At what point in treatment did you start herceptin?

trustinGod

I would really like to know at what point in treatment did people start herceptin before chemo or after and did anyone have mastectomy followed by immediate reconstruction while taking hercetin?

 Would really appreciate your story.

 Thanks

dottie70

I started Herceptin along with the Taxol just after I had finished four weeks of A/C. The expanders were inserted the day of my surgery (double masectomy), but didn't have the exchange of expanders to implants until I had finished twelve weeks of the Taxol. I was on Herceptin for one year.

Anonymous

can someone help me dissect this study please?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11694786

Scrabblelady

I had a single mmx, no reconstruction.  After the surgery I had 4  A/C treatments, followed by 12 weekly tx of taxol & Herceptin.  I m currently on Herceptin every 3 weeks until November.

Anonymous

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11694786

here is my current understanding-- let me know what is your understanding 

it seems like the abstract is talking about 3 trials

• phase 2
• phase 3
• "current one" - which presumably means phase 4?

phase 2 & phase 3

• proved "efficacy" of 2nd or 3rd line single agent Herceptin and first-line Herceptin in combination with chemo

(meaning either of these combinations -- 1. chemo first then Herceptin 2. surgery then chemo then herceptin 3. Herceptin+ chemo (at the same time)

current trial (on-going) -- is this still ongoing?

• 114 patients were divided into 2 groups
• group 1 -- first-line Herceptin monotheraphy (meaning Herceptin only as first line of defense, no chemo, no surgery?) -- smaller dosage
• group 2 - same as group 1 - but higher dosage?

Anonymous

i tried to look for the full text from Karger (linked from pubmed)-- but it seems I have to pay for it.

is there anyone on this board who has already paid for the full text from Karger? if yes, can you copy and paste here? or if confidentiality is an issue then PM me.

if I do not receive a response in the next 24 hours- I will pay for it (full text of the study) myself.

I printed the abstract to bring to our oncologist for our next appointment- but I would like to get the full text as well to ensure we engage the onc with a well informed question-- rather than randmozing him--so as to avoid being dismissed.

suemed8749

Hi trustinGod - Yes, I did tissue expander/silicone implant while on Herceptin. My timeline: two lumpectomies, then a uni-mast in March 2008. I started Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin in April, and had exchange surgery in October while doing Herceptin.

It seems to be quite common for women to finish their recon while on Herceptin. I had no problems and am doing well 3 years later - wishing you all the best!

Lilah

I did AC x 4 (every 2 weeks) then started Taxol Dose Dense x 4 (every two weeks) with Herceptin (every three weeks) for one year.  A month after completing Taxol I had uni MX with immediate placement of TEs... then exchange some months later.

suzieq60

Nanay - the study you have been reading was for metatastic bc ie the cancer has already spread to other organs/bones - not entirely relevant for your mother.

elmcity69

hi TrustinGod:

I did MX 10/09, A/C from November to January, then Taxol w/ Herceptin. So Herceptin started approx. 3.5 months after surgery.

Good luck with everything - you will find amazing support here.

xo

Janyce

sewingnut

I had MX in january and started TCH X6 in february. I also have herceptin the 2 weeks inbetween the TCH big chemo. After the 6 are over I will be on Herceptin every 3 weeks for a year.

suzieq60

Nanay - there's a current study for women older than 70 for herceptin alone - the only one I can find that is current. There are no results as yet.



Sue

Anonymous

just want to answer my own question-- the study I have posted above

phas 2 and phase 3 -- plus what they call current trial (was current in 2001) -- all these trials have been completed already..

I just wonder why these studies are not written in plain English..

suepen-- I know they are for advanced cancers with mets..(my mother has lymph node involvement so we are trying to prevent mets) -- that is why I am asking the onc why is he asking my mother to go for Herceptin with chemo.. when she can do Herceptin alone..

suzieq60

Nanay - there is a new study as I said above for women older than 70 - no mets - no chemo just herceptin.

Nevo84

My mom started chemo exactly one month after her surgery. 4 round of AC and the fifth round the drugs shifted to taxol and herceptin. So she started Herceptin from her 5th round of chemo.Good luck to u.

trustinGod

A huge Thank you to you all for your stories which have been a great help to me. I am very grateful to you all.

 THANKS

stlcardsfan

TCH chemo first for me. Then continued on with H only until one year completed.

About 7 weeks after my last TCH, and while still doing H, I had my surgery -  BMX with immediate reconstruction TE's, and ooph (yes all at the same time). Finished herceptin 12/15 and on 12/20 had te's replaced with implants and port removed.

Did chemo first to stop the sucker from growing and reduce size of mass down to be able to do a lumpectomy. When I found out my BRCA status, opted for BMX instead. 42 years old and no family history, yet I test positive for BRCA - go figure.