HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - I thought I was crazy when I noticed a seasonality to bc metastases

Becky · 10-16-2007, 05:44 PM

The largest rise in the recurrence peak is 18 to 22 months. It levels out then and begins a descent but that descent doesn't get low until about 39 months. It really levels out low at around 5 years (hence the "glorious" 5 yr mark). However, women who are highly ER/PR+ peak again around 6-7 yrs (I am not entirely sure if this includes those that are also Her2+ as well or the plain ole standard ER/PR+). This makes sense as in the past, Tamoxifen ends after 5 years but most women wouldn't start that until 3-6 months after surgery (maybe more before dense dose chemo) so from surgery, they would be 5.5 - almost 6 years out. If Tamoxifen was just keeping things in check, then it would start to grow. Since the plain ole is slower growing, it might take a year to detect mets. This is the premise of 5 yrs Tamoxifen then 5 years of Femara (which reduces those late recurrences which I have read are about 4% - small amount).

I was a September girl.

10-16-2007, 05:44 PM	#6
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	The largest rise in the recurrence peak is 18 to 22 months. It levels out then and begins a descent but that descent doesn't get low until about 39 months. It really levels out low at around 5 years (hence the "glorious" 5 yr mark). However, women who are highly ER/PR+ peak again around 6-7 yrs (I am not entirely sure if this includes those that are also Her2+ as well or the plain ole standard ER/PR+). This makes sense as in the past, Tamoxifen ends after 5 years but most women wouldn't start that until 3-6 months after surgery (maybe more before dense dose chemo) so from surgery, they would be 5.5 - almost 6 years out. If Tamoxifen was just keeping things in check, then it would start to grow. Since the plain ole is slower growing, it might take a year to detect mets. This is the premise of 5 yrs Tamoxifen then 5 years of Femara (which reduces those late recurrences which I have read are about 4% - small amount). I was a September girl. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"