HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Working thread - what do you think the HER2+ standard of care should be really?

agness · 03-29-2016, 09:23 AM

I am thinking that the recent study showing that Tykerb (Lapatinib) plus Herceptin (Trastruzumab) should be used for more HER2+ patients. At least to reduce the amount of chemo given.

My blood production was permanently altered (at the low end of normal now) and doctors say it was likely the carboplatin that did it. I think finding ways to eliminate the mutant cell line without causing permanent harm to the body should be elevated in oncology treatment.

Along with a shift in treatment should come monitoring MRIs to watch the cancer dissolve. I know that just two years ago was a researcher at Seattle Cancer Care going to follow neiadjuvant patients via imaging to watch how breast cancer shut down as treatment worked. I can only assume that they are still some years out from putting this into practice with patients but it doesn't mean that we can't demand a better standard of care. Why not try and see if we can do less and track the changes rather than do more and hope it was enough?

03-29-2016, 09:23 AM	#27
agness Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 285	Re: Working thread - what do you think the HER2+ standard of care should be really? I am thinking that the recent study showing that Tykerb (Lapatinib) plus Herceptin (Trastruzumab) should be used for more HER2+ patients. At least to reduce the amount of chemo given. My blood production was permanently altered (at the low end of normal now) and doctors say it was likely the carboplatin that did it. I think finding ways to eliminate the mutant cell line without causing permanent harm to the body should be elevated in oncology treatment. Along with a shift in treatment should come monitoring MRIs to watch the cancer dissolve. I know that just two years ago was a researcher at Seattle Cancer Care going to follow neiadjuvant patients via imaging to watch how breast cancer shut down as treatment worked. I can only assume that they are still some years out from putting this into practice with patients but it doesn't mean that we can't demand a better standard of care. Why not try and see if we can do less and track the changes rather than do more and hope it was enough? __________________ Dx 2/14 3b HER2+/HR- left breast, left axilla, internal mammary node (behind breast bone). Neoadjuvant TCHP 3/14-7/2. PCR 8/14 LX and SND. 10/21-12/9 Proton therapy to chest wall. Dx 7/20/15 cerebellar met 3.5x5cm HER2+/HR-/GATA3+ 7/23/15 Craniotomy. 7/29/15 bone scan clear. 8/3/15 PET clean scan. LINAC SRS (5 fractions) Sept 2015. 9/17/15 CSF NED, 9/24/15 CSF NED, 11/2/15 CSF NED. 10/27/15 atypical uptake in right cerebellum - inflammation? 12/1/15 Leptomeningeal dx. Starting IT Herceptin. 1/16 - 16 fractions of tomotherapy to cerebellum, break of IT Herceptin during rads, resume at 100 mg weekly 3/2016 - stable scan 5/2016 stable scan 7/2016 pseudoprogression? 9/2016 more LM, start new chemo protocol and IV therapy treatment with HBOT 11/2016 Cyberknife to temporal lobe, HBOT just prior 12/2016 - lesions starting to show shrinkage 8/2017 - Stable since Dec 2016. Temporal lobe lesion gone. Using TCM, naturopathic oncology, physical therapy, chiro, massage, medical qigong, and energetic healing modalities in tandem. Stops at nothing. Mother of 2 boys - ages 7 and 10 (8/2017) and a lovely partner with lots to live for.