More questions - sorry!

[mcgle]

Are any of you ladies taking tamoxifen for your ER+/HER2+ tumours and are post-menopausal?<O:p</O:p

I saw my onc last week and presented him with a research article about possibly not using tamoxifen with these types of tumours; there seems to be some evidence to suggest that it may be a tumour activator rather than an inhibitor. He said that he was aware of the controversy over this issue, but that nothing had been proven one way or another. He also said that I could come off tamoxifen straightaway, if I so wished, and go onto arimidex, being post-menopausal. So, I think I am being treated very fairly.

Until he has some answers for me, I have chosen to stay on tamoxifen, as it is suiting me so well (wouldn't even know I was on it). From what I have read, apart from drying you out completely (!), arimidex gives you terrible joint pains. Naturally, if he comes back and says I should change, then I will.

I have also discovered in my wanderings around the Internet that if HER2+ cancers are going to recur, this usually happens within the first two years after diagnosis. Is this right?<O:p</O:p

Looking forward to your replies.<O:p</O:p

Mcgle<O:p</O:p
<O:p

[Bev]

Hi Mc,

I read something yesterday on cancercare.org that said if you were PR- you could develop resistance to tamoxifen. AI's work well with ER positives in combo with herceptin. I'm tolerating tamoxifen well . I'm due to switch to an AI in Aug. If I don't like the side effects, I'll ask to switch back. Don't know about the recurrence. Looking at posts, there are people that recur after 5 years, probably not as many as 2 yr mark. One step at a time. BB

[al from Canada]

everything I've researched suggests that if you are HER+++ and ER+ and on herceptin, if you are not on a ER inhibitor suchas AI;s you are being under treated. There is some very recent stuff out of SABCS that suggests that herceptin + faslodex is probably the best mix in a case as yours.

Good luck,
Al

[mcgle]

Thank you both for your swift replies.

You may have read from my posts elsewhere on this site that I am not receiving herceptin, neither did I have chemo. (My case is most unusual as prognostic indicators are good, but I am still weakly HER2+.) However, I did have extensive surgery, rads and am on hormonal treatment (scoring 8/8 for oestrogen receptors and 6/8 for progesterone receptors).<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O:p< font O:p<>

The question still remains whether I should swap to an aromatose inhibitor immediately. I believe that once you swap, you cannot go back on tamoxifen if it does not suit. It is such a minefield…<O:p< font O:p<>

And yes, I know we should not dwell on the possibility of recurrence, as it might not happen. But sometimes it’s difficult to be rational…<O:p< font O:p<>

Al – I was very sorry to read about Linda. That must have been so hard. It is good of you to come back on the site and give help and support to others.

B<O:p< font>est wishes</O:p<>
<O:p< font>
</O:p<><O:p< font O:p<O:p<>Mcgle</O:p<>
<O:p< font>

<O:p< font>
</O:p<></O:p<></O:p<></O:p<></O:p<>