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Dear Mary Jo
I have a Herceptin this Friday and my last one is Sept 29. However, my "year" was up June 10 and these extra treatments were to bring me to two years beyond diagnosis (ie: diagnosed via biopsy 8/27/04 and had lumpectomy 9/23/04). It was only an extra 6 (every three week treatments and not the whole extra year which would be another 11 or 12 beyond this). My onc felt the most vunerable period is the first two years and since I started 4 months after my last chemo (due to last years ASCO meeting and recommendations) it was not that much more to give me to cover this period.
All that I have heard and my onc has heard is that the 2 yrs will not be that much better than one year but it would cover the crucial time till 2 years from diagnosis so...
My insurance gave me a life long open ticket to Herceptin when they authorized it the first time last year so I did not have a problem continuing the treatment.
Like you, I am very nervous to stop but stop we must at some point (even if you go out to 2 years of Herceptin, the 2 yrs comes up). We are taking it in the adjuvant setting so you hope it works and you can go on with your life. That's the whole point of it all in the long run, eh?
You and I are on the same timetable of stopping so I will think of you and you can think of me. And at least you have no breast worries - I still have both of mine to consider. I have been thinking about what to do with "the girls" alot lately.
Kindest regards
Becky
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