Hi Martin. I don't post here often, but find this site to be a wealth of information. Please give your wife our best wishes and let her know she will get through this.
I was diagnosed in October 2002 at age 45 with 2.5 cm tumor, 1 positive node, HER2+, and PR/ER+. Due to my being Her2+ my oncologist urged me to enter the trial for early stage breast cancer patients with HER2+. He had to be really push me as I felt that it would be a long road to travel and I don't tolerate medications very well. But after agonizing over the decision, I felt that I needed to give it everything I've got up front to try and prevent any recurrences.
With that said, I had the lumpectomy and entered into the trial and was ramdomized to ARM C. This included 4 AC, 12 weekly Taxol, 36 radiation treatments while then starting on weekly Herceptin for 52 treatments. Also on Tamoxifen
I am now on treatment 35 of Herceptin and doing well. There are quite a few women at this site who are participating in this trial. If you go back to postings of January 24, you will see my posting on this subject and the responses from those who are participating. The results from these women and others thus far are very positive.
Also, if you haven't done so already, go to
www.cancer.gov and click on clinical trials and herceptin. This will give you some background info on Herceptin. The full results of the trial are expected in 2006.
I am very grateful to have been chosen to participate in the trial and being given the opportunity to take Herceptin!
I hope this helps.