Hi Merridith "

I think there are two of us ""Vicki's"" posting. I'm from So. Calif. I was so pleased to read your posting that you were node negative and waiting on the Herceptin arm of the clinical trial. Where is yours being done?

I posted the following on the main message board and this week I will start carbo-taxol and then 12 weeks of herceptin. My instincts are telling me to be aggressive with this even though I know node neg. women usually don't take herceptin. I'm T1N0 and her2 3+; what are you?

Here's my posting to fill you in (I've decided to go ahead with the new drug cocktail) --
I just received a call from my medical oncologist and your quick response is appreciated. I'm due for my sixth chemo this week (May 27" '04)of FAC (have been going every 3 weeks). I've asked my doctor several times about my node negative T1N0 status and my high 8/9 Bloom-Richardson score and 3+ her2-neu status and the merits of taking Herceptin at this early stage.

She just called today (Mon.) and said that if I would like to switch my sixth chemo to Carbo-taxol (4 cycles) every three weeks and then have Herceptin on the fourth week for 12 weeks I can do do this.

I am in a quandary " because I have been a ""curious cat"" about this and now that Herceptin is being offered to me" I'm wondering if I'm doing the right thing or rushing this a bit. I was so ready to start growing my hair back and getting back to work next week. Please let me know your thoughts especially those of you who may have a similar status (I was diagnosed in Dec. 2003 with Paget's Disease DCIS and infiltrating ductal carcinoma and three negative nodes from Sentinel node; had surgery Jan. 8 2004 skin-sparing mastectomy of right breast and immediate reconstruction). Thanks for everything. I appreciate your input in helping me decide before this Thursday.

Vicki in So. Calif.

P.S. She said ASCO is reporting on this at their next New Orleans conference.