Still in remission-Thanks to Herceptin!!

orange1

Hi Gaynorl-  Thanks for replying.

I didn't have radiation (no lymph nodes and had a mastectomy, so it wasn't needed.)  Since the steroid cream the dermotogist prescribed isn't helping long term, I decided to try my husband's athete's foot cream (clotrimazole) - hoping the rash is a fungus and this clears it up.

Herceptin is usually prescribed for mets an indefinite period of time because of proven benefit.  I am not sure why your doctor would stop your treatment at one year.  If you have a high risk of heart damage, that may be a reason.  I would question your onc carefully since it is not typical to stop Herceptin use for late stage disease without a compelling reason.

Take care,

Jackie

OtraVez

Hi, Gaynorl - 

I'm not sure I'd worry yet about the 1 year time frame, at least not yet.  I only had 1 year, and had my second set of clean scans about 2 months after I finished up.   There has been no problem since, so my onc didn't start treatment again with me, and I'm surprisingly comfrotable with that (though, it was weird not to show up at the hospital every 3 weeks! )

My onc has another patient who was in chemo with me, and who'd been on Herceptin for 8 years (that would make it about 10 years now).  She has had liver and bone mets which apparently get worse when they discontinue the treatment. 

 He as also very clear with me that the tests and trials showed that a year of treatment is appearing to be sufficent to prevent a recurrance in a large percentage of the folks who have used it. My insurance company also refused to pay after the first year.  . . I know this because we're still fighting about whether a year consisted of 12 calendar months, 365 days,  or x number of treatments. 

 For what it's worth - goodness knows, there's enough other stuff to worry about with this disease!   

lexislove

Herceptin is ONLY givin for 1 year to those woman who have early stage BC. the woman that you have seen that may get it for longer are mostly stage 4 ladies. They will be on Herceptin for life or untill it has stopped working for them.

Denny123

Gaynor,

I am on Herceptin for life because I am Stage 4.  Herceptin is definitely keeping my liver mets in remission.

udith3

Congrats to you~~~ I have been on Herceptin since Feb. 5th 1999..I had just finished chemo and radiation, then 3 weeks later was told it was all over my liver..Back to chemo and my first Herceptin... I still go every three weeks for it,,, so 10 years and counting...I remain disease free..I will pray that you will do the same...Stay well~~~