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Hi Dianne,
The protocol in the past has been for herceptin to be combined or used after chemo even for early stage. It has synergy with taxol. It's more complicated than I can understand, but your test results may suggest chemo is warranted. Standard operating procedure has been changing quickly though.
There are a couple of people on board doing Herceptin only. Herceptin works on 50% of Her2+. So...if you're not one of them, you've missed out on the benefits of chemo. If you are one of them, you've avoided side effects of chemo which ranges greatly. Problem is in the past we haven't known who benefits. They are working on this.
Before Herceptin, I think it would have been rare to do chemo for stage I. I think you should get a 2nd and 3rd opinion. Inquire with all 3 if there are any studies you can participate in. Let us know what the test results are, so the others can give you a more informed opinion.
Best of luck and smooth sailing. BB
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