Oral Herceptin Clinical Trial

Twiceasnice

Forgive me if this is a topic that has been covered already on the blog--but I couldn't find it and decided to forge ahead!

I finished Herceptin in Dec. 2010 after TC chemo and radiation. I'm going to meet with my onc's team in mid April to talk about the clinical trial  for the oral form of Herceptin (8 pills a day from what I hear, and there is a 50/50 chance of getting the drug.) My father, who had cancer, is pretty against clinical trials and I think is skeptical, esp. since they can't tell me how much added protection the trial will give me. But I think, there is so little downside, why not risk it and maybe get some more protection? 

What are the folks on this board's experience with the trial? Specifically:

--Is the diarreah that bad if you get the drug? 

--are there other side effects-besides the potential for heart damage--that come with the pill form?

--is there any data on how much longer the new pill form might extend a patient's protection against recurrence beyond the protection given by the year of Herceptin I just wrapped up?

--I still have nose sores from my Herceptin infusions--anyone have suggestions for treatment? 

--And finally, I had node-positive bc, with a 2 cm tumor, stage IIIB, grade 3, ER/PR +, her 2 +.  What are the figures for recurrence for someone like me? And, how much protection does the first round of Herceptin give me (I think the only data I have is that Herceptin reduces my chances of recurrence by 50%. Any other data out there?

Thanks! 

annamari

I think you aare thinking of the Neratinab trials.  I had nose sores and found the best is to clean you nasal passages with salt water. 1tsp in 1cup water.  I found if I loosened every thing that way I had less problems..Make sure you let the water/salt cool before using. You can do this as often as needed.  I would make new every week so no bacteria grow in the solution.  I hope this will help.