early stage breast cancer and herceptin

[Olivia]

I was diagnosed in 12/04... Stage I (.9 cm tumor) Grade III. node neg. Er/pr -, Her2 +. Bilateral masts, a/c and taxol dose dense. Could not get Herceptin on trial (tumor 1 mm too small). Results came in late April that trials ended early. Started Herceptin at last chemo in May 2005. Finish next week. Asked for extra year. Onc. said no.

Olivia

[Montana]

I was diagnosed with .7 mm IDC and larger comedo DCIS stage 1 grade 3 10/04 and had 2 lumpys for clean margins then finished 4 dose dense chemos in late Feb 05 and rads in early June 05. Onc said I didn't quality for Herceptin because of no nodes. I didn't have the oncotype dx test....wish it was available to me in at time of diagnosis. I'll always be wondering if I'm going to have a recurrence. I live in NW Montana.

[Sue2001]

Suzan,

I was part of the clinical trial giving Herceptin to early stage bc patients so I received Herceptin. In talking with my onc last week, he said that he is currently recommending Herceptin to all early stage Her+++ cancer patients.

Sue

[Jackie]

I was dx 4/05 with 1.6cm tumor, one node involved, Stage 2a. I live 75 miles from Austin, TX and am receiving state of the art treatment in a town 38 miles from me. Herceptin was always considered a treatment for me.

[DeborahNC]

Recurred 9/05 Stage 1. My onc at Duke Raleigh in Raleigh, NC recommends Herceptin for ALL Her+ regardless of tumor size, grade, stage.

[sadie]

Mekasan,
That's what my onc told me.
Herceptin was approved for early stagers in May 2005.
1 cm was made the borderline to recommend getting Herceptin.
She told me about 2 months ago, that they are now considering lowering the borderline to .5cm due to the great success of Herceptin.
I don't know when that will be, tho.
Sadie

[Berta]

I live in Southern Indiana, about an hour from Louisville, Ky. I am getting herceptin for Stage I. BERTA

[bjj]

I was diagnosed Jan 2005, Grade 2, node negative, 16-18mm tumour, ER+. I was advised rads only. Diagnosed before HERA trial results. Had 2 HER2 tests by different hospitals - one negative and one positve - I'm assuming I am positive (Long story!). Found it all out too late to have chemo so can't have Herceptin. I'm terrified of recurrence.

You were spot on Alaska Angel - there must be loads us out there that were diagnosed just at the wrong time.

[sadie]

I was dx Oct 2005. Stage 1; Grade 3; 1cm IDC ; Sentinol node neg; er+/pr weakly+;
Her2+++ on biopsy; Her2++ at Lumpectomy;
My onc in Utica, Michigan strongly recommended Herceptin even tho I was borderline for getting it. I rec'd AC once/wk x4; Taxol/Herceptin once/wk x12;
Will begin 6 wks radiation soon and am now getting Herceptin every 3 wks to finish out 1 year.
My onc said she would take history into consideration, but would give Herceptin to anyone who asked for it. She is a firm believer.

[mekasan]

I was told by both my onc and my surgeon that herceptin was approved for early stage breast cancer in May 2005. Did I misunderstand??

I was dx in aug 2005, at stage 1 and currently receiving herceptin. I am being treated in at St Barnabas in West Orange, by Dr. Michaelson (on medical advisory board for this site).

[AlaskaAngel]

It is of course understandable (although a bit painful) to see how many HER2 bc patients who are now automatically being treated with Herceptin are not aware that there are many, many HER2's out here still who are stuck with having been diagnosed as HER2 prior to the clinical trials for Herceptin, or else left in limbo because their tumor did not meet the clinical trial criteria. It is only available to people in these situations off-label.

AlaskaAngel