Joan M

Hi Michelle,
Three weeks ago when I was getting my last chemo treatment. I told the nurse that I would be returning to the clinic for Herceptin (my doctor had told me for 1 or 2 years but was uncertain just how long I would be taking Herceptin).
I asked the nurse, how do they check to determine if the Herceptin is working so that they would know if a person needed to take it for one or two years? and she said "We don't know if it is working. we only know it is working by the absence of recurrence". She went on to say "How do we know if this stuff I'm giving you now (the chemo) is working?" I said I don't know... how do you Know? To which she replied ''We don't know". I asked it they took blood counts or tumor counts to test that the Herceptin is working and she said 'No' they don't test, that they just do routine tests during the course of the treatment such as MUGA and bone tests.
I know that doctors say that Herceptin is the best breakthrough for breast cancer in the last 30 years and that it cuts the rate of recurrence of HER 2 cases in half - so that must mean for the other 50% of the usual number of reocurrences that Herceptin is not effective.
I don't know what this means in actual numbers i.e. How many patients with HER2 typically experience recurrence? I know HER2 is one of the most hostile and aggressive types of tumor and therefore has a high chance of recurrence, but I'd like to know by what percentage your chances of beating it increases by taking Herceptin - any thoughts?
Right now I am grateful to be getting Herceptin and I had my first loading dose on Wednesday last and the only thing I experienced was some chills when the dose was being administered.
Because of the low side effects and as long as my heart stands up to it, I will take Herceptin for as long as they offer it. I hope and pray that it is effective
at keeping the beast at bay for everyone who takes it.
Best wishes,
JoanM