Her2 positive and no nodes, which chemo?

I am off to see the oncologist on Weds to discuss my treatment. I have been told chemo and Herceptin. I have been told I will probably have a gentle regime (wasn’t sure gentle and chemo should be in the same sentence)!! My invasive tumours have been removed but were very small. Biggest was 3mm. I had 4.5cms of high grade DCIS.

Who else has is Her2positive, and which chemo were you put on. Does the chemo vary on the size of the tumours. I have no node or vascular involvement.

Thanks ladies.

SGL xx

Hi SGL, I had 6 x FEC, then 15 x RADs and am now on 18 x Herceptin. I had no nodes either.

Don’t know about nodes yet but I have IDC and am on 4 x AC and 4 x tax. I am Her 2 positive and am also having 17 x Herceptin. Not sure if that helps you or not really!

Hi,

I had no nodes but lymphovascular invasion ilc/idc 5cm+ tumour so had 6 x taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin ( neo adj) followed by a further 18 herceptin.
I had a hard regime.

Thanks ladies. I think if nodes are known to be involved the chemo is different. Really hoping I only get FEC as Tax sounds alot more gruelling.

Thanks for your posts.

X x

Hi SGL

I don’t know what they consider to be a mild chemo, but as I have said before you have to have a chemo to have hercepin :frowning: shame really. I don’t know if they still use MM or MMM, but I didn’t have any unpleasant side effects on that one. Whichever one it is try and persuade them to use it at a reduced dose! After all they are only giving it to meet the conditions of giving herceptin. Probably if you weren’t HER2 pos you wouldnt be having chemo anyway.

Dawn
xx

I was also grade 3, small invasive tumour (12mm) plus high grade DCIS. No nodes or vascular invasion. I had FEC. (I was told that tax was usually for those with positive nodes.) 6 weeks radiotherapy, 18 x Herceptin then Arimidex, changed to Aromasin because of the side effects.

I was diagnosed more than 4 years ago and although the treatment seemed to go on forever at the time and it wasn’t easy, I can definitely say now that it was worth it as I am still NED!

Good luck
Anne

Mine was 2.3cm grade 3 HER2+ no nodes, and I was put on 4 FEC and then 4 TAX and will then be having surgery, then herceptin. It’s been do-able so far after 7 of the 8 chemos. Wonder what they count as ‘mild’ chemo though? Intriguing…

Ann x

I had 13mm Grace 3 IDC with bits of DCIS and LCIS knocking around, no nodes, no vascular involvement.

I had 6 x FEC, have started Herceptin (no probs with that so far), have started Tamoxifen, due 15 rads (40 greys) plus 5 boosters (another 10 greys).

I asked whether I should be having Tax as well, and was told that my onc he would have considered not even giving me chemo because of size of tumour (I would have asked for it anyhow) and that Tax was only used for node involvement. Clearly that’s not the case across the country, but that’s what I was told.

Hi all

I was Her 2 positive and Hormone postive, diagnosed last August. Had WLE, 3 FEC and 3 TAX, then rads and am now on Herceptin (9 down with 9 to go) and on Letrozole to reduce oestregen in body. No node involvement and margins clear with 2 cm tumour. I was told that they would throw everything at it due to the Her 2 and my age (49 at diagnosis). was explained to me that FEC and TAX target tumour and rest of body quite differently with TAX and Herceptin seen as best treatment for Her2 positive. I just had to go with there advice and believe that they were doing their best for me.

I got through it, tough as it was and am now back full time at work as a senior manager in Mental Health. Had a ‘blip’ last weekend, but after biopsy and needle aspiration I had it confirmed that it was a cyst. Phew! Great relief. Take care everyone. J.