan with your doctor. In doing so, you may wonder about how treatment works, how to get started, or how to stay on track. All are common questions. And all are OK to ask.

Treatment Considerations

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What To Consider

When choosing a treatment, you may have questions about its effectiveness, potential side effects, and even changes that it may have on your lifestyle. All are good starting points for a discussion with your doctor—one that can lead to the treatment that’s right for you.

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Know Your Subtype

Knowing your subtype is important because there are different types of mBC. Your doctor can give you a test and, based on the results, tell you which type of metastatic breast cancer you have.

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Partner With Your Doctor

Ambassadors were asked to share their personal stories about IBRANCE. All content was accurate at the time of publication and may have since changed.

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WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK

Find helpful questions to ask your doctor to help you navigate your treatment options.

Tips & Support

“What now?” That may have been one of your first thoughts after receiving an mBC diagnosis. Allowing yourself time to process the diagnosis and organize your thoughts is vital. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, there are steps you can take that may help lead to better moments.

Download the following Tips Sheet, which is designed to help support you as you manage your diagnosis:

Newly Diagnosed Tips Sheet

Newly Diagnosed Tips Sheet

Tips and supportive resources you can print or email to yourself and loved ones.

Tips and supportive resources you can print or email to yourself and loved ones.

Ibrance (palbociclib) Ambassador Chris smiling Ibrance (palbociclib) Ambassador Chris smiling

It is easy to lose yourself in a diagnosis like mBC. You need people to help you get through this difficult time.”

Chris, Ambassador

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Newly Diagnosed FAQs

What does hormone receptor-positive mean?

Hormone receptor-positive (HR+)icon is a subtype of breast cancer that includes both ER+ and/or PR+ subtypes and grows in response to two different hormones—estrogenicon and/or progesteroneicon . If your cancer grows in response to the hormone estrogen, your cancer could also be called estrogen receptor-positive (ER+). If your cancer grows in response to the hormone progesterone, it could be called progesterone receptor-positive (PR+).

What is a CDK 4/6 inhibitor?

A CDK 4/6 inhibitoricon is a type of treatment that works to disrupt the activity of cell growth and division by preventing certain proteins (called CDK 4 and CDK 6) from telling the cell that it needs to grow and divide.

IBRANCE is in a class of drugs called CDK 4/6 inhibitors that work to put the brakes on cell growth and division in both healthy and cancer cells. This helps slow the progression of cancer, but it can also cause side effects, some of which are serious. Please see the Important Safety Information to learn more.

Is there something I could have done to prevent getting metastatic breast cancer?

No. Breast cancer can spread regardless of treatment or preventative measures taken.

Is there any financial assistance available to help cover the cost of IBRANCE?

Yes, Pfizer Oncology Together will help you find financial assistance options for your prescribed IBRANCE, including a co-pay savings program for eligible, commercially insured patients. Limits, terms, and conditions apply. We can also help identify resources if you have Medicare, another government insurance plan, or don’t have health insurance.

Are support resources available to my caregivers?

Yes. After all, they can play a vital role in your treatment. Guidance, tips, suggestions, and more are available to your caregivers. Check out our resources here.

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Woman and boy hugging outside
 

Talking With Friends and Family About Your Diagnosis

It’s understandable that those who care for you will also want to learn more about your diagnosis. Discussing your diagnosis with friends and family isn’t always easy, but it can be helpful—for you and for them.

It’s important to remember that your story is yours alone. How you choose to tell it is entirely up to you. Share as much or as little as you are comfortable with, and only as you see fit.

For Those Newly Prescribed IBRANCE

The sections below offer information specifically helpful to those who have been newly prescribed IBRANCE as well as to those who care for them.

Making Your Support Needs A Priority. Together.

Pfizer Oncology TogetherTM is a personalized patient support program to help you and your caregiver throughout IBRANCE treatment. If needed, we can work with you to help identify financial assistance options for your prescribed IBRANCE. And if you need help with some of the day-to-day challenges you're facing, we can connect you to a dedicated Care Champion who has social work experience and will offer you support resources. Because when it comes to support, we're in this together.

For live personalized support, call 1-844-9-IBRANCE.

Connect With Other Patients Taking IBRANCE

The IBRANCE Ambassador Mentor Program offers patients currently taking IBRANCE—as well as their caregivers—the opportunity to speak with a Patient or Caregiver Ambassador on a personal, one-on-one phone call. To get set up with a mentor, call 1-844-390-8696 or register online.

 

Mentors are not medical or mental health professionals and do not provide any medical advice. Please contact your healthcare team for medical information.

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Descubra recursos disponibles para pacientes y cuidadores.

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Discover resources available to patients and caregivers.

 
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Turn to Pfizer Oncology Together to learn about financial assistance resources and get personalized support from one of our dedicated Care Champions.

Acuda a Pfizer Oncology Together para obtener más información sobre los recursos de asistencia financiera y obtener apoyo personalizado de uno de nuestros Campeones de Atención especializados.

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CALL 1-844-9-IBRANCE (Monday–Friday 8 AM–8 PM ET)

LLAME AL 1-844-9-IBRANCE (De lunes a viernes de 8:00 a 20:00 h, hora del este)

 
Pfizer Oncology Together logo

Turn to Pfizer Oncology Together to learn about financial assistance resources and get personalized support from one of our dedicated Care Champions.

Acuda a Pfizer Oncology Together para obtener más información sobre los recursos de asistencia financiera y obtener apoyo personalizado de uno de nuestros Campeones de Atención especializados.

Pfizer Oncology Together care champion icon

CALL 1-844-9-IBRANCE (Monday–Friday 8 AM–8 PM ET)

LLAME AL 1-844-9-IBRANCE
(De lunes a viernes de 8:00 a 20:00 h, hora del este)