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Lani · 10-17-2010, 01:39 PM

about your worry about not getting your herceptin and getting your tamoxifen

Does that mean you were taking tamoxifen before or not taking it now?

Tykerb works on the her2 receptor from the inside, whereas herceptin works on it from the outside. Herceptin may have other effects that have to do with the immune system (ADCC). Herceptin plus tykerb have even more ADCC effects than herceptin alone.

Treatment with tykerb alone in preclinical studies can lead to increase their numbers of estrogen receptors.

Were any of your mets biopsyable? It would be useful to know whether your primary and/or mets were ER+

If either were, Dr. Slamon feels Faslodex is a better drug for her2+ patients than AIs or tamoxifen, but it is usually only given if you have failed other antihormonal treatments.

Sounds like being on a trial they are not going to give you much leeway for other treatments (ruins the statistics)

The good news is that you are responding. The other good news is that you are gathering information in case you stop doing so so you can act quickly.

Hope some of this helped!

10-17-2010, 01:39 PM	#10
Lani Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,778	Re: Update about your worry about not getting your herceptin and getting your tamoxifen Does that mean you were taking tamoxifen before or not taking it now? Tykerb works on the her2 receptor from the inside, whereas herceptin works on it from the outside. Herceptin may have other effects that have to do with the immune system (ADCC). Herceptin plus tykerb have even more ADCC effects than herceptin alone. Treatment with tykerb alone in preclinical studies can lead to increase their numbers of estrogen receptors. Were any of your mets biopsyable? It would be useful to know whether your primary and/or mets were ER+ If either were, Dr. Slamon feels Faslodex is a better drug for her2+ patients than AIs or tamoxifen, but it is usually only given if you have failed other antihormonal treatments. Sounds like being on a trial they are not going to give you much leeway for other treatments (ruins the statistics) The good news is that you are responding. The other good news is that you are gathering information in case you stop doing so so you can act quickly. Hope some of this helped!