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StephN · 09-26-2005, 12:23 PM

Hi Sally -
As a nearly 4-year survivor on Herceptin, I have great faith that this can be very effective as I had some major, fast moving mets.

Is your bloodwork taken more often than every month? Do you have any tumor markers drawn along with that? Which ones? How have they gone up and down?
Have you have a PET or PET/CT fusion scan??
These are all ways that can help determine your cancer status.
Have you had a brain MRI?

You know that since you are already stage IV the tumor cells are still running around in your blood and lymph systems - there is no way for the chemos and Herceptin to get EVERY last one of them.

If you did think that a break from Herceptin is the thing to do, keep up all those marker and blood draws.
Also, you did not state your age.
I was 50 when original DX and 51 when mets occurred. Am 56.5 now and feel that Herceptin every 3 weeks will continue to be my treatment unless they come up with another drug effective against HER2 overexpression.

09-26-2005, 12:23 PM	#3
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Other factors to consider Hi Sally - As a nearly 4-year survivor on Herceptin, I have great faith that this can be very effective as I had some major, fast moving mets. Is your bloodwork taken more often than every month? Do you have any tumor markers drawn along with that? Which ones? How have they gone up and down? Have you have a PET or PET/CT fusion scan?? These are all ways that can help determine your cancer status. Have you had a brain MRI? You know that since you are already stage IV the tumor cells are still running around in your blood and lymph systems - there is no way for the chemos and Herceptin to get EVERY last one of them. If you did think that a break from Herceptin is the thing to do, keep up all those marker and blood draws. Also, you did not state your age. I was 50 when original DX and 51 when mets occurred. Am 56.5 now and feel that Herceptin every 3 weeks will continue to be my treatment unless they come up with another drug effective against HER2 overexpression.