Her2 Metastatic taking Herceptin

DianaW

Her2 Metastatic taking Herceptin

DianaW

Is there anyone out there who is her2, stage 4, metastatic, taking herceptin? Thanks,

Denny123

Yes!  I was Stage 4 with liver mets from the beginning.  Gemzar with Herceptin put my liver into remission.  I am now a 5 1/2 year survivor of liver mets and have been taking Herceptin now for over 4 years with no ill effects.  I will take it for life.

Denise

Kasey

Hi Diana,

I am stage 4 on Navelbine and Herceptin.  I am feeling pretty good on this combo.  I have mets in the chest nodes, liver and lungs.   

Are you on anything along with the Herceptin?  How are you doing?

Hugs,

Kasey

jan125

That would be a, "yes!"  for me too. Stage 4 on dx. with bone and liver mets. I took it with carboplatin and taxol for 6 months and now every 3 weeks forever.

Also take femara (a hormonal treatment) as I am er/pr+.

I got scanned last Thurs. and they were clean!

I am keeping my fingers crossed. I was dx in May 2006. Had my first clean PET/CT scan in Sept. 2006.

Herceptin is truely a miracle drug!

Best wishes,

Jan

KLynn

Hi Diane,

    Yes, here too. I was on herceptin 71/2 yrs ago for 1 yr, after my chemo and rads. Then again in 2005 with my recur to my lungs. I have been on herceptin now for 2 yrs this time around. I had different chemo drugs over the last two years with the herceptin.(which I was getting weekly) I just went into remission and have been off of chemo for 3 months , but continue to get herceptin every 3 weeks now, I too will be on it for life. I also believe herc. is a miracle drug. Good luck to you, Hugs KLynn

Anonymous

Wow, I am so glad Herceptin is working for you ladies.  Sometimes you wonder if the her2 status is a negative thing or a good thing. 

jcs13

I'm also HER2+, diagnosed in November.  The 1st oncologist said only radiation due to the small size and negative nodes.  The 2nd onco feels that due to the HER2+, we need to be aggressive.  I start chemo very soon; Taxol & Herceptin followed for 12 wks, followed by 6 wks. radiation.  I will stay on the Herceptin for a total of 12 months.  Although the tumor was tiny (.5cm), the biology was very bad.

Glad to see that Herceptin is working!

~Joan

Sassa

When I was first diagnosed and before my HER2 status was known, my oncologist made the comment that if I was lucky, I would be HER2+ so that I could take herceptin. 

At the time, I didn't understand why being HER2+ could possibly be good news.

However, the more I read, the more I believe that Herceptin is a miracle drug and that being HER2+ may be "lucky."

Anonymous

Hi Diana,

Initial diagnosis at Stage II in May 2003. Surgery + Chemo + Radiation followed by Tamoxifen then Arimidex. Bone mets found in April 2007. Now its stage 4. Am on Navelbine and Herceptin - moving to just Herceptin from next cycle onwards.    

Are you on anything along with the Herceptin? 

Hope you are doing well.

Hugs,

Bubble

miss-di

Me also, Herceptin every 3 weeks, Arimidex daily.  Started Aug 07, had repeat PET Jan 3.  Many less spots, Onc thinking of taking me off Herceptin for summer as she wants to be able to use it for many years.

I see some of you do not take a break, I'm actually scared to do it, but............

Waiting to see what happens in the summer.

Good Luck to all,

Di

WendyV

Another Stage IV girl on Herceptin.  I was dx with mets on inital dx.  Did Taxol and Herceptin together for 6 cycles and then switched to Herceptin and Arimidex post mast and ooph.   My onc has never suggested a break from Herceptin and frankly I don't want a break!  I startd this journey with 27 mets on my liver and now it is down to a few tiny subtle stable spots!  My onc says as long as I'm tolerating the Herceptin and my mugas stay good, I'll take it until it stops working.  My LVEF is 74% so I'm hopeful that Herceptin is not damaging my heart!  Go Herceptin Go!

Wendy

73gr

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and positive lymphnodes back in 1991. After radical mastectomy and chemo in 1992 she was officialy diagnosed with recurrence in 2005 in axillary and suvraclavicular lymphnodes. Her tumor tumor markers were dangersouly high. CEA was 405 and CA125 over 100. Followed taxol ad carbo plus radiation. The result was new mets, too numerous to count in liver, left lung, bones, plus pleural effusion. Second her onc, her prognosis was 3 months. But no one told us about Herceptin. I found infos about Herceptin right in this page. We asked about an IHC test based on her biopsy back in 1991! The results were that she is HER2+. Started Herceptin and since July 2006 my mother is NED! Maybe if Herceptin was available in 1992 she would avoid the recurrence.

balabanian

My mom was diagnosed with stage IV/metastatic breast cancer 6 months ago, and has been in chemo and taking herceptin since then and has had great response. Now, so sadly, she just had an MRI and they found 6 small tumors in her brain, so they're going to do a gamma knife surgery, and switch her treatment to a combination of tykerb and avastin. I'm afraid for her to stop the herceptin since it was doing so well for her, and of course really worried about the brain metastases.  Anyone had any experience with anything related or have any words of advice?

73gr

Dear Balabanian,

Herceptin unfortunately don't help with brain metastases but it can still help to shrink the tumors in all the other parts of the body. Why don't you talk to the doctor to get Herceptin/Tykerb combo instead of Avastin?

There are many women having great response to Tykerb for brain mets 

britbaby

Yes I am, have been on taxol and herceptin since Sept 2007 and I am doing great with it, what would you like to know ???

JulieAD

I was dx with mets off the bat March 07. Had dose dence AC, then Taxol with herceptin. Continuing with herceptin for life? or til progression. No chemo since Sept 07. Also had oopher in Jan 08 and am on femara now as I am also ER/PR+. So far each scan has been better than the one before. Not NED yet, but hoping for it on my next scan the end of April, or at least stable. Have heard wonderful things about herceptin, and the few s/e are well worth taking it for me.



God luck to you all,

Julie

Amers

So good to hear 4 years!  Congrats.  I too was diagnosed with mets to the liver and bone.  8 rounds of taxotere and herceptin and all mets were gone!

My MUGA came back 17 points lower. Started at 75 now 58.  Going through radiation -wondering if that is causing some issue. 

Taking a one month break from herceptin.  I heard it stays in your system for 3 months-can anyone confirm?  I am afraid to be off of it for any amount of time!

Anonymous

Amers, my onc said the same thing ..... I was off due to my muga for 3 months and waited for my heart to stabilize then went back on.  I was on the "every 3 weeks" program til I finally completed it.  I am scared that I face recurrance that I will have probs with my heart again.....  I wonder how the Tykerb is doing regarding that?  I think I heard it doesn't have bad effects on the heart but you can't go back on H once you get on the Tykerb.