Hi everyone. Still haven’t started this new round of Herceptin, for various reasons. Does anyone know if there is a time limit for having Herceptin. I was operated in April, did rads in August and was all ready to go in Sept but had a reaction, then a virus. Onc was talking about not doing it at all. Anyone else been told not to do Herceptin because too much time had passed. Thanks
Hi Elisa
I had my op in April, chemo June- oct and had my first herceptin last Monday- three wkd after my last chemo. My rads are delayed because I need a specific machine. You do not seem to have had chemo, so I am surprised you were having herceptin as I thought you had to have chemo first. But then I vaguely remember another post on here where someone said that was no longer the case.
In terms of time from op to now we are about the same, but in terms of active treatment yours ended quite a while ago. I have not heard of a time limit, some women have to stop herceptin for some months if their heart function drops but they do restart it again after. Her2 +++ cancers are aggressive so I would be inclined to question your onc very carefully about not having it. Good luck, hope you get some more responses from her2 +++ ladies. Dx
Hello Elisa,
My partner was one of the early people to get Herceptin. Because of delays and having to pay for it it must have been 7 months from the end of her treatment and at least 10 from the end of chemo (which she had first) before she got it. Oncs still thought that was fine and she is still NED nearly 6 years after diagnosis. I think that in the Hera trial the women who were not given Herceptin as part of the trial were offered it at a later point in the trial when the results looked so good. As far as I remember, in the latest follow up of the trial there were no signs that the women receiving Herceptin late were more likely to have a recurrence.
I would really push for getting Herceptin if you want it.
Best of luck,
Sharon