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StephN · 10-20-2005, 12:51 PM

I also saw some news clips on Herceptin starting yesterday - not just sound bites, but actually took a couple of minutes!

There is SO MUCH they don't say that I feel that it is almost like MISinformation. Cancer is complicated and the short version of the trials and HER2 will give too many people the wrong idea about it.

For instance I got an email last night from a well-meaning friend who wanted me to know that a "cure" had been found. I had to thank him but inform him that this is the VERY DRUG that has been keeping me alive for over 4 years now. He is also a colon cancer survivor so has more background on cancer personally than most people.

There needs to be more followup by the media, but maybe it is up to us to all call our local stations!

Michele - my two cents worth is that the cost of Herceptin is too high to keep people on it longer than the trials have allowed. As young survivors you will reach your insurance cap long before you are eligible for Medicare! I am still 8 years away from Medicare age and am over $600,000 into my cap of 1 million.
Not to say that there should not be a NEW trial for some HER2 positive patients - say ... those with a certain number of positive nodes!

10-20-2005, 12:51 PM	#3
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Kind of weird ... I also saw some news clips on Herceptin starting yesterday - not just sound bites, but actually took a couple of minutes! There is SO MUCH they don't say that I feel that it is almost like MISinformation. Cancer is complicated and the short version of the trials and HER2 will give too many people the wrong idea about it. For instance I got an email last night from a well-meaning friend who wanted me to know that a "cure" had been found. I had to thank him but inform him that this is the VERY DRUG that has been keeping me alive for over 4 years now. He is also a colon cancer survivor so has more background on cancer personally than most people. There needs to be more followup by the media, but maybe it is up to us to all call our local stations! Michele - my two cents worth is that the cost of Herceptin is too high to keep people on it longer than the trials have allowed. As young survivors you will reach your insurance cap long before you are eligible for Medicare! I am still 8 years away from Medicare age and am over $600,000 into my cap of 1 million. Not to say that there should not be a NEW trial for some HER2 positive patients - say ... those with a certain number of positive nodes!