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KellyA,
I am of a similar mind as you. I am stage 1, ER+/PR+, currently on Heceptin + Arimidex. Since none of us stage I-III patients can tell if Herceptin is working for us if we are NED, I am concerned that I may fall in the "doesn't work" category, and don't want to wait to be Stage IV to find out. Also, I am concerned that the combination of the AI and Herceptin is not adequate to block all the "cross talk" pathways there may be, and that the cancer may become adapted to very low levels of estrogen and begin to grow again. In the current Breast Cancer Update, Dr. Chang discusses a laboratory experiment that combined Herceptin, Tykerb and an AI, which killed 100% of the cancer cells. It seems that most of the discussion of the primary value of this drug for early stagers will be as another synergistic combination with Herceptin, rather than in lieu of. I am going to continue to discuss this option with my onc when I see him for Herceptin treatments.
Hopeful
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