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Teresa
It sounds slightly odd advice if the path lab went so far as to suggest Herceptin. I suppose it depends upon the degree to which you are HER2/Neu positive. This is usually expressed as a series of '+' signs (+, ++ or +++). As I understand it, the greater the HER2 positivity, the more likely you are to benefit from Herceptin. Although even within the HER2+++ category, a significant proportion experience no or only partial benefit.
Having said that, the evidence seems to suggest that the earlier (by that I mean early in terms of stages of cancer invasion) you get Herceptin, the greater the relative benefit. Hence the adjuvant trials where the ability of Herceptin (particualry when combined with Taxol or Taxotere) to prevent recurrence in early stage patients looks a lot more significant than its ability (although still good) to completely reverse the progression of solid tumours of a more advanced stage.
My wife is Her2+++ and pr/er negative. She has been on Herceptin for 11 months.
It could be that given your tumour type, size, grade, location and confidence in surgical clearance etc, your onc considers you to be in such a low risk category for recurrence that he/she believes that further treatment is unecessary. Although having recommended chemo and radiation, I assume they recognise some risk.
If you are relatively healthy, Herceptin seems to have few side effects apart from a low risk of heart problems which are usually monitored with enthusiasm. On that basis you've got more to possibly gain than lose. A second opinion is well worth seeking.
As they say. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
John
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