Becky, What does this mean?

[Hopeful]

Maryls,

Here is a link to a recent article which states that Herceptin is cost effective, given the improved survival time of patients: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/553595

Here is a pertinent excerpt:

The 2 studies differed in 2 key areas — the duration of trastuzumab's benefitand the annual risk for systemic recurrence. In the study led by Nicola Lucio Liberato, MD, from the Azienda Ospedaliera della Provincia di Pavia, Ospedale Civile, Italy, they assumed that the benefit of trastuzumab would persistonly for 5 years — a notion that is well supported by the Early Breast CancerTrialists' Meta-Analysis.

In contrast, in the study led by Allison Kurian, MD, from the Veterans' Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System and Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research at Stanford University, in California, they assumed a one-third decline in benefit in years 3 to 5 andan additional but persistent benefit from years 6 to 10. In their editorial, Drs. Hillner and Smith call these numbers "excessively optimistic." The reports also differed slightlyin the risk for systemic recurrences beyond 5 years, but thishad little impact on the results.

Hope this information is useful.

Hopeful