3 years + on Herceptin, Why

[shellbuck]

I have been on Herceptin for 3 years now. I go every 3 weeks, and receive 560 mg by IV. My doctor keeps telling me that because I was stage 4 when I was diagnosed I should remain on the drug because there are no long-term studies that he can point to that suggest it is ok to discontinue the drug. Anyone else out there that was stage 4 and has either gone off the drug after 1 year or is still on, like I am?
Also, what are you charged for Herceptin treatment. I'm getting a bill for $7,000. Is this right? I just changed insurance companies and I'm afraid they will drop me because of the continuing costs of this treatment.

Diagnosis: 1.8 cm, grade III, Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
Estrogen Recepter negative (ER/PR-)
Her2neu 3+/2+
13 of 19 nodes involved
4/27/06 Mammogram/Ultrasound Found lump
5/12/06 Needle biopsy attempted
5/30/06 Lumpectomy
Surgery 6/19/06 Reexcise superior margin; sentinal node biopsy & removal of lymph nodes; 8 nodes affected
BardPort Implanted Port with Groshong Catheter
Breast MRI 6/14/06
PET Scan 6/15/06
CT Lungs 6/29/06
Echocardiogram 6/29/06 (every 6 months)
BRCA Testing – Genetic Counselor 7/12/06
Pulmonologist consultation 7/12/06
CT Scans every 6 months

Treatment:
Chemotherapy w/Herceptin (6 months)
Radiation (2 weeks)
Ongoing Herceptin 560 mg treatment every 3 weeks