[Laurel]

Laurie,

It is my understanding that even in Stage I, node negative, Her2+ breast cancer the recurrence rates are too high to not treat it very aggressively. That said, I do question A/C with radiation to follow. If it is her left breast the chance for heart damage is much greater if radiation, especially whole breast radiation, is performed post lumpectomy. I opted to have a mastectomy rather than increase my chances for heart damage from the AC and from the added Herceptin. If I recall correctly, having radiation post A/C therapy increased your risk for leukemia regardless of which breast is involved.

If I were your friend, I would opt for TCH or just TH and forgo the Adriamycin/Cytoxan combo. You can see from my signature that I did dose dense ACTH. That was before I knew that oncologists are now using just TH in many early Her + gals like myself and your friend.