How do you know Herceptin is working?

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allisontom911
allisontom911 Member Posts: 425
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

I hope this is not a silly question. Is there a blood test or something your onc can do to see if you are a good responder to Herceptin?

I had neoadjuvent chemo to see if tumor would respond to chemo. It was 4.8cm in the begining and at time of surgery it was 2.8cm. I dont consider that a good response but that is my opinion. My BS agreed with me and said my onc would need to review the slides to see if more chemo was needed before going onto rads. Onc said no, I was just fine blablabla. My lymph node was bigger at 6cm per MRI and ultrasound but they did not give a size of lymph node on path report..it just had cancer present in lymph node.

Sorry to ramble. I am 38 and want to make sure I am hitting this cancer with everything I can. With a 8 month old baby...it has been emotional!

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited July 2010

    I am so sorry you are going through this with a BABY!!...:( I am only 5 yrs older than you and my youngest is 19.  xxxooo

    My stats are really close to yours. I know they can tell somehow , if Herceptin is working well. I had chemo... then surgery. So really... since I had nothing left to watch... after surgery... I have no idea how they decided I was doing good with the Herceptin.

    Please ask your Oncologist. call tomorrow. You do not have to wait until your next appt..

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  • cat60
    cat60 Member Posts: 61
    edited July 2010

    I am going to see my Oncologist tomorrow before my Herceptin TX and Im going to also ask "How do you know if it is working ?"...we sort of went through this conversation last time, her answer was "We do blood work and can tell if there are any changes or if organs are being affected ..." Also they do no scans, so I wonder also how do they really know !!

    I am er-/pr- Her 2 + with one lymph node also..Did you girls have Radiation also ? I have done #11 out of 28, Cant wait till its over.

    I also am sorry Allison you are going through this with a baby...

    I will get back to you tomorrow with what my Onco says....Did your ONco mention to you about taking tamoxifin ? She mentioned it to me , and said we would discuss after Rads but I said to her, Im er-/pr- why would I have to ? Just wondering if your oncologists have mentioned this ...My Radiation Onco says No ..?????

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  • allisontom911
    allisontom911 Member Posts: 425
    edited July 2010

    Cathy - My onc was out this week so I didnt see him. I will have to wait until July 26th when I go back from my next Herceptin. When I saw the nurse practitioner she said they do not do any scans unless I have unusual pains that will warrent a scan.

    I just had #15 or 33 radiation treatments. I also can not wait until it is over. I am soooo tired of going every day to rads. I am getting super burned under my arm too.

    My onc has said nothing to me about tamoxifin. I may ask about that next time i go. Sure wish all the doctors are on the same page! Cant wait to see what yours says today

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  • flash
    flash Member Posts: 1,685
    edited July 2010

    allison- tamoxofin would only be for er+ women.  you're er- so tamoxofin doesn't work for you.  the oncs really do treat according to the specific characteristics of your particular tumor.  herceptin only blocks her2+ cells from multiplying. since you're her2+ you get hereceptin.

    hope all the radiation is smooth sailing. hugs

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