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11-02-2007, 06:25 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: BridgeView IL
Posts: 116
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After one year of Herceptin/then what?
I was told I need to take Herceptin for one year. I just finished my 6th treatment/every 3 weeks. What comes next, is it a wait and see what happens? I am confused about this?
Tamara
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma 11/2006
Lumpectomy / HER2+
A/C-4 cycles completed
Taxol- 4 cycles completed
Radiation- 7 of 33 completed to date
Herceptin - 6 of 12 completed to date
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11-02-2007, 06:36 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Tamara
The length of Herceptin has varied, most are on it a year, some 18 mos. I think a year is the most common. It does stay in your system after you go off it for awhile, like a couple months. It is like an added prevention measure, in hopes of preventing a recurrence. After you are through with the year, it is routine scans, tumor markers, here again every oncologist is different. You need to be vigilent, don't let worry rule your life...you live, but you always remember if something seems unusual or not right, get it checked. Talk to your oncologist and ask them what the plan is after you finish your Herceptin.
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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11-02-2007, 08:56 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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Tamara,
Unless there's some new and exciting report, you will likely do H for 1 year total.So hang in there. You are working towards a cure. BB.
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11-02-2007, 09:45 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Tamara,
Standard protocol for Herceptin in one year. As Sheila said, Herceptin stays in your system for a while after your last treatment. Ask your oncologist what his/her plan for follow-up is. You didn't state what Stage you are and that has a major influence on what your follow-up is. Just don't make cancer become your life. use the rule that is you are experiencing anything different wait two weeks and if you still have the symptoms then get it checked out.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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11-05-2007, 10:03 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bedford, Virginia
Posts: 134
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My last Herceptin treatment is Nov 16. During my last visit, my Oncologist spent a lot of time with me to discuss followup care in the months and years ahead. I would recommend if your Oncologist doesn't make time for you "prior" to your last visit, you take his/her time to discuss any and all concerns and followup care. My oncologist has already scheduled me for a followup visit in April. I will see him twice a year, and I will also see my surgical oncologist twice a year. I am scheduled for Mammos in spring and MRI's in late summer. He told me if I remain cancer free, they will continue for this plan for the next 2 years. I am blessed with a caring and supportive Oncologist. While on Herceptin I some times did not have appointments to see him. He, however, would come visit while I was in the Fusion Center. He's a jewel! I call him my shepherd as he watches over me..
Louise
__________________
- Diagnosis 06/06 - Stage II-A BC; BC was 2.5 cm, grade 2; ER/PR negative & HER-2/neu positive;
- Mastectomy w/ reconstruction (implant) in 09/06;lymph nodes - negative;
- AC/Cytoxin combo - 4 treatments (dose dense);
- Taxol/Herceptin combo- 12 weekly treatments;
- Completed chemo - 2/07; completed restruction 02/07; reduction of left breast.
- BRCA 1 and 2 negative - 6/15/07;DX high risk for distant recurrence
- MRI, 08/02/07 - NED
- 1 year Anniversary - 09/07; completed Herceptin 11/07.
- Mammo 02/14/08 - NED; MRI - 08/2008 - NED
- 2 year Anniversary - 09/08
- Mammo 02/09 - NED; MRI - 08/09 - NED
- 3rd year Anniversary - 09/09
- 5th Annivery - 09/2011 - NED
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