HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

rhondalea · 12-09-2012, 05:16 PM

I have often thought that it would be helpful to have a terminology/acronym list so as to avoid this type of confusion. I'll add it to my list of things to do. Or maybe we could just start a thread for it and add to it as we have time.

In the meantime, DCIS is "ductal carcinoma in situ." It is also known as "Stage 0" because the cancer cells have not yet broken out of the duct. IDC is "invasive ductal carcinoma," which is the most common type of breast cancer. P53 is "tumor protein 53," a tumor suppressor protein encoded by the TP53 gene.

It's helpful to remember that gene names do not have to make sense or be consistent (although there is currently some movement in that area). This is why HER2 is also called neu--same gene, twice-named.

Never let it be said that scientists do not have a sense of humor--"sonic hedgehog" is not the worst of the examples, but it gives you an idea that some of these guys have a juvenile streak:

http://tinman.nikunnakki.info/browser

12-09-2012, 05:16 PM	#19
rhondalea Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Somerset, NJ Posts: 487	Re: Sabcs 2012 I have often thought that it would be helpful to have a terminology/acronym list so as to avoid this type of confusion. I'll add it to my list of things to do. Or maybe we could just start a thread for it and add to it as we have time. In the meantime, DCIS is "ductal carcinoma in situ." It is also known as "Stage 0" because the cancer cells have not yet broken out of the duct. IDC is "invasive ductal carcinoma," which is the most common type of breast cancer. P53 is "tumor protein 53," a tumor suppressor protein encoded by the TP53 gene. It's helpful to remember that gene names do not have to make sense or be consistent (although there is currently some movement in that area). This is why HER2 is also called neu--same gene, twice-named. Never let it be said that scientists do not have a sense of humor--"sonic hedgehog" is not the worst of the examples, but it gives you an idea that some of these guys have a juvenile streak: http://tinman.nikunnakki.info/browser __________________ 2/6/09 Core needle biopsy: negative; Mammos through 2010: no change 3/30/11 Pea-sized lump in left breast at site of prior biopsy; mammo negative, sonogram not so much 4/14/11 Core needle biopsy: negative for cancer 5/18/11 Excisional biopsy 1.2 cm tumor, LVI, positive margin; ER+60%,PR+20%,HER2/CEP17 5 6/15/11 BMX: Left DCIS & LH; Right ADH; SNB: 2/3 nodes: 1.4 cm and 1 mm; ALND L1&2: 0/10; Stage IIa, Grade 3 7/14/11 CT/Bone scans NED; MUGA 66% 7/19/11 Biweekly dd AC w/Neulasta; done 8/30/11 9/13/11 Transfusion (Hemoglobin 8.6); MUGA 64% 9/20/11 Start Taxol + Herceptin; Taxol done 12/6/2011; continue Herceptin until 9/4/2012 12/27/11 Radiation - 6 weeks; 2/27/2012 - DONE! Yayyyy! 2/29/12 Start Tamoxifen 20 mg/day; continue until 2/28/17 5/16/12 Start five-years Metformin trial 6/19/12 MUGA 61% 8/21/12 Brain MRI NED (head still hurts, brain still fogged) 9/4/12 Herceptin done! 9/6/12 Port out! 7/11/13 Aricept 5mg for cognitive impairment; increased to 10mg as of 8/23/13; back to 5mg 12/2013 5/2014 Add Namenda 7mg 9/2014 Stop Aricept and Namenda; Neuropsychological evaluation 10/24/14 Start cognitive rehabilitation therapy