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StephN · 10-09-2013, 02:53 PM

Good luck, Raquel!

I believe I heard Dr. Slamon say within the past year or so that staying on and in remission for 7 to 8 years is a better bet than 5 years.
And I don't think he makes any statements that are not backed up by study and research.

In my case you will see that I was on Vitamin H for over 7 years. Probably would have remained on longer if my second port had not given me trouble. When I stopped it was with the intention of taking a little break of maybe 3 months to work the port problem. Using 3 tumor markers and scans I decided to see if I could go longer. So far, so good!

10-09-2013, 02:53 PM	#6
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: How long Should I continue herceptin ? Good luck, Raquel! I believe I heard Dr. Slamon say within the past year or so that staying on and in remission for 7 to 8 years is a better bet than 5 years. And I don't think he makes any statements that are not backed up by study and research. In my case you will see that I was on Vitamin H for over 7 years. Probably would have remained on longer if my second port had not given me trouble. When I stopped it was with the intention of taking a little break of maybe 3 months to work the port problem. Using 3 tumor markers and scans I decided to see if I could go longer. So far, so good! __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.