What should you consider when deciding on monoclonal antibody drug treatment?

Discuss your cancer treatment options with your doctor. Together you can weigh the benefits and risks of each treatment and decide whether a monoclonal antibody treatment is right for you.

Questions to ask your doctor include:

• Has my tumor been tested to see if a monoclonal antibody treatment might be of benefit? Simple tests on tumor samples can often tell if the currently available monoclonal antibody treatments might help your specific cancer.
• Has the monoclonal antibody drug shown a clear benefit? Ask your doctor about evidence of the treatment's effect in studies. Did it slow cancer growth? Did it result in reduced tumor sizes? Is this a first line of treatment or a treatment we try when others don't work?
• What are the likely side effects of monoclonal antibody treatment? With your doctor, you can determine whether the potential side effects of treatment are worth the likely benefit.
• How much will monoclonal antibody treatment cost? Monoclonal antibody drugs can cost thousands of dollars for each treatment. Ask your care team to help you determine if the treatment is covered by your insurance.
• Is monoclonal antibody treatment available in a clinical trial? Clinical trials, which are studies of new treatments and new ways to use existing treatments, may be available to you. In a clinical trial, the cost of the monoclonal antibody drug may be paid for as a part of the study. Also, you may be able to try new monoclonal antibody drugs. Talk to your doctor about what clinical trials may be open to you.