[Sandy in Silicon Valley]

Hi, Sherry -

I can't imagine what your onc is thinking, in stopping you after 2 years... was your metastasis very limited to begin with?

Here are the only 2 reasons I've heard of, for stopping Herceptin during tx for bcmets: 1) the metastasized bc has become Herceptin-resistant, and is progressing despite the patient being on Herceptin; 2) LVEF is dipping, and patient is at risk for congestive heart failure.

I've been on Herceptin for the 4.5 years since my mets dx. Even though I've had very indolent progression from the neck down (one still-small lung met, no symptoms), I have had 3 brain mets - possibly a fourth, which we're following to see if it's actually radiation injury or mets - and if Tykerb I started in July will have any effect if it's the latter. Still, since Herceptin has been working so splendidly for me neck-down, I didn't want to stop taking it, when I started Herceptin, and my onc was able to argue the "medical necessity" of both as my current tx (no chemo since July 2006!).

I don't think it's reasonable, given your current status, to discontinue Herceptin - now or ever, if it keeps your mets NED or stable, and if it works in combo with chemo, if you should have a progression in the future.

Maybe your onc is thinking of putting you on Tykerb instead? Or Sutent (a pan-kinase inhibitor predicted to be FDA approved for advanced bc in 1st Qtr 2008)? If it were me, I wouldn't mess with a good thing, to try something new, that doesn't work for everyone!

Wishing you success convincing your onc, or getting a second opinion to back you up, or if all else fails, finding a new onc!

(((hugs)))
Sandy in Silicon Valley