Herceptin Finished today-What's next

[Leslie's sister]

Hi everyone.
My sister called me this morning telling me that she was receiving her last dose of Herceptin. She wanted advice on questions to ask her onc. I was unprepared thinking that she went until July. For all of you ladies who finished with Herceptin, what is your normal routine with doctors, tests etc? She isn't going to have MRIs and other scans unless she were to have symptoms that called for tests. How often to you have blood work done. She is only stage II so the Her2 serum test wouldn't be done. Just let me know your normal routine after herceptin is completed. As always, thank you.

[theresaw]

I will see my Oncologist every three months unless there is cause for concern. That will last for a year, then it will be every six months for two years. During these visist I will have blood work done.

[Mary Jo]

Hi Lisa,

I've been seeing my onc. every 4 months. She gave me the option....every 3 months or every 4 months. Hmmmmmmm, that was an easy one for me. I'll take every 4. http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon7.gif Anyway, I have my blood drawn each time. No tumor markers done, just looking at overall blood work - liver enzymes. She gives me a good exam and I'm on my way.

I see my new onc. in August (my onc. through treatment is leaving) so look forward to meeting him. Not sure what my schedule will be as of then as I will be a little over 2 years out since diagnosis.

Take care Lisa. You truly are an awesome sister.

Love in the Lord,

Mary Jo

[Bev]

Hi.

I saw the onc at completion of H and then 3 months afterwords. After that visit, I am on the once every 6 month plan. They always do blood tests at onc visits, but I think CBC only. Still see rad onc every six months and surgeon every 6 months. Surgeon has her own ultrasound so she looks at the scar every once in a while. I alternate mammos with breast MRIs every six months, but I don't know that this is applicable for your sis. My gut feeling, is it would be nice to have some sort of scan for your sister within the next year. Triple negs, which your sister isn't, tend to have issues in the first 2 years.

I vaguely remember some patients developing "headaches or other symptoms" etc to get scans. I just don't know what scans would be appropriate at this time.

Maybe a chest xray and liver enzyme blood test are low tech things that could be done. Bev

[Bev]

And maybe a bone density scan. These are all cheap normal scans. that may show problems.

[Leslie's sister]

Thanks everyone!
I have passed the information on to my sister. She is very appreciative. Mary Jo, Leslie is the awesome one as you well know. Thank you so much for being such a supportive sister to her as well. She thinks the world of you. Maybe someday we will get to visit you. I travel alot and if I'm anywhere close to your town, Leslie will come along and we will get to meet you.

Lisa