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Lee · 08-26-2008, 10:32 AM

My oncologist has been running this test every 3 months on me, and we just recently decided to use the results of this test to determine whether or not to run scans (as opposed to doing the scans ever 3-4 months, as we have been). I've been NED for 2.5 years and I am comfortable with using these test results as a trigger for doing more testing if the number should rise. I brought this test to his attention about 2 yrs ago, and he now uses it regularly on a number of his metastatic patients. His experience has been that an increase in the serum Her2 is a very good indicator of disease progression.

We will still do scans occasionally (every 6-8 months) and I have a brain MRI every 6 months, but we will no longer do them as often as we were. I'm very glad for that!

KK1 - this test is not the same as a CTC test. It tests the amount of Her2 in your blood, not circulating tumor cells. Just thought I'd point that out.

08-26-2008, 10:32 AM	#12
Lee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 58	My oncologist has been running this test every 3 months on me, and we just recently decided to use the results of this test to determine whether or not to run scans (as opposed to doing the scans ever 3-4 months, as we have been). I've been NED for 2.5 years and I am comfortable with using these test results as a trigger for doing more testing if the number should rise. I brought this test to his attention about 2 yrs ago, and he now uses it regularly on a number of his metastatic patients. His experience has been that an increase in the serum Her2 is a very good indicator of disease progression. We will still do scans occasionally (every 6-8 months) and I have a brain MRI every 6 months, but we will no longer do them as often as we were. I'm very glad for that! KK1 - this test is not the same as a CTC test. It tests the amount of Her2 in your blood, not circulating tumor cells. Just thought I'd point that out.