Herceptin protocal early stage BC

[Katie]

Hi,

I completed chemo without Herceptin a year ago for her2 stage 1 bc.Only now have I learned that Herceptin is used in early bc.

Please inform me how long is Herceptin used and how frequently for early stage bc. Is it too late for me now to start Herceptin now at this point? When Herceptin is given for early stage is it's effectiveness lowered if you should develop a metastasis in the future and require Herceptin for metatstatic disease? Does Herceptin necessarily kill her2 bc micrometastasis only to chase them to the brain where the her2 bc cells could hide out from Herceptin. What are the short and long term side effects of Herceptin?

I appreciate any answers to the above questions as I am investing the efficiacy of Herceptin in early stage 1 bc with no positive nodes.

Thank you,
Katie Lynn-mother of several small children-thanks for your help.

[Kristen]

Katie, My herceptin was given to me on a trial study. I was StageIII,3/12 nodes+. Herceptin has always been a standard of care in Metastatic BC, but not for first timers. That's where the study comes in. Some onc's will give it off protocal and others won't. Herceptin doesn't kill HER2 it caps the cell and stops progression. Some women on this board have been on Herceptin for years and contribute there NED (no evidence of disease) statis to that. Others like me will be taken off it after 52 weeks, which some women have stayed NED for years and others had reoccurance. Herceptin does not cross the blood brain barrier like most of the chemos. Stage IV BC patients are now demanding that they get an MRI of the brain because as I think it's on the Home page that a staggering 25-30% of Stage IV will get brain mets. Hope this answers some of your questions. What kind of chemo did you take? ACT is from what I understand the best you can take with Stage 1. I could be wrong.

[lauren]

I don't think that Herceptin "chases" breast cancer micromets to the brain. Rather, I think that the brain is somewhat invulnerable to herceptin, so that if micromets have managed to travel there, they will not be destroyed by the Herceptin.

[Gabrielle]

I was Stage III, 9/21 nodes, Her 2/Neu. I had 52 weekly treatments of Herceptin off-protocol starting in mid-2000. No evidence of disease. I would pursue it if you can. Best of luck. My kids were 12 and 9 at the time.