her 2 gene

Deathorglory said:

Herceptin

Hello.

 

I don't know if you can just prescribe and pay for herceptin yourself.  If they won't offer it. there must be a medical reason for that.  MD Anderson is a world class facility, their docs are likely to be offering the best possible treatments.  

 

When my recurrence came in late 2011, surgery & radiation weren"t options.  I did 12 biweekly rounds of folfox with weekly herceptin.  After that, I tested NED but we continued the herceptin as a hopeful means of warding off another recurrence.  I've been receiving weekly herceptin, with no other treatment, since May 2012.  We don't know for sure that the herceptin is actually doing anything, but everything is going well, so we're not going to mess with success.  I go to Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia.

 

As far as the surgery goes, I'm the exact case you described--HER+who was NED after chemo/radiation/surgery, but who had a recurrence anyhow.  The surgery is major and I had my share of complications, but I would still go the same route again because it gave the best chance of success.  It didn't work out perfectly in my case but all you can do is play the odds and give yourself the best chance you can get.  The dice will turn up as they will, but seven still comes out more than twelve.  

 

Wishing you the best,

 

Ed

Thank you 

paul61 said:

A number of people here have had good results with Herceptin

Trastuzumab (trade names Herclon, Herceptin) is a monoclonal antibody that interferes with the HER2/neureceptor. The HER receptors are proteins that are embedded in the cell membrane and communicate molecular signals from outside the cell (molecules called EGFs) to inside the cell, and turn genes on and off. The HER proteins stimulate cell proliferation. In some cancers HER2 is over-expressed, and causes cancer cells to reproduce uncontrollably. In many cases Herceptin is used in conjunction with other chemotherapy drugs to address cancer cell metastasis.  Herceptin has also been used as a long term maintenance chemotherapy for Stage 4 cancer survivors. A number of survivors that post here have had positive results with Herceptin. Herceptin is usually used either in combination with standard first line therapy like FOLFOX or after first line therapies have not been effective.  

Best Regards,

Paul Adams

McCormick, South Carolina
DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009
Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Four Year Survivor 

I am so honored that Paul and ED have responded so promptly to my question.