Herceptin before chemo?

Hi,

Herceptin is normally combined with chemo during the initial phase of treatment. But maybe the Herceptin first upfront is part of a study? Sounds like a fairly comprehensive treatment plan to me.

Best wishes.

My first oncologist wanted to give me herceptin first, and then get me on a FEC chemo regimen coupled were herceptin, but I got a second opinion and my cancer was growing so fast (Ki67 was 93%), and it was already in the lymph nodes up to my jugular, he suggested I get on chemo right away neoadjuvently (my tumor in my breast needed to shrink up a bit before it was operable), and so I went with the more traditional schedule AC --> surgery --> T+Herceptin --> radiation --> herceptin.  My tumors in my lymph nodes have all but disappeared (super stubborn one in my clavicle is still palpable) and the tumor in my breast has gone from a spongy mass to a hard one and has gotten a bit smaller.  However, I am really anxious to get on herceptin and see how that affects the tumor in my superclavicular lymphnode!

I am doing a trial before surgery, which they contains something they told me is very similar to Herceptin. I am doing 4 rounds of that. Then surgery, then 4 rounds of chemo with a year of Herceptin. I am still very new....getting my port tomorrow and hopefully first treatment next week.