[Sherryg683]

I am stage IV, but in remission for over a year. My Oncologist had no problem prescribing Tykerb without Xeloda for me to take along with Herceptin as a preventative. My insurance approved it and I got the Tykerb within a week. My Oncologist did this at my asking and told me that it would be his preference if we waited till we needed it since the Herceptin was still working. I took the Tykerb for a week and had such awful diahrea and rash outbreaks that I took myself off it. I was very, very weak after a week of this. I decided that if down the road I needed it, I would endure this but not until. I didn't want to put my body through this. Your oncologist should be able to prescribe it for you off label if he wants, it's an issue of insurance paying for it. Since I am stage IV, that's probably why I got no problems from them but like I said, Tykerb was no walk in the park for me....sherryg683