Herceptin eradicates aggressive tumors: study (IBC)

[Margerie]

http://www.asco.org/portal/site/ASCO/menuitem.d773f70619f767fd506fe310ee37a01d/?vgnextoid=4cca201eb61a7010VgnVCM100000ed730ad1RCR D&reuterview=detail_view&reutersid=7215

[Barb]

Does this mean after 4 years of Herceptin, I could be free of cancer? How can one tell? My onc has recommended that I stop having it, as the fatigue I have experienced the last 4 years affects my daily living. I nibble at this option every now and then but obviously have reservations as does my family.
Any thoughts or ponderings?
2001 Bilat Mast, different cancer in each breast, 11/18 Ax Lymph affected; AC/CMF, Rad; arimidex; 2003 Bone Mets; rad;taxotere;zometa; herceptin

[madubois63]

I personally am the victim of too much treatment. After being diagnosed with metastatic inflammatory breast cancer (lungs/liver), I did carboplaten, taxotere and Herceptin. Carbo and taxatere was done three weeks on and one week off. Herceptin was given every week. After six months, I was NED, but we couldn't be sure if there was any micro cancer cells floating around...so I continued the treatments. After awhile, my counts weren't recouperating and I got a 7 1/2 hour nose bleed. I ended up in the hospital for blood and platelet transfusions. I had a to get one or two transfusions weekly. A bone marrow biopsy confirmed our suspisions...I had Acute Myeloid Leukemia that was induced by too much chemo...Herceptin is less aggressive as compared to chemo, and no one is blaming the Herceptin, but they just don't know if it could change DNA. My genes mutatated leaving me no choice but to have a bone marrow transplant - not fun. I know they are working on tests that tell you if a chemo will work for you and your specific cancer, but I wish there was a test show to show how much of that chemo to give...This is just my thoughts and opinion, but I think sometimes the oncs don't know when enough is enough...