Herceptin

I would say insist on herceptin. It is just a matter of time now that anyone with HER2 will be on herceptin from the get go. Since you already did get mets to the brain you have a cancer that is on the move. What is to say it will not attack an organ of the body? You can get on herceptin somehow, others have. Be insistent. YOur onc. can find a way if he wants to. HUgs, Lola

Hard to push those med oncs sometimes!
But, I agree with Lola that you have a cancer that is moving and it is probably just a matter of time before it pops up someplace else.
Herceptin may NOT be enought to stop it if it wakes up and gets going (could slow the process and keep tumor size down), but I think I would want it if I were in your shoes. I am glad to get it now! So far, so good. Still NED.

I had herceptin before and after brain radiatio and continue on the triple dose every 3 weeks with no sife effects. I have been NED ALSO FOR 4 YEARS. It is recommended for stage 4. My Onc encouraged me to contiue, thinking that there may be some leakage in the blood brain barrier from edema and perhps it will go through or maybe it already has, especially during radiation.

Does anyone know why herceptin stops working in some cases? Why does the cancer progress? I'm looking for detailed, biological info. Can anyone help?

Thanks,

Peggy

I have noticed that Herceptin doesn't work as well in SOME women that are er/pr+ besides being Her2+ or were given Heceptin after being diagnosed with mets to vital organs.

Hugs & God Bless

Peggy, that is the million dollar question that we all would love to know its answer!

When I had recurrence, my med onc told me: "MAYBE non-hormonal cancer spreading whilst Herceptin holding hormonal cancer at bay...."

I'm on Faslodex (hormonal therapy) and Herceptin of course. I have brain mets, nothing else....

Who knows??????

wow...hope that really isn't the case for my sister, who is both - received Herceptin after organ mets; also, ER+/Her2+++.

Just a follow up. Last month I had posted a question about strong urine smell and herceptin. It was not the herceptin but the decadron they gave me at infusion. This time they cut my doseof the decadron and it is not nearly as bad. I was taking decadron oraly as well while waitng to get sterotactic surgery.