Herceptin resistance...

Rose2017

Was there anyone who didnt respond to herceptin? Please we need encouragement..

MinusTwo

Rose - it would help if you picked one of the thread you started and continued to post on only one. That way we can all see the "back story" and respond accordingly. Also it would be useful if you go to "my profile" and fill in your Mom's diagnosis & treatment plan.

That said, I'm not sure what you mean by 'respond'. I had 17 rounds, the first 6 with taxotere & carboplatin & perjeta. I did not have a complete response after the 6 rounds, so after surgery I had AC chemo with he Herceptin on hold because of the double heart risk, and then rads, and then finished the 17 Herceptin infusions. I am currently NED (no evidence of disease)

gracie22

Researchers estimate that Herceptin works about 50% of the time for early stagers, and roughly 30% for metastatic patients. The biology of tumors differ, and some patients have cancer cells with characteristics that make them resistant from the start. Other patients may become resistant over time. Researchers are aware of some markers for resistance, but the info is not reliable enough to test for them yet. They have also found that sometimes resistance can be overcome by switching up the chemo drugs used with Herceptin which is why oncs will sometimes give it another try even if it has failed in a prior cocktail. Resistance is a big concern, and a lot of studies are focused on trying to figure out how to successfully counter it. My laptop is refusing to cut and paste for some reason tonight, but if you google Herceptin resistance you can find a lot of medical papers on it. Dr. Anthony Kong has done a lot of work on this.

Rose2017

She is now Tykerb + Xeloda. Don't know how she will take it she said, its horrible diarrhea.