[saleboat]

Hi Erin,

The 'what ifs' are such a debilitating aspect of this disease, and I so know what it is like to feel the fears that you are describing.

I think it is important to remember that many of the women on this board did not have the chance to have Herceptin in the adjuvant setting like you and I did.

When I look at the long-term stats, which in the 'official' sense for me are pretty dire, I remind myself of the following: NONE, absolutely NONE of the long-term statistics regarding Her2 bc include the adjuvant use of Herceptin, nor the use of Taxol, the dose-dense protocol or the new generation anti-hormonals. Looking for long-term numbers is an exercise in futility and meaningless in regards to you and your situation.

I believe that if you look at the data that was included in the NEJM article regarding the adjuvent use of Herceptin, the recurrance rate for women in your situation is less than 10%. While that is not long-term data, it certainly should give you some confidence that the possibility of a cure is very real for you.

I thank the heavens every day for Herceptin, and curse the fickle hand of fate that kept many of the women on these boards from getting it in the adjuvant setting.

Jen