Some of you had reccurences. Just curious, when did you first have herceptin? At first diagnosis? Or both diagnosis & recurrence? What stage?

I'm stage 3b at first diagnosis, and having herceptin up to 1 year. No recurrences so far.

June 2002 I was first diagnosed - Stage 4 - and I have been on Herceptin since, first with Taxol and the last year with Navelbine.

Jane

I was diagnosed Stage 1 on 2/2002, Left mastectomy,clean nodes, 0.7cm tumor, ERPR- and HER2 3+. No other treatent was advised at that time. Reoccurrence 9/03, mets to supraclavicular nodes, and axillary nodes, began Herceptin only 10/03 every 3 weeks, and I am told I will remain on it for 5-7 years or longer if it controls the mets.

Hi Jojo,

I was diagnosed stage 1, high risk, in 10/03 and began chemo (taxotere and carboplatin)at the end of December and receive it every 3 weeks. I get Herceptin weekly. Had Adrymiacin for ovarian cancer 17 years ago and it effected my EF. I talked my current oncologist into giving me Herceptin rather than Adrymiacin. He's giving me my Meds "off protocol." I'm so grateful to him. I'm hoping that with Herceptin I might have a chance of not getting a recurrence. I'm called high risk because I'm BRCA1, Her2+++, ER- and PR- and had a grade 3 tumor.

Jojo -

1996 - First diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. Herceptin was not out then so I was not tested for it.
1999 - Recurrence to liver and lymph node same side of bc. This put me at stage 4. Tested positive for Her2 and started end of year.
2002 - Recurrence again to liver. Had liver surgery in Sept/2003. Have been on Herceptin for 4 years now. I feel it has really helped keep me stable in between along with other chemo's I have tried.

I do wish that the Herceptin had been out when I was first diagnosed and I had been tested at that time but that's the way my cards fell. I feel great and plan to stay on the Herceptin as long as I can.

Good luck to you

i was diagnosed 10/99 with ibc stage 3b. After chemo surgury and more chemo and rads i was on herceptin weekly ever since an am ned so far.

I had Herceptin for one year following my initial
diagnosis in August 2001, as part of a clinical
trial. Finished in March, 2002, doing well.

Correction:
I finished Chemo in March, 2002,
Herceptin in March, 2003

Jojo,

Were you on Herceptin when you had the recurrence to your liver?

Also, what are the side effects you have from such long term Herceptin use?

Hope NED stays around a long, long time!

:)

Irene,

What type of surgery did you have for your liver?

Beth

I was given herceptin at dx of recurrance 4/02. Currently off but hoping to resume soon.
el

Good morning -
Marci posted:
I'm called high risk because I'm BRCA1, Her2+++, ER- and PR- and had a grade 3 tumor.

I am not sure about my BRCA, but have the same other tumor type as Marci.
Got first Herceptin Jan. 8, 2002 when had to begin battling big time mets to my liver.
Been on Herceptin (no chemo needed as had complete response) and Zometa (to strengthen my bones) every three weeks since mid July, 2002. No sign that my heart is affected and intend to STAY on my good old "vitamin H."
Blessings to all of you who have success with this drug!

JoJo,
My orig dx was 1/96, stage 2, before you were tested for HER2. Treatment ended 10/96.

Recurrance 3/03, stage IV, mets to liver(too many to count) and lungs (2 tumors). Started chemo Apr. .too hard on me, switched to Herceptin in June '03. Lung mets are now gone and some liver mets are scarring. Size of liver had decreased!

hugs,
janelle

I was diagnosed 7/01. 2 cm. IDC, 1 pos. node, er-pr-, her2+++. Had herceptin for one year as part of a clinical trial. Finished 12/02. NED.

Jan. 6, 2004 - 5th time last Wednesday.

Praise God & Genentech for Herceptin!I've been on it weekly since Feb 99 following mets dxs. All well until 4 mos ago -- small recurrence noted in swollen lymph nodes -- still on it, with Gemzar now. Originally Her was combo'd w/Navelbine. Good luck to all and I believe we are beating this disease slowly but surely!