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caya · 10-01-2008, 06:00 PM

Hello Diane,

I thought I would chime in here as I see you are from B.C., and I am from Toronto, so I am thinking you may be getting treated with FEC (a 3 chemo combo), then possibly Taxotere. This FEC-T combo is very commonly used here in Canada, as well as other commonwealth countries.
About a month after I finished my chemo, I started Herceptin, which I had every 3 weeks for a year.
I was also stage 1, you can see my stats. My onc. basically told me I was getting Herceptin, there really was no choice. Her 2+ is a tricky nasty devil, and you want to fight it from the onset with everything out there.
I got a port-a-cath inserted in my upper chest to do all my chemo and Herceptin, I strongly recommend you doing this.
As others have said, chemo is very "doable." Taxotere was worse for me, but I just kept thinking that the cancer cells felt worse than I did. The taxane chemos are proven to be very effective in fighting Her2+ BC. Herceptin is very easy compared to chemo. My main side effect was fatigue, some edema in my feet, legs. We are very lucky to have Herceptin - it really is the magic potion, especially for us early stagers.

And BTW, I had been having annual mammos since age 40, along with ultrasounds. Showing nothing. I had a breast reduction in October 2006, my PS found my 1.7 cm. tumour. A breast MRI before surgery found the second 1.0 cm. tumour. Dense breasted women are 4 - 6 x more likely to develop BC.

Good luck, we'll help you all we can.

all the best
caya

10-01-2008, 06:00 PM	#11
caya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Thornhill, Ontario Canada Posts: 2,320	Hello Diane, I thought I would chime in here as I see you are from B.C., and I am from Toronto, so I am thinking you may be getting treated with FEC (a 3 chemo combo), then possibly Taxotere. This FEC-T combo is very commonly used here in Canada, as well as other commonwealth countries. About a month after I finished my chemo, I started Herceptin, which I had every 3 weeks for a year. I was also stage 1, you can see my stats. My onc. basically told me I was getting Herceptin, there really was no choice. Her 2+ is a tricky nasty devil, and you want to fight it from the onset with everything out there. I got a port-a-cath inserted in my upper chest to do all my chemo and Herceptin, I strongly recommend you doing this. As others have said, chemo is very "doable." Taxotere was worse for me, but I just kept thinking that the cancer cells felt worse than I did. The taxane chemos are proven to be very effective in fighting Her2+ BC. Herceptin is very easy compared to chemo. My main side effect was fatigue, some edema in my feet, legs. We are very lucky to have Herceptin - it really is the magic potion, especially for us early stagers. And BTW, I had been having annual mammos since age 40, along with ultrasounds. Showing nothing. I had a breast reduction in October 2006, my PS found my 1.7 cm. tumour. A breast MRI before surgery found the second 1.0 cm. tumour. Dense breasted women are 4 - 6 x more likely to develop BC. Good luck, we'll help you all we can. all the best caya __________________ ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+ 1.7 cm and 1.0 cm. Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested) MRM Dec.18/06 3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08 Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012 BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so. Reclast infusion January 2012 Oopherectomy October 2013 15 Years NED!! Last edited by caya; 10-01-2008 at 06:04 PM..