Need your help for getting 2nd year of adjuvant Herceptin

[Julie2]

My year of Herceptin is going to end in Feb 06. I asked for a second year of Herceptin and my oncologist refused to give. So I had a second opinion with another onc. today and she is willing to give me 2nd year provided I can give her references about any other doctors who is already giving a 2nd year of Herceptin for early stage. Meanwhile she is also doing some research to find any data related to this.

Could anybody who is getting a second year of Herceptin for early stage provide me your oncologists reference( name and phone#). I really appreciate your help and it means my life. I am really worried to stop Herceptin as I had supraclavicular node involvment at the initial diagnosis. If you would like please email me at julie2amr@yahoo.com or send a private message.

Thanks in advance.
Julie

[sarah]

sorry i don't have specifics but in the european union the new protocol for HER2 is 2 years (this is even for non-invasive) - I just happen to have been told this by a gynecologist/oncologist at the cancer clinic I go to. Europe tends to be behind the USA and conservative so there must be some research to support this - ASCO? Personally I'm trying to stay on it for life which is unlikely but.....
good luck, keep fighting for it.
sarah

[Julie2]

If anybody is getting 2nd year of adjuvant Herceptin could you please provide me the reference.

thanks,
Julie

[Michelle]

Julie,
I'am early stage, and will be on herceptin for two yrs. My onc. is using the European study to support this. He has also stated that by the time I reach the end of the two yr. mark there could be the possiblility that I may be on it for life. I don't have any links to support this, but will ask my onc. the next time I see him. My ins. is an HMO , and I have had no problems so far(fingers crossed), but I'm still in my first yr. of tx.
Michelle

[Unregistered]

Michelle,
thanks it would be helpful to many of us to have the support info to make fighting to get it for longer easier.
i think the high cost is what's so difficult for countries with universal coverage. Does anyone know now that herceptin is so in demand, if the price might be coming down?
sarah

[Julie2]

Hi Michelle,

Thanks for the response. If you don't mind could you please let me know your oncologist's name and location(my email is julie2amr@yahoo.com). I just need to provide two references to my onc. for her to proceed with my 2nd year of Herceptin. I am really sorry if I make you feel uncomfortable.

Thanks,
Julie