HER2support.org is 2nd to none

[al from canada]

Hello all,

Every now and then I check-out other sites, discussion boards, support groups BUT I keep comming back here! In fact, I've never even posted on another board.
Here's why I think this board rocks:

1. the information from contributers is always relevant;
2. everyone contributes;
3. there is no "pecking order", we are all equals here, whether we've been posting for 1 week or 100 weeks;
4. we don't "bitch" about our personal lot in life unless it is a shared "bitch";
5. the level of technical expertise is second to none;
6. we are involved in conferences, trials, no one sits on the bench;
7. our site administrators are 500% committed
8. I have made many solid friendships here;
9. We also have fun here;
10. I could keep going but I don't want to spoil any surprises for new members.

Al

[Rhonda4]

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with you Al. This IS the best.

[Christine OZ]

Here here Al.

[eric]

Well said Al. I agree completely! Eric

[triciak]

This website is awesome! There is so much of value here for all of us as we share facts and feelings about our personal battles and the things we are learning. I think we are all truly grateful to Joe and Christine and Al and all those who give so much to keep the website such high quality! And I greatly appreciate all those who share. Thank you all! Hugs, Tricia

[mamacze]

Once again Al you come through with words of wisdom. You are absolutely right on. I have been on many other web sites; but this site is head and shoulders above the rest.
Joe and Christine please let all of these well deserved remarks go to your head; this web site is clearly the embodiment of your very heart and soul and what a good heart and soul you have. We are all so fortunate to meet each other through your goodness.
Love Kim from CT

[*_anne_*]

Al,
Very well said as usual. I have got to admit that I hated doing research on the net or going to bc support websites before this one because the scared the s*** out of me. I know that Her2 was once considered the black sheep of bc, but has redeemed itself some with the advent of Herceptin. I have got to admit that this is the only place I feel a sense of security knowing all these wonderful people are figthing this so hard. It is good courage for anyone and I try to pass it on to my mother. Good work everyone on this board!!!

[michele u]

when i was dx 2 years ago, this website actually saved me mentally. I was devasted because the dr's all told me "this is very RARE what you have" then i found this site, and found out it is not so rare, unfortunately. Thanks Joe and Christine

[Becky]

This website is a godsend. There is always up to date information and it is highly technical which is great. I am technical too and strongly believe in research and science as the way to not only a cure but also to maintain a good quality of life as well. I like how everyone here understands the technology of new articles and wants to understand how and why (and I like to explain things technically too so...)

I feel that I am not alone in being Her 2 (because I am the only one in my local "live" support group that is and they don't understand the aggressive nature of the disease or how lucky I am to be able to get Herceptin now (but you all do).

Also, I feel I have so many of you who are looking out for me by posting new information on technology, trials and clinical results etc and I feel that I have less of a chance of missing something.

I am grateful to all of you and thank you is not strong enough.

Best regards

Becky

[sassy]

Although I have a wonderful support system of family And friends, this site has given me more information and hope along with support than anywhere else. Thank Joe And Christine and all who post.

Sassy

[*_BEVIE_*]

With a great big THANK YOU to Christine, Joe and all the wonderful people that make this board as great as it is. I couldn't agree more Al, thank you for posting this so perfect.

[*_Leslie_*]

Yes, this is the absolute best site! This is the one I read for up to date info and I am not even HER2 positive. I am a triple negative but find this site offers the most thought out and technical info about all aspects of breast cancer. Thank you so much Joe and Christine and all of the other regular contributors. I check in several times daily and am sure I have a much better understanding of HER2 cancers than the friends I have that are indeed positive.

[Christine MH]

Yes, this site has really helped saved my sanity, and perhaps my life.

When I was diagnosed as Her2+, the nurse mentioned that I might be able to get herceptin and if so I just might see my little boy start school some day. But my oncologist said that I could only get hercetin through a trial that had just closed and that there were no other relevant trials in the UK on things like vaccines and no way of getting herceptin. I was devastated, but this website showed that some women can live quite a long time even after a recurrence, which gave me hope.

I research for a living (social science, not medical, I'm not THAT smart), so that became my method of coping with the disease. I kept on finding information about her2 that wouldn't necessarily help me, but would help other people fight this disease and information on things like clinical trials in the U.S. that would help speed up improved treatments, so posting articles and clinical trial announcements on the website helped me feel like I was doing my bit to find a cure, although I thought it unlikely that I would ever benefit from it personally.

Then the results of the HERA trial came out and it was only because of this website that I was able to figure out how to get herceptin in the UK. It has been a struggle to get it, but without this site I never would have managed it and, since I have made UK patients aware of the information I learned here, a number of high-risk patients wouldn't be getting it (albeit at their own expense) if this site didn't exist. (Unfortunately, a friend of mine who works as a policy analyst for the national health service thinks that the push for herceptin in the UK is entirely down to the drugs companies. He really doesn't get it).

Of course, I think we all long for the day when her2+ breast cancer has finally been cured and Joe and Christine can get a well-deserved retirement.

Cheers,
Christine MH

[Diane h]

Absolutely, a topnotch place to be and so grateful for it, Truckloads of thanks to Joe!

[Barbara2]

Amen! Amen!!

[sarahdalton]

agree. It's a great site! greatly appreciate it.

[*_carol_*]

I wish I had known about this web site 1 and 1/2 years ago when I was diagnosed with b/c her2 positive. I think I've been in a fog for a long time-- heard about this website 3 weeks ago when I posted a message on the SusanB.Komen site- someone told me of this one. I have learned more
since being on this than all the material I've read and there has been lots. I always felt this I was the only one , or at least one of few that was her2 positive- now I'm learning that I'm not alone. Started herceptin in June and loving every drop of the stuff.
Thanks so much to all of you. We're all in this together and I gain strength just from reading messages.
Carol

[Rozebud]

:)

A lot is thanks to you, Al.

[joy]

I totally agree, Al. No other site does it for me and for exactly those reasons. This site IS the best and Joe and Christine are the best. This site is among my many blessings everyday-even my crappy days!

thanks for sharing your insights!
love,
joy