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Becky · 01-22-2010, 01:48 PM

Dear Amelia

One thing you need to know is that Gina is Stage 4. She did not start as a Stage 4 but recurred to the liver. In order to preserve her immune system, she did not want chemo and only took Herceptin. She also did not want to take Herceptin indefinitely (every 3 weeks) so she uses a unique system of tumor marker (I don't know if she uses CA 15 or CA 27/29) and the Her2Serum Test as a guide to when she needs some Herceptin. I believe she needs a loading dose every 6-8 weeks. It works for her. Perhaps you can search the site for Gina's posts or email or private message her.

I really just wanted you to know that she is able to do this due to her Stage 4 status.

01-22-2010, 01:48 PM	#2
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Re: HER2 Serum Test for Mets Dear Amelia One thing you need to know is that Gina is Stage 4. She did not start as a Stage 4 but recurred to the liver. In order to preserve her immune system, she did not want chemo and only took Herceptin. She also did not want to take Herceptin indefinitely (every 3 weeks) so she uses a unique system of tumor marker (I don't know if she uses CA 15 or CA 27/29) and the Her2Serum Test as a guide to when she needs some Herceptin. I believe she needs a loading dose every 6-8 weeks. It works for her. Perhaps you can search the site for Gina's posts or email or private message her. I really just wanted you to know that she is able to do this due to her Stage 4 status. __________________ 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"