I just after all my 6 treatments of chemo AC and then double mas and limpnobes taken out and going to dr and he said cancer gone except still have it in spine and then the next day get told I have HER2 positive. Had my first treatment yesterday for that and every 3 weeks for the rest of mylife. The only thing is ya have to have 11mls of chemo just so ya can get the treatment I think that is strange.
Hi Deb
the 11mls of chemo is a funding thing. Your treatment with herceptin is covered under the PBS if you have had chemo. It's just a red tape thing. Don't worry about it. All the best with it all. Karen xox
Hi There
I too was diagnosed with a secondary on my vertebrae and HER2+ - feels like the hits just keep on coming doesn't it!!
Just last week my latest MRI result was that it could not longer be detected (chemo finished in Nov 2015) - so the official line is that it I am responding well to treatment but not cured. I first thought was - YES, now I can stop Herceptin after 12 months, but sadly I am stuck with it indefinitely. Once I finished chemo my oncologist put me on both Herceptin and Perjeta which work together to stop HER2+ cells. Might be worth asking about as it seems to have helped me.
Hopefully, you will also get some positive results from this treatment , makes in inconvenience seem a little less annoying. Also, if you haven't already, join the Living with Advanced/Secondary group on this forum. Lots of info and positivity.
Regards, Kari
Hi. I have Her2 positive breast cancer and was found to have a secondary in my spine at diagnosis in December 2014. My oncologist has told me to expect to live a long time so that is my plan.
Yes you will have herceptin for ever. If you have advanced breast cancer which you do as you have some in your spine no-one knows when it would be ok to stop it if there is no evidence of disease. I hope to be on it for decades as that means the cancer is under control. Seeing my lovely oncologist every 3 weeks is a small price to pay to stay alive!
Keep going and keep smiling x
They usually start the Herceptin during your chemo treatment but secondaries can have diifferent receptors. Normally Herceptin is for 12 months only but possibly they meant treatment is now for life...on and off as needed. I hope the Herceptin is not too traumatic. I start my treatment in 3 weeks for 12 months at the same time as taxol for 12 weeks, having completed 4 rounds of AC? It must be very upsetting for you thinking it was all finished. Take care. Kath x
Hi Debi - I do hope you are okay! Sending you a virtual hug!
Take care from Christine
Hi Debi, that must have been a terrible shock to find out, especially so soon after finishing treatment. As Brenda said there are many people living with secondary breast cancer and the treatments are improving all the time. You might be interested in contacting BCNA's telephone counselling service (1800 500 258) to talk to trained counsellors about your situation and to ask questions (secondary-breast-cancer-telephone-support). BCNA also has lots of useful information and resources that might help - the Hope and Hurdles Kit may be a good start for you. You might also be interested in joining the Living with advanced / secondary breast cancer group on this site (click here) to connect with others that may be having similar treatments to you.
Wishing you all the very best with your treatment. Hugs, Jane xx
Spine is what they call secondary cancer. Secondaries are not curable but they are very manageable. Full on treatment may not be life long as it can shrink and go into remission sometimes for long periods. My dad is having chemo now for bone cancer in all his joints. It is secondary cancer. He is 76 and still going good. Not a nice thing to live with but live you do.
