Hi Lauren -
I am an 8 year survivor and here is my history:

i) Diagnosed in 1996 at age of 50 with Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma. Had a modified radical mastectomy with reconstructive surgery at same time. Several positive nodes. Was staged at 2 at this time (tumor was about 2.5 cm). Took 7 months of CAF. Went into remission for 3 years.

2) Recurrence in 1999 to lymph node under arm same side and 2.5 cm tumor in liver. Found out at this time that I was Her2 3+ at this time. Was advised to have a stem cell transplant which I did after several months of Taxotere. Started with weekly Herceptin Dec of 1999. Restaged to Stage 4 at this time. Went into remission for another 3 years.

3) Recurrence in 2002 with 2.5 cm tumor again in liver. Started on Navelbine for about 7 months, then switched to Gemzar for another 8 months. At this time since my tumor had not spread to any other place, we decided to have the Radio Frequency Abalation done in Sept of 2003. Started on Xeloda in November of 2003 and have been on since. I have been on weekly Herceptin since December of 1999 and will continue indefinitely.

Hope this is of some help. Sorry so long but have a long history with this, which I will not complain about. Rather it be long then not.