Length of Time for Herceptin

[Shannon]

Good Evening Ladies..

I often come here (my safe place) to get some advice, kind words or just plain ol' hey.. Im going through that too..

Once again.. I find myself in need of all three... here is some history..

I was diagnosed at 33years old with stage 3 breast cancer. I had 5 nodes out of 17 positive. I had 2 surgeries to remove the cancer, only a lumpectomy. I completed 4 AC and 12 taxol rounds, then 8 weeks of radiation. I was in the clinical study... but in the arm that got standard treatment and observe..THEN... in may, I was told I could get HERCEPTIN as they were releasing it early from the study.

Im not hormone positive, so I will not get any hormone therapy to follow.. When I began this crazy adventure, I was at a 58 with my MUGA.. after chemo I dropped to a 42. Then after 6 months, flax seed and CoQ10 pills I went back up to a 52. I have had both MUGA and ECHO's. After 14 weekly doses.. I was pulled from Herceptin as my MUGA dropped to 44. Yeah, a few people are inpacted by Herceptin, I guess Im one.

I show NO symptoms, and just had an ECHO yesterday that is GREAT!!! So, as of Monday, I go back in to chat with the doctor, and I have a chair reserved to get HERCEPTIN...

Whew, so after all of that.. here is my question...

Ive been off.. and while I was in the study, they said any time away.. missed doses, would not be made up.. it was a straight 52 weeks. When I go back.. should I push for my 52 weeks to start over? Is it ok to have missed.. 9 weeks...? I want as much as i can get.. there has to be a reason they want you to get 52 doses.. these are all questions I will be asking my doctor.. but I wanted any insight from you ladies so I go in fairly firm on something...

Thoughts???

Shannon