stopping hercepting or having a long break?

yan123

My mom has IBC, HER2+ and ER+, stage III. She received only 3 doses of Herceptin.

In total, she received 6 chemo (3 AC, and 3 TCH). During the last administration of paclitaxel she had a severe complication - lung edema. A day before this event, she received Herceptin. Doctors are concerned about continuing Herceptin as they are not sure if Herceptin has actually also triggered this reaction.

Then, she had a mastectomy. The pathology report showed that the chemo removed cancer from her lymph nodes and she had about half inch of cancer in the breast tissue, which was removed with wide margins.

The next treatment a doctor prescribed is a radiation and a hormonal therapy. I worry about stopping Herceptin. They want first to see if she can tolerate radiation and hormones well after that severe complication. They are saying if we start herceptin now and you develop a complication, tehn we will not be able to continue any treatment including radiation.

I worry about stopping Herceptin (for some time or maybe forever ). Is it a problem? Maybe radiation is not as important as herceptin for her2 patients in case a complication occurs?

She is being treated in Russia where they are not willing to give herceptin to everyone who needs it considering its high cost. I am also not sure if herceptin triggered this allergic reaction or just paclitaxel alone. Thus, I am not sure if it is a correct step in the process.

Thanks