what do you call Herceptin?
 

This is an unimportant question but so often friends will say "Are you still on chemo" when I tell them I'm off to get my infusion and then I go through a lengthy well not really but....
so wondering if there's a short answer!
no hurry
thanks
sarah

"Target Therapy"...
 

and tell people it's the way "chemo" is headed...the effects aren't as bad a chemo. Take care and God bless.

Rhonda

I tell them it is Targeted Therapy...an IV infusion just like chemo with less harsh side effects.

It is actually immunotherapy. I used to tell people it was like a powerful antibiotic that was just for the kind of bc I had.

I told people it's a preventative therapy. BB

Many thanks for your answers - they're great and very helpful.
all the best wishes for good health for all of you
sarah

At our house it is called a "miracle Drug".
Marlys

Hi from San Diego
 

Is it annoying to have to listen to "ignorant" comments. I have had people say to me: "How come you haven't lost your hair?" as if am lying to them about my treatment. Nowadays if anyone wants to know about Herceptin, I write the name on a piece of paper and tell them to google it...:) AMEN!!

I thought it was called biological therapy. Really, I don't care what it's called, as long as it works!

Hopeful

my two cents
 

how about "targetted immunotherapy" which works like a "smart bomb" whereas chemo works like "carpet bombing"

When used in the non-metastatic setting, the word "preventative" seems in order

THE HARD QUESTION OFTEN ASKED TO CANCER PATIENTS IS are you cured?

How about answering either1) I am taking the treatment to make sure it never comes back, but there are no accurate tests yet to be sure that its been entirely effective for pre-metastatic patients or 2)for Stage IVs,this is the most effective treatment ever found for the type of cancer I have with the least side-effects. It is relatively new but people have lived a dozen or so years on it since it was
invented and since those on it are pioneers we are still in the process of learning if this cancer is "curable" or must continued to be "manageable" with
staying on the medicine or newer improvements being developed.

I tell them is a type of chemo that doesn't cause hair to fall out. They stare and say " oh wow" that's great!

Maria ( mcs)

I just tell people it's a targeted chemo - just for the type of breast cancer that I have - HER2+.

Sarah,
Here is a quick link to a short answer: http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/cancer/herceptin.html
We here in Ontario, Canada are very fortunate to have this treatment covered by our provincial health plans! My BC was discovered late-2005, so I am happy our government had decided earlier that year to include Herceptin in treatment of early-stage BC.
Blessings,
Karen

Adjuvant therpay
 

Lisa and I always referred to Herceptin as an adjuvant therapy with chemotherapy - seemed most perople understood this.

Love and Light
Mel

thanks for the answers
sarah