HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Asked why I am stage IV again

sassy · 12-18-2014, 02:55 PM

Linn,

It is my understanding that Herceptin is administered on a three week cycle with active disease regardless of your stage. A different administration time frame would be as she said, after your disease is stable, or you reach NED (no evidence of disease). Perhaps the other folks that you have talked with that do not have 3 week dosing have already reached stable or NED status?

I understand your confusion over being classified as a stage IV and psychologically staging has meaning to each of us. However, I don't think your stage classification in and of itself will have any effect on your course of treatment. That would be determined by the evidence of disease and pathology. So even if your staging was changed to 3C, it would most likely have no effect on your course of treatment.

I am sorry that you are having to deal with recurrence and confusion, but hang in there--you are getting great treatment.

Best Wishes,

12-18-2014, 02:55 PM	#10
sassy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mountains of Virginia Posts: 2,267	Re: Asked why I am stage IV again - clearing up?? Linn, It is my understanding that Herceptin is administered on a three week cycle with active disease regardless of your stage. A different administration time frame would be as she said, after your disease is stable, or you reach NED (no evidence of disease). Perhaps the other folks that you have talked with that do not have 3 week dosing have already reached stable or NED status? I understand your confusion over being classified as a stage IV and psychologically staging has meaning to each of us. However, I don't think your stage classification in and of itself will have any effect on your course of treatment. That would be determined by the evidence of disease and pathology. So even if your staging was changed to 3C, it would most likely have no effect on your course of treatment. I am sorry that you are having to deal with recurrence and confusion, but hang in there--you are getting great treatment. Best Wishes, __________________ Rhonda (Sassy) dx age 45 DX 2/15/05 Stage IIb (at surgery)restaged IIIa Left mast .9cm tumor 5 of 14 nodes Triple Positive 4 DD A/C 12 Taxol/Herceptin 33Rads Strange infect mast site one year aft surg, hosp 1 wk Herceptin for total of 18 months Lupron Monthly 4 yrs Neurontin for aches, pains and hot flashes(It works!) Ovaries removed 11/09 stop Lupron and Neurontin Arimidex 6 yrs (tried Femara, no SE improvement) Tried Exemestane-hips got so bad could hardly walk Back to Arimidex for year seven Zometa 2X Annual for 7years, Lasix Stop Arimidex 5/13 Stop Zometa 7/13-Bi-lateral Stress Fractures in Femurs from Zometa 5/14 Start Tamoxifen 3/15 Stem cell transplant to stimulate femur bone growth/healing 5/15 Complete fracture of right femur/Titanium rods both femurs 9/16 Start Evista stopTamoxifen 3/17 Stop Evista--unwelcome side effects! NED and no meds....... 14YEARS NED!