Herceptin

[Kristin]

I was wondering if any of you have been on Herceptin for over 2-3 years and it is still working well. I also wondered if anyone went off of it from the bc progressing and then tried to go back on it. Will it work again or is that it for this drug.
Thanks girls!!!
Kristin

[*_Donna_*]

I am scheduled to start herceptin for 1 year after finishing w/A/C treatments, rads, and taxol w/herceptin. Are early stage people staying on herceptin for longer than 1 year? Is there a plan to stay on it forever to combat a recurrance? Will insurance continue to cover the extended time period or will benefits be exhausted?
Thanks for any info.

[denise99]

Kristin,
Gosh, I sure hope it continues to work! I have been on Herceptin for 19 months. In the beginning, I was also on Gemzar for 9 months for very aggressive liver tumors. I have bi-lat BC with liver mets, immediate Stage 4 upon dx. My biggest liver tumor was 9cm, and I had numerous 2cm tumors throughout. After 9 months of Gemzar with Herceptin, my liver showed as NED, so I continued on Herceptin alone. And for the last 10 months on Herceptin alone, my liver has continued to be NED!
Denise in PA

[imported_Joe]

Many ladies on this website have been taking Herceptin for years with great results, here is a partial list:

Ginger Empey - 10 Years
Phylicia Bowman - 7 years
Christine - 6 Years

There are no recognized long term side effects on Herceptin that I am aware of.


Regards
Joe

[Lisa]

Of course, the flip side is, if these long-term ladies were NOT still taking Herceptin, would they still be O.K.?

Unfortunately, many ladies have also died while taking Herceptin as part of their therapy.

The answer? I don't believe anyone knows.

Love and light,

Lisa

[StephN]

At this point in time I have been taking Herceptin without chemo for over 3 years. I also take Zometa - for the first year and a half every three weeks, for the second year every 6 weeks, and now every 12 weeks.
Still getting my Herceptin on a three-weekly basis.

I really do not think I would be alive now without herceptin as my mets were very aggressive, but my treatment stopped them cold.

Have taken Herceptin for a total of 3 years and 9 months.

No side effects that I am really aware of, and my medical team says that is the case for most patients maintaining on Herceptin.

For the adjuvent ladies, you will most likely NOT get Herceptin for more than the one year the trial indicates.

[Lolly]

I've been on Herceptin since January of 2001, so that's over 4 and 1/2 years. I did have a recurrence last spring, but it was brought under control with Navelbine added, and since October of 2004 I've been on Herceptin alone, again, and am considered stable as I have a few nodes that still show on PET but haven't increased much in size. I'm in the Her2 Vaccine trial at University of Washington/Seattle, and feel optimistic that although I have what may be termed "chronic" cancer, it is a manageable condition, and with all the new therapies on the horizen I will continue to have wonderful quality of life, with great hopes of living out a normal lifespan.

<3,
Lolly

[Gina]

Yes, Herceptin is amazing,

I've been on it off and on since '99 with all positive benefits. Now take it regularly once every six weeks, but this is not protocol. Hope this helps encourage you, Gina

[Lisa]

I asked my onc last week," Have you seen longevity increase in breast cancer patients since Herceptin? His reply, "Definitely."

Love and light,

Lisa