No Herceptin

[AlaskaAngel]

As a stage 1 HER2+++ I was diagnosed before trastuzumab was available other than off-label while the trial was still in progress. I didn't know anything about trastuzumab at the time but did request to participate in clinical trials for HER2 positive bc. My onc failed to mention the trial to me, or to help me with accessing information about possible clinical trials myself. I instead had CAFx6, rads, and a brief run of tamoxifen but no trastuzumab, no taxane, and no AI. I have so far not recurred.

Because it is now standard treatment for most HER2 positive patients, we don't know what the percentage is who would be like me, or which patients they might be.

There are others here who have also posted over time who did not receive trastuzumab.

[Adriana Mangus]

Hi Alaska,

Herceptin was approved in 1998 maybe earlier than your diagnosis in 2002,
perhaps your doctor did not mention it to you. I see you are Hormone receptor positive as well as Her2+. Lucky you-- haven't had a recurrence since.

You can always ask to be placed on a 6month to a one year herceptin only therapy, just in case.

Take care,

Adriana

[Lauriesh]

Herceptin wasn't approved for early stage until 2005. I was diagnosed in march 2005, before it was approved and by the time I was starting Taxol that summer, it had been approved.