Herceptin only without chemo?

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Misty1
Misty1 Member Posts: 272
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Hi,

I am new posting, but I have been visiting this site since D-Day(diagnosis).  I have already had a mast.-no problems at all.  I am small to begin with, and I already had the expander put in at the time of surgery.  Now, I have to decide what to do next.  I am really afraid of chemo-I know, who isn't?  I will take tamoxifen.  Dr. said he would try to do herceptin by itself, but this is not standard protocal.  Is there anyone out there who has only done herceptin?  I know there will be possible problems with insurance coverage.

~Misty

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  • AlaskaAngel
    AlaskaAngel Member Posts: 1,836
    edited July 2008

    Yes, I know of a woman with early stage bc who was postmenopausal at diagnosis and who is doing Herceptin and an aromtase inhibitor.

    Please google AIB1 and tamoxifen to consider the risks for some HER2's with use of tamoxifen. You may want to consider ovarian ablation to achieve menopause and then the use of trastuzumab with an aromatase inhibitor.

    AlaskaAngel

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  • JoniB
    JoniB Member Posts: 346
    edited July 2008

    Most doctors will not do Herceptin without chemo although someday I believe it will be a common practice for early stage breast cancer with no node involvement. There are people who were given Herceptin as a standalone treatment, but usually not in a large medical center setting.   I suspect that you are correct about the insurance though.  If my doctor had offered me Herceptin as a stand alone treatment I would have grabbed it.  I visited two oncologist and contacted a third in order to find someone who would prescribe this treatment to no avail.  I am stage 1 as well.

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  • juliejfsrj
    juliejfsrj Member Posts: 57
    edited August 2008

    I am currently doing herceptin and tamoxifen.  I did not do chemotherapy.  I already have an autoimmune disorder which caused my echo to be too low for adramyacin.  They wanted me then to do taxal, which initially they had said no to because of arthritis.  I finally found a doctor who would give me herceptin without chemo.  Every three months when I see him, he still tries to talk me into chemo.  I took methotrexate for arthritis, and really didn't want to deal with dangerous side effects when my health is already not tiptop.  I had no problems with insurance.

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  • jan125
    jan125 Member Posts: 411
    edited August 2008

    My onc. says herceptin is such a great drug that this is becoming the new standard of care.

    I try to believe him when he says herceptin is a miracle drug!

    Jan

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  • mississippigirl
    mississippigirl Member Posts: 6
    edited September 2008

    I  am currently receiving Herceptin alone-once every 3 weeks for one year. I have been concerned about chemotherapy not being recommended. I am 57, post menopausal, 1.5cm, stage 1, focal microinvasive. I opted for bilateral mastectomies due to my family history, although I tested negative for the BRACA genes. Does anyone have any comments on this? 

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