[RobinP]

Welcome Stephanie! It is so good to learn of a long term her2 survivor, well beyond 8 years. You did have aggressive treatment, and I hope you never relapse. I understand your Herceptin concerns.

Last Nov. I had the same issues when I learned about how wonderful adjuvant Herceptin was in early stage her2+ bc. Then I was three year post treatment. But I ONLY had CMF, a crappy her2 chemo, for a small invasive her2+, one positive micro metastatic node and positive lymphatic invasion.

Eventually, I consulted with an oncologist from Yale that was an expert and researcher in her2 pathways. He guided me to have my tumor specimen analyzed for various pre-clinical markers for indicators of reoccurrence and indicators of Herceptin response. As a result of those studies on pTen, her1, her2, her3, her4, IGR, and TAB250, the oncologist encouraged me to do 9 weeks of adjuvant Herceptin. The 9 week regimen was something done by the FinHer study with just as effective efficacy and no cardiac risk in three-four year follow-up.

I think your situation is different and more unique than mine. For one, you are EIGHT years post treatment! That certainly says something. Also, you are hormonal positive. In the HERA study, hormonal positives did not relapse as much as negatives in the first few years of follow-up. The indication was NOT clear why. But researchers ONLY speculate that hormonal positives have a different natural history and MAY relapse much later. I certainly hope more will be known in time as the various studies mature. Until then, too many unanswered questions. Whose in the woods, whose out of the wood, who knows?