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05-19-2005, 06:56 PM

Hi All:
I met with the onc. today regarding second opinion on Herceptin. There was obviously a lot of information coming out of ASCO this week. The low down, as I heard it:
If you take Herceptin WITH a taxane, there is an average of 52% reduction of recurrance. Huge number. If you take Herceptin iMMEDIATELY after chemo, you have a 13% reduction. It seems clear that the other chemo drugs are in someway enhancing the Herceptin??? Even with all the breakthroughs regarding Herceptin, there is still so much they don't know, especially for gals like us who never had the drug, no mets, but are HER2+ and more than 6 months out from last chemo. At any rate, she said considering my age (41), 1 node positive, 3.3 tumor size, she would recommend me taking the Herceptin. Two drawbacks:
possible heart damage
possible to build up resistence to Herceptin ~ if I were to need the drug for mets, may not work.
I feel like I left with more information, but I'm between a rock and a hard place.
Just wanted you all to know what I found out. This doc is involved in clinical trials at the James Cancer Center in Columbus, Oh (OSU). She is also a PHd. She was very up to date on all the news coming out of ASCO.
Now just trying to decide what to do. :-( Thanks for all of your inputs. I find much strength in this site.

05-19-2005, 06:56 PM	#7
Joannie Guest Posts: n/a	Hi All: I met with the onc. today regarding second opinion on Herceptin. There was obviously a lot of information coming out of ASCO this week. The low down, as I heard it: If you take Herceptin WITH a taxane, there is an average of 52% reduction of recurrance. Huge number. If you take Herceptin iMMEDIATELY after chemo, you have a 13% reduction. It seems clear that the other chemo drugs are in someway enhancing the Herceptin??? Even with all the breakthroughs regarding Herceptin, there is still so much they don't know, especially for gals like us who never had the drug, no mets, but are HER2+ and more than 6 months out from last chemo. At any rate, she said considering my age (41), 1 node positive, 3.3 tumor size, she would recommend me taking the Herceptin. Two drawbacks: possible heart damage possible to build up resistence to Herceptin ~ if I were to need the drug for mets, may not work. I feel like I left with more information, but I'm between a rock and a hard place. Just wanted you all to know what I found out. This doc is involved in clinical trials at the James Cancer Center in Columbus, Oh (OSU). She is also a PHd. She was very up to date on all the news coming out of ASCO. Now just trying to decide what to do. :-( Thanks for all of your inputs. I find much strength in this site.