HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - ER+, HER2+

sassy · 10-14-2008, 08:18 PM

My former onc (I MISS HIM) was very forward thinking and stayed on top of HER2 research. He started me on Zometa as soon as possible because he was aware of the studies possibly indicating the benefit in terms of recurrance (this was in 06), then kept me on Lupron because of emerging info about the same benefit. In terms of AI's, he felt that by the time I had been on one for 5 years, indications would be that they should be continued indefinately.

We tried to extrapolate the numbers of triple positives in the bc population and he felt that around 5 to 8% of all BC would be triple positive.

I have also been interested in any info concerning triple positives, but have not found many others in this same subset.

Considering the small percentage of triple positives and the small number of early stage who received Herceptin during the trials, I doubt there are very many in this seven+ year category.

Also, prior to the release of the trial, most people were not tested for HER2 until metastisized, so would it not be most likely that those who were triple positive that did not recurr would not have known they were HER2+?

Does this make sense?

10-14-2008, 08:18 PM	#9
sassy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mountains of Virginia Posts: 2,267	My former onc (I MISS HIM) was very forward thinking and stayed on top of HER2 research. He started me on Zometa as soon as possible because he was aware of the studies possibly indicating the benefit in terms of recurrance (this was in 06), then kept me on Lupron because of emerging info about the same benefit. In terms of AI's, he felt that by the time I had been on one for 5 years, indications would be that they should be continued indefinately. We tried to extrapolate the numbers of triple positives in the bc population and he felt that around 5 to 8% of all BC would be triple positive. I have also been interested in any info concerning triple positives, but have not found many others in this same subset. Considering the small percentage of triple positives and the small number of early stage who received Herceptin during the trials, I doubt there are very many in this seven+ year category. Also, prior to the release of the trial, most people were not tested for HER2 until metastisized, so would it not be most likely that those who were triple positive that did not recurr would not have known they were HER2+? Does this make sense? __________________ Rhonda (Sassy) dx age 45 DX 2/15/05 Stage IIb (at surgery)restaged IIIa Left mast .9cm tumor 5 of 14 nodes Triple Positive 4 DD A/C 12 Taxol/Herceptin 33Rads Strange infect mast site one year aft surg, hosp 1 wk Herceptin for total of 18 months Lupron Monthly 4 yrs Neurontin for aches, pains and hot flashes(It works!) Ovaries removed 11/09 stop Lupron and Neurontin Arimidex 6 yrs (tried Femara, no SE improvement) Tried Exemestane-hips got so bad could hardly walk Back to Arimidex for year seven Zometa 2X Annual for 7years, Lasix Stop Arimidex 5/13 Stop Zometa 7/13-Bi-lateral Stress Fractures in Femurs from Zometa 5/14 Start Tamoxifen 3/15 Stem cell transplant to stimulate femur bone growth/healing 5/15 Complete fracture of right femur/Titanium rods both femurs 9/16 Start Evista stopTamoxifen 3/17 Stop Evista--unwelcome side effects! NED and no meds....... 14YEARS NED!