Anyone HER+ who has NOT received herceptin?

Sorry to hear you have run into problems with that. Some patients have received it through programs offered by the company that developed it, in case you can check into that, although I don't know what is required for that.

I never had trastuzumab because it was not yet approved for early stage bc when I was treated, so maybe that helps some.

AlaskaAngel

Well, it may be that could in part be why the company does provide it sometimes when people can't afford it, to keep that impression, or to get good publicity. I don't know if the injectable trastuzumab is less spendy or not (available elsewhere, like Europe).

There are those who feel shorter courses of it may be effective for some patients. I do know that at the time I did not receive it, most others did not as well, and of those that I happen to know, some received it "late" and some never had it, and none of either group have recurred.

I'm assuming your tumor is greater than 5 mm.  Below 5mm it is still being debated.

Debic, I want to encourage you, yet you need to know that the information provided above by others is more precisely accurate, for you to consider. Your situation is a difficult one, as you know, but I want to provide you with accurate information to consider.

Debic - do whatever you can to continue with the Herceptin - with your diagnosis, I think the full course would be best. What crappy sort of insurance company would deny you the proper treatment.

Deb....I would contact, as others have pointed out, the folks who manufacture Herceptin.  I would also contact the Jamaican Cancer Society as well.  Also contact your local legislator.  Then, call the local media.  Tell everyone that ASCO just reported at their annual meeting that a study supports the use of a year regimen of Herceptin.  If that fails,  do what this other woman did....I read an article that said a woman staged a sit in at her health ministry board's office.  

You say you are originally Canadian?  If everything else fails, high tail it back to Canada and ask for asylum.  When they ask you why you want asylum, tell them that sending you back to Jamaica can kill you!  I have Canadian family.  Sadly, one of my cousins who lives in Toronto and is now being treated for early stage HER 2 positive breast cancer.  She is in the process of receiving Herceptin for a year.

Desperate times demand desperate measures!  I wish for  you the energy to fight and I do mean fight.  It's bad enough that you need to fight cancer, you needn't be fighting the the establishment that should be helping you!  I wish you well!

Debic,

Very likely your onc would address this, but give strong consideration to having your vitamin D level tested and getting your vitamin D where it needs to be, and keeping it there.