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I had a lumpectomy -- tumor was small (1.8 c), early stage I, and not in my lymph nodes. However, tumor was high grade 3 and HER2+. Onc suggested enrolling in study for Early Stage I cancers in which Herceptin would be given as an antibody treatment with Taxol.
I had 4 Adriamcyin/Cytoxin treatments 21 days apart. Friday I had weekly treatment #6 of 12 of Herceptin/Taxol. Problem is: veins not cooperating. Takes 2-3 tries. A port put in originally (12/2) never worked -- caused excruciating pain -- was removed after one chemo treatment. I have a 2x2" scar/hard area which is above the incision line for the port. Surgeon said my body rejected the port. Others who have seen think maybe slight spillage or something occured. Onc does not want to put another port in because of unknown cause of problem. After the 12 Herceptin/Taxol treatments I am supposed to get Herceptin alone for 10 months.
Now my Onc says, "Remember when you entered the study, we said if problems occured of any kind you could drop out. The most important things are that your tumor was small, Early Stage I, and not in nodes." Onc said remember we do not know if Herceptin will work as an antibody treatment. Onc said it was my tumor with the HER2 gene and that reoccurrence rate about 17-20%.
Please give me any info you have. If my tumor was HER2+ what are the chances that I still overexpress this gene elsewhere? What can you tell me about HER2 in general and as it relates to my situation.------Judy D.
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