early stage breast cancer and herceptin

[sadie]

I was dx Oct 2005. Stage 1; Grade 3; 1cm IDC ; Sentinol node neg; er+/pr weakly+;
Her2+++ on biopsy; Her2++ at Lumpectomy;
My onc in Utica, Michigan strongly recommended Herceptin even tho I was borderline for getting it. I rec'd AC once/wk x4; Taxol/Herceptin once/wk x12;
Will begin 6 wks radiation soon and am now getting Herceptin every 3 wks to finish out 1 year.
My onc said she would take history into consideration, but would give Herceptin to anyone who asked for it. She is a firm believer.

[mekasan]

I was told by both my onc and my surgeon that herceptin was approved for early stage breast cancer in May 2005. Did I misunderstand??

I was dx in aug 2005, at stage 1 and currently receiving herceptin. I am being treated in at St Barnabas in West Orange, by Dr. Michaelson (on medical advisory board for this site).

[DeborahNC]

Recurred 9/05 Stage 1. My onc at Duke Raleigh in Raleigh, NC recommends Herceptin for ALL Her+ regardless of tumor size, grade, stage.

[AlaskaAngel]

It is of course understandable (although a bit painful) to see how many HER2 bc patients who are now automatically being treated with Herceptin are not aware that there are many, many HER2's out here still who are stuck with having been diagnosed as HER2 prior to the clinical trials for Herceptin, or else left in limbo because their tumor did not meet the clinical trial criteria. It is only available to people in these situations off-label.

AlaskaAngel

[sadie]

Mekasan,
That's what my onc told me.
Herceptin was approved for early stagers in May 2005.
1 cm was made the borderline to recommend getting Herceptin.
She told me about 2 months ago, that they are now considering lowering the borderline to .5cm due to the great success of Herceptin.
I don't know when that will be, tho.
Sadie

[nancymarie]

I have IDC, Stage IIB, ER/PR -. HER2/NEU 3+.

I had AC and Taxotere back in 2002 and finished my last treatment in 2003.

I just started my Herceptin treatments on 12/9/05 for one year at my request after hearing about the results of Herceptin during the trials.

-Nancy

[Berta]

I live in Southern Indiana, about an hour from Louisville, Ky. I am getting herceptin for Stage I. BERTA

[bjj]

I was diagnosed Jan 2005, Grade 2, node negative, 16-18mm tumour, ER+. I was advised rads only. Diagnosed before HERA trial results. Had 2 HER2 tests by different hospitals - one negative and one positve - I'm assuming I am positive (Long story!). Found it all out too late to have chemo so can't have Herceptin. I'm terrified of recurrence.

You were spot on Alaska Angel - there must be loads us out there that were diagnosed just at the wrong time.