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09-06-2007, 09:29 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 10
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1 or 2 years
Hello from sunny CA. I am new to this so please forgive my mistakes.
I started Herceptin in Jan. 2007 and my onc stated that I would be on a 3 week treatment for 2 years. He then retired. My new onc says that I will be on the 3 week infusion for only 1 year. He said that there was liturature to support this. I have not been able to find anything that confirms this. Does anyone have any information regarding 1 vs. 2 years of Herceptin?
__________________
jennifer
dx 6/06
Double mas 8/06
Stage IIa
ER+/PR-, HER2+
Taxotere completed 12/06
Tamoxifen
Herceptin
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09-06-2007, 09:38 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,193
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1 year
Hi New Shoes
That seems to be the standard. After surgery and chemo, there is one year of Herceptin - treatments are usually every 3 weeks. I began my herceptin with my last 4 chemo treatments (taxol) and then continued on with the herceptin alone. There are other combinations of herceptin and other drugs that are used for mets.
__________________
PinkGirl
Dx Aug/05 at age 51
2cm. Stage 2A, Grade 3
ER+/PR-
Her2 +++
Sept 7/05 Mastectomy
4 FAC, 4 Taxol, no radiation
1 year of Herceptin
Tamoxifen for approx. 4 months,
Arimidex for 5 years
Prophylactic mastectomy June 22/09
" I yam what I yam." - Popeye
My Photo Album
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09-06-2007, 12:30 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Jennifer,
The standard protocol for Herceptin is one year - either weekly or every 3 weeks. There was a study done that was to compare one year vs two years of Herceptin but the results have not been released.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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09-06-2007, 12:41 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Poland Ohio just a little south of Youngstown.
Posts: 473
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I'm on the one year of Herceptin. I get it once a week, started it with my last three chemos, now I'm down to just the herceptin. I should finish up in December.
Hugs
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Susan
Age: 61
dx: 5/25/06
2 cm/ 0 nodes
Lumpectomy rt breast on 7/26/06
ER/PR- / Her2+++
A/C x 4
finished taxotere 2/07
finished 33 rads
Herceptin finished 12/07/07 Yippee!
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09-06-2007, 05:30 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 764
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I have some time left on herceptin also. My onc said one year is enough treatment. I would really like 2 years. I keep hoping he'll change his mind.
I would love to know the results of the study, Kate was referring to.
__________________
DX 02/01/07
2.5 cm, Er/Pr-, Her2+++
18/20 Nodes
03/07 CT & Bone scan - Clear
AC x 4, Taxol x 4, Added Herceptin
Radiation until 09/07
Herceptin every 3 weeks until 06/08
01/10/08 local recurrence -IBC
01/28/08 CT & Brain MRI - clear
02/08 - Navelbine & Herceptin
05/08 -MRM
05/08 - Gemzar & Herceptin - didn't work
09/08 - Hyperthermia rads
03/09 - Tykerb/Xeloda
05/10 - Tram flap to fix wound
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09-06-2007, 06:01 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 143
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My onc told me that if the two year study had been having beneficial results, that info would have been released by now -- the fact that results are not being publisized means that it's not showing a benefit. She also conferred with some docs who are involved in the studies and was told that 2 years was showing no extra benefit.
I was very high risk, so she did that research at the end of my year, just to make sure. I did not go on for a second year.
I know this is pretty anecdotal, but I hope it helps.
Linda
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09-06-2007, 06:42 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Linda
I think you are fine doing it a year, as that is the norm....wow, medical breakthroughs...5 years ago when I was diagnosed, I could not get Herceptin because I was stage 1......and I am now stage IV....it truly does help and you woman who have gotten this extra security blanket are very lucky..........may you never have any problems and be NED forever!
Sending you a big hug!
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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09-06-2007, 08:27 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 758
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Generally, if there is no mets, it seems we get 1 year of herceptin. Many of us who have mets have received Herceptin for longer periods of time but your new onc is correct.
Marlys
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09-06-2007, 08:30 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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Ns,
Try our search above or google HERA studies. The original study had 1 and 2 year arms. 1 year results were good. 2 year results have been delayed. Some people have been able to get extra time. Also look up Finn study that showed 9 weeks is as good as a year. It would seem the least amount that works would be the right choice.
But we don't know. I guess that's why it's a journey. I'm sure your Insurance Co will only want to pay for 1 year until proven otherwise. Good luck. BB
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09-06-2007, 08:48 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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New shoes, First off I'd like to welcome you to to the board. (Although I'm sorry you had to join us under these circumstances.) As to herceptin as the other women have already said...one yr is the standard protocol for now. I am a stage III'er with positive nodes & I really *pushed* hard to get a 2nd year. My onc wasn't for it but she did let me go to a larger cancer center for their opinion. And as I thought...I was shot down again there too because the HERA results were pushed back. Last I heard the results of the HERA trials will be out in 2008 or as late as 2009. Some one correct me if its different then that? But for now...it is one year...unless you get a *nice* onc that will ok it. (I know a few that have.) 
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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09-17-2007, 09:17 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Detroit Metropolitan Area, Michigan
Posts: 592
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Yep Chelee,
HERA results should be in 2008 for investigating the use of Herceptin for 1 or 2 years versus no treatment after a range of chemotherapies.
World Trial: HERCEPTIN ADJUVANT TRIAL Phase III
US TRIALS: B31 AND N9831.
Perhaps some info may be release at the 2007 HERA meeting in December.
http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB...name=88849.pdf
http://www.researchadvocacy.org/publ..._Herceptin.pdf
__________________
Aug06...Dx Age 50, IDC Left Breast, 6+/16 lymph nodes, Stg 3, ER+/PR+/HER2+
Sep06-Jan07...Mediport. Chemo: AC x 4, T x 4
Dec06-Nov07...Herceptin
Feb12,2007...Surg MRM Left & SM Right, reconstruct w/expanders
Mar07-Jun07...Saline Exp
Jun07...Start Tamoxifen
Jun07-Aug07...Rad x 25
Jun07-Oct07...Persistent fevers-unknown origin
Jun07-Nov07...PT for Severe PMPS & Capsular Contracture
Nov07...Surg Capsulectomy, Gel Implants, PMPS pain gone instantly.
Feb08...NED 1st CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Feb08...2 months post surgery Caps Cont again :(
Mar08...Stop Tamoxifen. Start Arimidex.
Apr08...Sudden high fever, Hosp ICU 10 days, staph infect, emerg surg, implants removed. Outpt IVantibiotics Daily x 6 weeks
Feb11...NED 5th CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Feb12...NED 6th CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Aug12...Spotting. Surg=D&C
Sep12...STAGE IV = RARE BC METS TO UTERUS ILC ER+/PR+/HER2-Negative) (Different BC than originally diagnosed = IDC ER+/PR+/HER2+).
Sep12...Stop Arimidex. Start Afinitor & Aromasin.
Jan13...MRI = no progression no reduction
Apr13...Progression. Stop Afinitor & Aromasin.
Apr13...Start Chemo: Taxol & Carboplatin.
Nov13...Scans & Pelvic 95+% Reduction. Nueropathy>Stop chemo start Fareston.
Jan14...PET scan = no progression stable.
May14...Pelvic > Bleeding & cramps. TMs up.
May14...PET scan = uterine progression :(
May14...Stop Fareston. Start Chemo: Xeloda.
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