Stage 3C with er/pr -ive her 3+

rahuls206

Hello I am Saroj (42 Y). In first week of March 2010 I found a lump in my right breast, there was no other problem. I meet a Oncologist he advised me to have FNAC, result shows that I was having IDC. I went through MRM surgery of right breast soon after that. The biopsy result was a nightmare.

It shows that i was having 17 +ive lymph nodes, the doctor staged it to Stage 3C. My ER/PR report is -ive and HER 3+. My medical oncologist told me that they will be giving me 6 cycles of TAC chemo along with HERCEPTIN (18 cycles). After 6 cycles of TAC chemo i will be having Radiotherapy. I had taken 3 cycles of  TAC+HERCEPTIN chemo till now without any problem (except hair loss). Now I would like to know that:-

Q1. How much effective is herceptin? (as it is very expensive)

Q2. In my case what are the chances of disease coming back?

Q3. Right from the begining i am having no other problem apart from that lump( which was      removed), How much long i would live ?

Frankie_

Hi Saroj

I am a Stage 3er too ER/PR (neg) and HER2+++. I had the same questions as you when I started this journey 9 months ago.

1) My understanding (someone chime in if I am wrong) that herceptin reduces the risk of a re occurrence by 50%. I cannot answer your Q about the cost. I live in Canada and it is covered under the public health plan. Do you have insurance that would cover the cost? If not, you could contact the company that makes (herceptin) to see whether they will help subsidize the cost.

2 & 3) Everyone is different being treated meaning that a local or distant recurrence could occur in someone and not someone else. Herceptin is one of our strongest weapons for those of us who are hormone negative. I have a friend who is 6 years out HER2+++ and had many positive nodes. I would suggest you talk to your Onc if you want an idea as to the percentage that it will return. When I asked my Onc about my stats I was told my chances of a recurrence would be 30-40% (after chemo, rads and herceptin). Again this is only a guesstimate based on my stats.  TRY not to focus on statistics's. The way I look at it I either have a 100% or a 0% that it will return. -There is a thread in the Stage 3 forum- (Stage 3 HER2+ (only) -There are a few girls that have posted who are doing well. *Check it out. It gives me inspiration and hope reading their stories.

You may be interested in another drug called "Zometa" some of the girls here have asked their Oncs to prescribe it to them as some studies have shown that it decreases the risk of a 'reocurrence'. There are several threads on Zometa on this site.

I am sure that other girls will chime in and provide more information and encouragement for you.

Frankie