HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Old Ideas Spur New Approaches in Cancer Fight

bejuce · 12-28-2009, 11:28 PM

Excellent article with lots of interesting insights. The idea that surrounding tissue and cellular environment has an effect makes total sense to me. I for one believe that my cancer may have developed as a result of something happening in my milk ducts during the extensive breastfeeding period I had - the DCIS cells jumping out of the milk ducts that the article talked about. Or as a result of the 10+ years of birth control pills that could have altered my breast tissue and made it even denser.

Who knows.... The cause is not that crucial for me at this point. I hope that this research will fuel the development of new targeted therapies that stop the cells from escaping/growing elsewhere.

One observation - the article talks about some cancers that seem to become more out of control after surgery. Makes sense to do neo-adjuvant chemo before surgery to kill the cancer cells before attacking the tissue with the surgery.

12-28-2009, 11:28 PM	#2
bejuce Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 510	Re: Old Ideas Spur New Approaches in Cancer Fight Excellent article with lots of interesting insights. The idea that surrounding tissue and cellular environment has an effect makes total sense to me. I for one believe that my cancer may have developed as a result of something happening in my milk ducts during the extensive breastfeeding period I had - the DCIS cells jumping out of the milk ducts that the article talked about. Or as a result of the 10+ years of birth control pills that could have altered my breast tissue and made it even denser. Who knows.... The cause is not that crucial for me at this point. I hope that this research will fuel the development of new targeted therapies that stop the cells from escaping/growing elsewhere. One observation - the article talks about some cancers that seem to become more out of control after surgery. Makes sense to do neo-adjuvant chemo before surgery to kill the cancer cells before attacking the tissue with the surgery. __________________ ER+ (30%)/PR-/HER-2+, stage 3 Diagnosed on 02/18/09 at 38 with a huge 12x10 cm tumor, after a 6 month delay. Told I was too young and had no risk factors. Found swollen node during breastfeeding. March-August 09: neo-adjuvant chemo, part of a trial at Stanford (4 DD A/C, 4 Taxotere with daily Tykerb), loading dose of Herceptin 08/12/09 - bye bye boobies (bilateral mastectomy) 08/24/09 - path report shows 100 % success in breast tissue (no cancer there, yay!), 98 % success in lymphatic invasion, and even though 11/13 nodes were still positive, > 95 % of the tumor in them was killed. Hoping for the best! September-October 09: rads with daily Xeloda 02/25/10 - Cholecystectomy 05/27/10 - Bone scan clear 06/14/10 - CT scan clear, ovarian cyst found 07/27/10 - Done with Herceptin! 02/15/11 - MVA-BN HER-2 vaccine trial 03/15/11 - First CA 15-3: 12.7 and normal, yay! 10/01/11 - Bone scan and CT scan clear, fatty liver found now on Tamoxifen and Aspirin