Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage of breast cancer but it can be treated, even though that treatment can come with some serious risks.

Breast Cancer Survivor Karen Bohl says that "Herceptin is very good by saving your life, but it also has adverse affect on your heart so they have to give you medicine and watch your heart rate very carefully. I had to be taken off of it for a month at a time and then put back on for a month."

Radiologist Mary Kay Peterson says that herceptin is the only FDA-approved medication for women with metastatic breast cancer whose tumors have too much her2 protein. "Women who have breast cancer that have her2 positive, respond to this drug and the herceptin joins with these special cells that are her2 positive and it attacks the cancer."

Dr. Peterson also says that herceptins' effects have been known since 1998, but recently some very exciting new advancements have recently been made with this drug. "If you use the Hercepton in conjunction with chemotherapy, we're finding that the early caught breast cancers that can be very aggressive are now having results that are very good for regression or so called curable as one of the studies quoted. With Hercepton, as with all new exciting medical news, there are possible side effects and complications so it is important to speak with your physician about those possible side effects."

Karen also says that side effects aside, Karen just finished a year of chemotherapy and herceptin and now has some good news to share. "He said you're clear, you have a clean bill of health Karen and we don't want to see you for a year. I said alright, we were singing and dancing, we were having a good time."

Herceptin in conjunction with chemotherapy increases overall response rate to treatment, slows progression of the disease, and increases overall survival for patients like Karen.

Herceptin is given through an IV. It's important to discuss treatment benefits and risks with your doctor and to have realistic expectations of this type of therapy.