Herceptin Patients Have Better Prognosis!

Christine reported this information to us after she and Joe attended the SABCS conference last year, and here it is in black and white!



- ANTIBODY-BASED REGIMENS -

"The use of trastuzumab (Herceptin®) as the backbone of treatment for patients with overexpression of the HER2 gene and amplification of the HER2 protein product has transformed the approach to the subgroup of patients expressing this phenotype. Indeed, from a group of patients with the worst prognosis and greatest resistance to chemotherapy, HER2 positive patients receiving Herceptin® and chemotherapy have the highest response rate and survival. It appears that the use of targeted therapy against this relevant biologic receptor has substantially altered the natural history of the disease."

Thanks Lolly for posting this information. It seems I've been kind of "down in the dumps" the past couple of weeks. I finished my chemo combo and now have 3 of the every 3 week herceptin solos under my belt. I go tomorrow for my gamut of scans and have been feeling very anxious about it. Your post came at a very good time for me!

Linda, I have posted this before but, my Onc. told me that in the future it might not be a bad thing to be her-2+, and might actually be concidered a good thing. It will always be a poor prognostic factor at diagnoses,because it is a sign of aggresive cancer but because of advances in it's treatability, it might be better to be her-2+ then not. Does that make any sense what I just said? I hope so. I had Herceptin in the adjuvant setting and I will be 3 yrs. in Aug. with no reoccurence. I thought I was going to die when I was 1st diagnosed but now I cling to my Onc's hopefullness with our type of cancer. I don't post very often, but read this board daily, and I just love all you girls! What brave women we have become.

Thank you Lolly, as always, for sharing your glass-half-FULL perspective. Been wondering about you, how you are tolerating treatment...Just know I send positive vibes, energy and prayers your way.
We are the changing faces of Survival!
Prayers, faith & courage!

I'm so glad to be reading this; I'm currently undergoing 6 months of weekly herceptin + navalbine (I've had 4 treatments so far and am tolerating them very well). I'm also taking arimidex and that alone had stopped most of the bone pain (I have bone & brain mets). Since starting the herceptin & navalbine, I am nearly pain free - it's amazing! I believe they are working on a herceptin vaccine. What great news! My oncology surgeon told me that herceptin is getting fantastic results, even for people with multiple, large liver mets - incredible!!

Hi Mary -
A quote from your post:
" My oncology surgeon told me that herceptin is getting fantastic results, even for people with multiple, large liver mets - incredible!!"

This describes ME! I am 23 months off chemo after Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin to get my very large liver mets!
Hope my story (in the Stories area of this site) will give you some positive hope for these wonder drugs. And all the best in your case to successfully overcome those bone mets.

Hi Tracie,

That's excellent news for you and I'm glad to hear it and "completely" understand what you're saying in comparison with people who aren't her2+, but are ER+ and on the tamoxifen regimen. I think we are very fortunate to have the herceptin and even being node-neg. I am on it after FAC with taxol and carboplatin as a way of doing everything I can now after being diagnosed in Dec., 03.

All the best to you,

Vicki in So. Cal.