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Joan M · 01-18-2013, 05:07 PM

Your recurrence was considered local because it spread to the chest wall, but it has not spread to an organ, which is considered distant spread. Your oncologist sounds progressive to me, since he/she treated your chest wall spread with surgery and radiation, which immediately rendered you NED, or no evidence of disease, and allowed you to take only Herceptin and not chemotherapy, as well.

Sometimes, the cancer can start in the chest wall and spread to other areas, and often times we unfortunately don't know whether any of the cancer cells escaped into our system. It's very fortunate that you are NED and able to take only Herceptin and no chemotherapy. I think your oncologist wants you to stay on Herceptin for awhile to ensure that the cancer stays away.

How long should you stay on it is anyone's guess. I wish I had a crystal ball! If it were me, I wouldn't take the chance just yet of discontinuing Herceptin.

Joan

01-18-2013, 05:07 PM	#4
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: Herceptin Forever??? Your recurrence was considered local because it spread to the chest wall, but it has not spread to an organ, which is considered distant spread. Your oncologist sounds progressive to me, since he/she treated your chest wall spread with surgery and radiation, which immediately rendered you NED, or no evidence of disease, and allowed you to take only Herceptin and not chemotherapy, as well. Sometimes, the cancer can start in the chest wall and spread to other areas, and often times we unfortunately don't know whether any of the cancer cells escaped into our system. It's very fortunate that you are NED and able to take only Herceptin and no chemotherapy. I think your oncologist wants you to stay on Herceptin for awhile to ensure that the cancer stays away. How long should you stay on it is anyone's guess. I wish I had a crystal ball! If it were me, I wouldn't take the chance just yet of discontinuing Herceptin. Joan __________________ Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2021 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!