Experiences from Finland - more than a trial
Hello everybody!
This is the thread that originally made me to join into this group. I wanted to share my experience and knowledge about this nine weeks treatment.
In Finland there are more than 4000 women who become diagnosed having breast cancer. One fifth of them is HER2-positive and receive Herceptin as their first line treatment. Encouraged by the FinHer study most Finnish cancer clinics have approved nine weeks treatment as their standard protocol. The results have been good and the mortality rates keep on diminishing. It is truly encouraging to me that I really know no-one whose disease has relapsed after nine weeks of Herceptin! The statistics tell about the same because overall survival rates of HER2-positive were nearly 90 % in the five year follow up of FinHer.
Naturally there are still Finnish oncologists who believe in the one year treatment. Only future and international research can tell which treatment is the best. At least we have found a very cost effective way to treat this serious disease.
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Kind Regards,
Ursula
Diagnosed 05/07 at age 42
Ductal Invasive Carsinoma Gr III, Stage IIIB:
Primary tumor 35 mm, secondary 21 mm
Node positive 13/23
Er/Pr negative (15 % /15 %)
Her 2+++
Ki-67 80 %
Mastectomy and node evacuation (rt) 05/07
3 x Taxotere + Herceptin (9 weeks)
3 x CEF
6 x Neulasta during chemos
23 x rads
Celebra for joint and PMS pain
NED
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