herceptin after chemo??
 

I finished my chemo on 1-13-10 (act) and am having radiation now, when my oncologist calls me and tells me they retested my pathology results and found i am HER2+. They do not know yet what the best course of treatment should be, just herceptin or starting another round of taxol w/the herceptin. Has anyone received herceptin without being on chemo??

Re: herceptin after chemo??
 

I started my Herceptin after I finished my Chemo. I started it about a week after I finished Chemo, and also had my Rad's at the same time. This was back in 2005 for me.

Re: herceptin after chemo??
 

Why did they choose to treat you with herceptin alone, without chemo? Isn't it suppose to be more beneficial when given with chemo? I am just confused since it took them so long to get me the proper diagnosis, I just want the best treatment option.

Re: herceptin after chemo??
 

Linda,

I also got my Herceptin after chemo and radiation. My onc tried to give me chemo and Herceptin at the same time, but I could not stand them together, I had to much vomit when this happened. I got one year Herceptin after I had fineshed radiation and could stand it pretty well with almost no side-effects.

Re: herceptin after chemo??
 

I received Herceptin two weeks after I finished AC & T chemo.

Karen W

Re: herceptin after chemo??
 

You don't mention your status. If you are stage IV and there are areas of known cancer still I would think herceptin and chemo. If you are stage III or less, then herceptin alone as a precaution/preventative agent I think is commonly done.

Re: herceptin after chemo??
 

I also had the Herceptin after chemo. The 2009 SABCS presentation says that Herceptin still works great after chemo but works better with chemo. However, if you have early bc and finished chemo already, I am not sure if you would have to do more Taxol as the benefit is already there.

Re: herceptin after chemo??
 

Yes, I have received it, but that was a while ago and the trend seems to be towards herceptin with chemo.

As far as I know, there was only one trial that compared herceptin after chemo with herceptin with chemo. Trial N9831 suggests that herceptin after chemo definitely improves disease-free survival (return of disease goes down by about 1/3). Herceptin with chemo though is considered to be even better since it reduces recurrence by another 1/4.

Here is the info on the trial, N9831:
http://www.abstracts2view.com/sabcs0...ABCS09L_992332

If any Her2-wonks are interested, here are some slides from Dr. Perez:
http://www.osuccc.osu.edu/SanAntonio/perez.pdf