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Lani · 02-22-2007, 09:18 PM

prostaglandins and cytokines released to achieve healing of the surgery might not stir up some dormant cancer cells.

Perhaps not, as studies of surgically removing the primary tumors in those who presented with metastatic disease doesn't seem to increase the rate of death from metastases, but those studies were not done particularly on her2 positive breast cancer.

Even if cancer comes back in the same breast, studies have shown success with repeat lumpectomies--I think the thinking is that the smaller the surgery the less inflammatory substances released.

The point I remember is that breast cancer recurs at chronological peaks which are timed in such a way that the "clock" started ticking with the time of surgery, NOT the time of discovery of the tumor (which is often months before in patients in denial or in countries/regions where medical care is not easily available). Again, these findings are not specific for her2 breast cancer, which may behave differently.

02-22-2007, 09:18 PM	#2
Lani Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,778	As surgery causes inflammation musn't you consider that some of the prostaglandins and cytokines released to achieve healing of the surgery might not stir up some dormant cancer cells. Perhaps not, as studies of surgically removing the primary tumors in those who presented with metastatic disease doesn't seem to increase the rate of death from metastases, but those studies were not done particularly on her2 positive breast cancer. Even if cancer comes back in the same breast, studies have shown success with repeat lumpectomies--I think the thinking is that the smaller the surgery the less inflammatory substances released. The point I remember is that breast cancer recurs at chronological peaks which are timed in such a way that the "clock" started ticking with the time of surgery, NOT the time of discovery of the tumor (which is often months before in patients in denial or in countries/regions where medical care is not easily available). Again, these findings are not specific for her2 breast cancer, which may behave differently.