Has anyone opted to take Herceptin alone at recurrence?

NWisbest

Hi guys,

First time posting here. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 E+, P+, Her2Neu +, Grade 3- BC in 2006.  I did Radiation, Lumpectomy, and AC/T + Herceptin. I opted for Taxol as my husband and I hold hopes for children. THat was age 29. Now 34 and spent Xmas learning of recurrence.  

Just completed bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.  Cancer was 8mm E+/P+/Grade 2.  (Even though the grading shifted and was compared they are writing it off by differences in pathologists and still report this as a recurrence).

My ONcologist initially shared if all comes in under 1cm I may not choose to do any chemo. However he visited in the hospital and talked that I may want to consider TCH with Herceptin.  I remain on Tamoxifen while this is all sorted out.

Obviously 3 years in remission is now worthless.  I have scouring the internet to understand if anyone has ever done Herceptin alone as a course of chemo treatment combined with oral HRT?  I am still recovering in post-op and waiting for final FISH to confirm Her2Neu status.

I have searched these forums and find hundreds of Herceptin posts. No luck wading through to see if anyone else came up with the question of using Herceptin alone.  If the cancer is quite small and Herceptin is the aggressive protein concern I am wondering of this option.  Partly as AC/T stole such a long amount of my life, wiped out pieces of my memory, caused fatigue, etc. I am not ruling out anything but wondering of this option. I trust my medical team however respect opinions in my question.

Thoughts?

Julie 

carcharm

NCCI sets standards of treatement for different kinds of cancer. I believe they recommend TCH & Herceptin for any HER 2+++ cancer-any size. I have ER/PR - Her 2+++ IDC stage 1a (.3cm invasion of dcis) - got 2 different onc's opinions and there was NO hesitation in what I needed. Chemo & Herceptin. I would be too afraid not to do chemo after reading how many ladies on this board have had small invasions with no positive nodes yet end up with mets or reoccurances. I would do the chemo with the herceptin.

Jaimieh

Julie~ I am sorry that the beast has reared it's head again.  I would think that your oncologist would try something other than or in addition to herceptin like Latpnib (tykerb).  There is another member who had a recurrance and is going thru treatment for it now.  I will look and see if I can't find her user name and see if she can give you some advice. 

CoolBreeze

I did a year of herceptiin - six rounds of TCH.  But, I sat next to a lady - we became very friendly.  She was doing herceptin only.

I believe that the studies show that herceptin works best combined with a platin but there is no law that says a doctor can't  give herceptin alone.  Women in some of the early trials did only herceptin and saw their tumors shrink.

Facing possibly mets myself.  Had my last herceptin December 2nd.  Mets this early would not be a good sign.  Hope it's something else!