Post-Chemo Use of Herceptin?

[Susie]

After being diagnosed with Paget's Disease, I underwent a mastectomy and TRAM flap reconstruction in Dec. '02. Unfortunately, I had a positive sentinel node and began a 4 month dose-dense chemo, 4 AC then 4 Taxol which ended May '04. Since reading about the study results, I asked my oncologist if I could begin it now. He said that there was no protocol for this but "if worrying about it was keeping me up at night" we would discuss it further. I'm not worried but want to do all I can to prevent reoccurence. Did you encounter any resistance to beginning Herceptin after chemo? Did insurance readily pay for it? My only hesitancy to beginning it now is that I did not have a port during the chemo. I only have one "good" vein remaining and would have to have a port. I was pre-menopausal at diagnosis at age 49 and despite chemo I still am.

[Unregistered]

My Onc. and I went round and round about whether I should go on Herceptin since I finished standard chemo 8/04.-- when I went to see her for a follow-up in May of '05 it had been nine months and the protocol was six months. We both decided that 3 months would probably not make a difference and I went on it in June '05., Since that time more and more people who have been out of standard chemo for longer periods of time-- up to 2 years are going on Herceptin and most insurances are paying for it.

Carol

[Unregistered]

Forgot to mention I don't have a port either-- they just " fish around" for a decent vein on my non- surgical side-- so far so good.
Carol