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Lolly · 05-07-2007, 03:13 PM

Barb, I've had "only" mets to local, regional and distant lymph nodes, but have been on Herceptin since 2001, with no "Herceptin Holiday". At times I've been in remission, at times stable, but always on Herceptin. Now that I've showed progression within the same "field" of mets, I've dropped Herceptin and moved onto Tykerb.

I believe I've not experienced more serious mets because my onc acted quickly to start me on Herceptin at the first sign of activity after primary treatment was finished, and also believe Herceptin has served me well to keep my disease contained all these years.

<3 Lolly

05-07-2007, 03:13 PM	#3
Lolly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,756	Barb, I've had "only" mets to local, regional and distant lymph nodes, but have been on Herceptin since 2001, with no "Herceptin Holiday". At times I've been in remission, at times stable, but always on Herceptin. Now that I've showed progression within the same "field" of mets, I've dropped Herceptin and moved onto Tykerb. I believe I've not experienced more serious mets because my onc acted quickly to start me on Herceptin at the first sign of activity after primary treatment was finished, and also believe Herceptin has served me well to keep my disease contained all these years. <3 Lolly __________________ Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation. Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.