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Do you trust your onc? What does your intuition say?
Back in 1999, I was Stage I, 20 neg nodes and went through mastectomy, ACTaxol, and got on with life. But I remember quite clearly that my case seemed to make everyone "nervous." I didn't know why.
When my mets hit 2 years ago, I understood. It was the HER2 +++. Back in 1999, I couldn't have been given Herceptin, since I had no mets and I had negative nodes. But since then, trials have shown that women with Her2+++ yet with no mets, are having FEWER mets than those without. In fact, there was such a difference, the trials were halted. Thus, you know have the choice.
As I'm sure you've already discovered, BC is nothing if not a series of choices, none of which are black and white. Here's my personal take. Herceptin has few side effects, nothing severe. It has definitely helped women life longer with METS, and soon we'll see if that's true with NO METS, too.
You will have to deal with a port and trips to the onc, but I would consider it insurance. Remember that nothing is a guarantee. Just pick your treatment, go with it, and get on with your life.
Love and light,
Lisa
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