Herceptin for 6 months

Hi there,

I’d be interested to know this as well.  At my last oncology appointment my Herceptin, which was due to be carried on until October was stopped.

My Oncologist  said that as I had had completely clear biopsies after my lumpectomy, the latest evidence showed that I had done well and that I could stop the Herceptin.  To continue it would not add any significant benefit showed by recent studies. 
I’m on Letrozole.   I still feel slightly nervous about stopping it. 

I'm not sure why we are only given 18 injections. I know it can affect your heart so some people don't end up having the full course. 

If you Google the Persephone trial it concludes that 6 months Herceptin is a effective as 12. 
I was due to have twelve months after my treatment in 2020/2021 but at 6 months my oncologist told me about the tríal and said I could decide to continue or stop. After researching I chose to stop. I felt I had had enough pumped into me. 
hope that helps 

I just finished 12 rounds of Herceptin injection, which I understand was only licenced for use in the UK in April last year. There was no indication I could cut this short, but I guess the treatments are changing all the time.

Hi I have read this trial thank you, there is no difference in from 12 month to 6 months and why risk damaging your heart further. Did you have surgery first. I am sure my oncologist can not under treat me but don't make sense for him to over treat me. Best wishes xx

Hi was you given a choice, surely you must be given a choice, it's your treatment. How big was your breast cancer, was your lymph nodes clear pls xxx

I had mastectomy first. I was given the choice to stop after 6 months cased on the Persephone trial. My cancer was small and no lymph nodes involved. 

Hi I had surgery first, mine was 20mm, grade 2 and lymph nodes clear. I had a masectomy more so due to I had large area of dcis not because my breast cancer was large. How large was your breast cancer xxx

Sorry I thought I had replied to this. I have been through my notes snd originally 7mm lesion with 38mm enhancing mass. No lymph nodes involved.  The plan was to treat with neoadjuvant chemo for 4 rounds to 

a) reduce the mass and see how it responded to treatment

b) minimise the need for radical surgery aiming for lumpectomy instead. 

Things got complicated due to COVID and my 4th round of chemo was cancelled snd hospitals did not know whether they would be able to carry on. So after lengthy discussions with my oncologist I opted for mastectomy  which could be done immediately. This was the safest way forward and I I preferred this to no treatment in the months ahead. 

I had mastectomy no reconstruction and am absolutely fine. I am 64 so less bothered than if I was younger. 

it turns out that on biopsy the cancer they found was only 1.5mm so yes I was probably over treated but the small size could have been as a result of the chemo to that date which had shrunk the mass.  They think that’s unlikely and suggest initial cancer was much smaller than suspected or indicated by the scan. 

nonetheless I am very happy with my treatment. There are clear guidelines for consultants to follow when making decisions about treatment and where possible patients will be given choices.   For example my cancer was also Her2 and after the op I was scheduled to have a year of Herceptin jabs. When I reached the 6th jab they said there was a trial indicating that 6 injections were as effective as 12 and I could choose to stop or continue. They also reminded said my initial cancer was in all likelihood extremely small and I should take that into consideration when making my decision. I was happy to stop and am now on hormone therapy  for 5 years (Letrozole). Having some issues with it but currently all is good. 

Hope this helps.  Good luck with your decisions and treatment. Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions of your consultant and breast care team. We really do have amazing healthcare in this country. 

Take Care. Keep smiling. Stay positive.