herceptin forever?

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

I slept well last night, w/some sleep aids, but my eyes are crossed trying to read your link, Marjorie. So don't count on me to make sense of it. But you can count on me for most anything else. Any time. I do think I recently read that ev 3 wks works better than 1X a wk. Did 1X a wk from '98-01. Then and still -- ev 3 wks. I have been told I have told that I have a highly aggressive form of bc. So for me this is the only route -- longterm chemo for the rest of my life. I can live w/that, no pun intended. In fact, I am not willing to risk my life going off it, having been dancing w/NED since '99, based on any study. Besides I have 4 oncs who concur.

Jennifer NEW SHOES -- do you have more than 1 onc? You need someone who has your back, is willing to fight for you. Are you metastatic? Now I forget your profile. Love your stubborn fiesty attitude anyway.

Andi

[chrisy]

I think it is a different situation being an early stager vs. dealing with metastatic disease. The 1 year of Herceptin (or 9 weeks in Finn-Her study) has shown to decrease the risk of recurrence by 50% - which is a pretty big impact. There is no data to show any further risk reduction with longer treatment, and in fact the question now seems to be if LESS time is just as effective.

The women you read of being on herceptin indefinitely are generally Stage IV, so it's a different ballgame.

Keep in mind, taking Herceptin is not without risks itself, which is clearly worth it in the metastatic setting but maybe not for early stage.