Chemo question

BeckyW · New User Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 1

I am a 53 yr old diagnosed this year with ERpositive Ductal Carcinoma right breast. It was a stage II at that time. I am post menopausal. I have had 4 surgeries to finally get all the cancer. The medical oncologist has had me on Adriamycin, Cytoxin, Herceptin, and Taxotere. I am scheduled to start my radiation on 11/13/06. Last month he said I was to have 1 more dose of Herceptin and Taxotere. This past visit to the oncologist he says it is normal to stay on Herceptin for 1 year. I wonder if that is normal or not. A year on chemo seems like a long time to me since they were able to get all the cancer.

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 796 Location: UK

I don't think herceptin is technically a chemotherapy, and I have know of people being on it for quite a time.#

This website gives nice clear information about it : http://www.cancernet.co.uk/herceptin.htm

mssue · Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 2:28 pm Post subject: Re

Dear Becky,

I sure hate hearing you have had to go through sooo much. If I remember correctly on the Herceptin it is given for 1 year.I didn't have it though,it was after my treatments were complete that they finished the study on Herceptin and found that in women with early stage BC it help reduce the risk of reoccurence,I don't know the percentage,but I'm sure it can be found on the internet.
Anyways,I really wanted you to know that you are not the only one who feels that way,about them getting all of the cancer and you still having to take all of those treatments .My sister has been thru cancer 2x this last was stage 3 ovarian after what they call debulking surgery and getting all of the cancer she too is expected to have a years worth of chemo. She had 3 treatments before the surgery 3 more after now they want another year .I know she feels the same way you do.She's so exhausted too from all of it.My heart goes out to you but know that you are not alone.I check in pretty regularly I'll be lookin' for you and feel free to email me thru the site here.Please take good care of yourself,whatever you decide to do.

(((Hugs)))
_________________
Sue
Age-44
DX-8/29/2003
Stage 1 - ER/PR-,HER2-NU+
Infilterating Ductal Carcinoma
Modified Radical Mastectomy/Left-side
4 Rounds of A/C-completed 1/2004

tugs2003 · Regular Joined: 13 May 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Montana

Hi,
I am 3 years out -- I had a bilateral mastectomy -- chemo including taxotere and radiation. I was done with all of that when the herceptin study was completed. I qualified for a year of herceptin and finished that in May -- technically it isn't chemo but my insurance company called it chemo and I figure they are paying for it so they can call it whatever they want. I didn't really have any side effects (other than sever leg cramps - cramps in the upper thighs -- my onc wasn't really sure that they were only being caused from the herceptin -- but about 6 weeks after I was all done getting herceptin I had no more leg cramps. It is a long time to be continuing treatment -- but as a her2+ patient I felt that it was worth it.

Good Luck
_________________
45
dx 09/03
nodes 3+ of 22
stage IIB
er-/her2+
bilateral mastectomy
chemo/more chemo w/Taxotere
38 rad
Currently undergoing Herceptin treatmens

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