Confused about being taken off Herceptin

[ChristineF]

Help

This is my first post, but I have read some great information previously on the message boards. I didn't have a question till now and I thought this is the best place to ask this.

My onc has taken me off Herceptin because a lump has appeared in my lymph node on my neck. I've been on it since Jan'05 when I was diagnosed. I'm only 36 so being taken off it has really upset me because I was hoping to be on it for many, many years since it such a wonderful treatment. She said since it doesn't seem to be working there is no sense of being on it. Yet I've read on the message boards that one woman was being put back on it after a treatment of Abraxane and other round of a chemo combo. Another woman was still on it during a new round of chemo after mets had appeared. I don't understand why I'm being taken off of it and she said she'll never put me back on. I'm very confused. Is the protocol different in Canada? I hope someone can help me with my problem.

Christine

[Bev]

Hi Christine,

I don't know, I'm posting to keep your post and question up. Good Luck. BB

[Kaye]

I don't know about the policy for allowing Herceptin use in Canada as compared with the U.S., although its general approval appeared to occur much later than in the U.S. However, use of Herceptin is different in the states as well.
For example, I know of one gal who was allowed one year of Herceptin at the time of her dianosis. She was being treated at a major university cancer center in Southern California. At the time she was insured through an hmo (health maintenance organization). During the course of her treatment she decided to switch to a ppo type of insurance. The oncologist or university accepted both types of insurances. However, once she switched from the hmo to the ppo, her oncologist told her that she would now be allowed Herceptin for the rest of her life. She still had the same oncologist. Thus, it appears that recommendations for treatment in the states--or at least some states are based on the type of insurance one has, and that can vary from state-to-state. I don't think it is supposed to be that way, but that is the reality of what is or has happened.