[Becky]

First of all, plan on buying yourself a nice gift – even if it is something you cannot afford and have to save for (this is almost better because then you are affirming that you will be around to buy it in a year or whatever. That is why we did a trip to the Caribbean</ST1 about 6 months afterwards). I got late Herceptin (4 months after my last Taxol) due to the trial results and ASCO making the preliminary statement that all women 6 months or less from the last Chemo should report back and get Herceptin. I was in that crowd even though about a month later they changed it to 12 months from the last chemo. So, I went through 4 dd AC then 4 dd taxol and I was done. I had my rads then it was really over. I could never realize then that alittle more than 2 months later I would be back for adjuvant Herceptin. The first “cutting loose” really primed me for the second cutting loose after Herceptin. Even so, by that time I was going to the Cancer center for treatment for 2 yrs straight. I took the every 3 week treatment so the only weird day was when the 3 weeks went by the first time and I didn’t have a treatment that day. Secondly, remember that Herceptin takes 18 -20 weeks to completely clear from your body. It has a 25 day half life so its still there quite awhile – not at the same concentration as when you are still getting treatments but its still hangin’ out. It takes a bit but you will come to enjoy the road to survivorship and will feel more like a survivor once active treatment is over. Congratulations on finishing. Believe it or not, I have heard that over 25% of women who could finish a yr of Herceptin don’t (this is not women who have heart problems and have to stop). And finishing treatment is key and you have done it!!