recruirence of cancer in her2 positive

parweenali

recruirence of cancer in her2 positive

parweenali

I had breast lumptactomy on April 2006 and took herceptin + chemo for one year.  I just wonder that is anyone who did this kind of treatment and if their cancer came back?  After how manyyears?

GoldenEyes

My First dx was in 2002, I was NED for 4 1/2 yrs.... came back...Had more chemo...was on Herceptin for yr.. WHILE still on Herceptin.. towards the very end of my treatment.. It came back again..it had spread to my lung.. but I was very lucky...only one small tumor.. I had my upper left lobe remove along with the cancer..I just finished my 3rd round of chemo.. 3 weeks ago.. Crossing fingers..... Good luck....

pisces364

Hi, I'm new to this chat stuff.  I had bc in 1998, did chemo & radiation.  I was fine almost 10 years & it came back.  I had a double mastectomy with tram flap reconst.  My question is regarding herceptin.  This was her2 positive. One onc. wants to do 12 chemo treatments with Carboplatin, Taxotere & Herceptin, then just Herceptin for 1 year.  I'm thinking no chemo this time & maybe herceptin alone.  Any comments or words of advice??  I have an appointment for a 2nd opinion next week & just not sure what the best course of action is.  Any input is appreciated. By the way, I am 44 now, that seems to make a difference

Amers

I believe that Herceptin is a great drug-but I have seen on some studies where if it is paired with chemo it has a better effect that just Herceptin alone.  I did Taxotere and Herceptin and was NED for a few months--now on Navelbine and Herceptin.

I would still do the chemo too-just to be sure.....Amy 

pisces364

Hi Amy, what does NED mean?  Thanks for your input.

flash

NED means No Evidence of Disease.  We all want to dance with NED, very popular fellow. LOL

jerseymaria

sorry to say i had no NED at all.  first pet after surgery, chemo, rads and herceptin showed progression.  so either some cells escaped, or became resistant to the drugs...who knows.

sassyone

I was dx 2/05.  Did A/C then Taxol/Herceptin, with herceptin for total of 18 months.  I am over 3 years NED.  There are lots of people who have not recurred.

Best wishes!

Pharmmom

I was diagnosed in 2002.  Had mastectomy, chemo, tamoxifen and now arimidex.  I have been NED ever since and God willing will continue to be.  I wish the same to you.  Barb

gk2bc0

Hi pisces364.   I am having the same choice as you.  53, recurrent  cancer after 3 years, also Her2+ Didn't do chemo last time only lumpectomy and radiation. This time, mastectomy and TRAM and now one doc is recommending AC+Taxol +H and another TC +H.  My first treatment is 7/17 and i'm told that neither therapy is "wrong."  What did you decide?  Gail

k4katz

Hi, I am a 2 year survivor, and so far no recurrence! But because of the her2, it is on my mind every single day.

Kristin

shirleyr

Hi! I'm also new to this forum. Dx 23rd May this year with Her2 +++, Estrogen - bc. Mast on the left breast on May 9th. About to start on Herceptin hopefully - awaiting authorisation from my med aid - but not looking hopeful at present (

In answer to Pisces364 question: my onco explained to me this past Friday that Herceptin works by changing the status of the cancer cells from Her2 positive to Her2 negative. You then need the chemo to kill the Her2 negative cells.

Does that fit in with what others have heard?

Shirl

spencerlarz

hey parwanali,

i did same tretment as you and im all good! i was dx 2 years ago same as you i think? 2006. im now 29, and HEALTHY! im triple + her2- no family history.

try not to think of it coming back, everyone is different, just stay healthy as you can.Thats all you can do.i hear accupuncture is good.

spenc.

spencerlarz

hey kristin,

im also a 2 yr survivor.Being her2+++ really sux. Its also on my mind every single day, its so depressing.But not all her2+ have a reccurance, we MUST remember this.

one good thing is that we are less likely to carry the gene mutation bra1 and 2, apparently. Thats good news!! isnt it??

thank god for herceptin.

pray to find a cure in our lifetime.

spenc.xxxxxxx

janie44

hey all,

Four years and four months out and still with NED !!!! 

TammyLou

Stage 3C at diagnosis.  12+ fixed matted lymph nodes...11+ cm of tumor burden in the matts.

Diagnosed January 2005.

Concurrent weekly Herceptin with 4 rounds Taxotere; 4 rounds FEC.  Total 52 weeks Herceptin.

Radiation in six fields (FRONT AND BACK) with two sets of boosts.

ER/PR negative.

Still Kickin'!

Tammy Lou

NED verified June 2008

TammyLou

Can you say, "Holy Moley!", Batman?

Herceptin is some good stuff.

Fingers crossed.

Hope_M

Okay, do I win the prize for longevity?  Highly Her2 pos (onc. said that it was among the top three in his career) and dx in May of '03.  Still NED (after mast, lymph node removal--4 were positive, TAC X 6, 25 rads and a year of weekly Herceptin) and just past my FIVE year anniversary.  (Woo hoo, take that, you 9 cm tumor!!!!)

Hope M. 

Aponi

I finished herceptin 08/07, a year ago end of next month! Dancing with NED

Montana

Still NED...coming up on 4 years this October.

rickeydoes

Hi Girls I don't post much either just read alot but, I had to chime in. This is my worry also. Being HER2+ ER+/PR+ . I had chemo then masectomy then 6wks radiation. I've been on herceptin since 1-23-08 and I suppose to stay on it for a year. Now I did radiation treatments at a local hospital because it was an every day treatment. That Dr. said to wait 2 yrs to do any reconstruction incase there is a recurrence. Now I just wish they would of given me a dble masectomy so I wouldn't have to worry. Because I really don't think I want to go through any more surgerys. Right now I have frozen shoulder and I'm in alot of pain nothing helps and I just want to get back to work and I can't work with 1 arm.  Sue

nancyannh

hi to all,i am having my last herceptin treatment on monday,while glad to be done,it is somehow comforting to be getting chemo. i have had a right mastectomy and am planning to have the left in the fall. my dr is recomending that and i will then have bi lateral reconstruction. will leave port in for now.

i dont think too much about reoccurance,only now and then,may be it is how i protect myself,it is easy to despair,i live in upstate ny,anyone close by?nancy

gina070805

Greetings and hi to all,

I was diagnosed 7/8/05 with Stage III Brease Cancer.  The results, her2+++ and 9 of 11 nodes were positive.  I had an 8cm tumor in the clumped mass of nodes.  I had AC first in an effot to reduce the growth of the cancer.  Next, I had an axiliary node disection, then taxol and herceptin for 16 weeks, Next, was 35 rad treatments then 1 year of herceptin.  Had a clean mammo today but I too worry everyday, what if.  When I read the statistics, 86% of Breast Cancer patients make it beyond 5 yrs, then it would seem based upon my history I'd be in the 14%..  But,,,,, I can't think like that they say and I say it's easy to say that but you don't and didn't have cancer.  I too, think Cancer sucks!   

Every day still seems to lend some sort of change.  While the weight is still coming off, the aches, pains and new changes still keep coming.  Although I do not know what the future holds, I do know I hold how I choose to live with the future. 

To all of those who have, who will and or who has had this horrible disease, we owe it to each other to fight back and keep fighting until they find a cure to help each one of us.  

I know I am and I trust each of you are "stronger" for what we've been dealt and that this disease will forever have change our life. 

I will for all to have good health!

    

TriciaK

Hope M, congrats on your inspirational five years out, thats good news we all need to hear:)

I'm three years out and still doing well although battling joint pain from arimidex but it's far better than the alternative.

Good health to all of us!

Triciak

rickeydoes

Hi everybody, Nancy I live in up state ny dunkirk-buffalo area along lake erie.  I still have till 1/09 to be on herceptin. I just started the tamoxifen 5-8-08, so I have a long way to go to reach the 5 year mark for the tamoxifen. Nancy, I wish they would of done a bilateral because I do worry about the recurrence plus right now I'm suffering with frozen shoulder. I hate the forms to heavy I rather have nothing. Sue