 |
06-20-2007, 12:04 PM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
|
Her2neu serum test?
I went to a 2nd opinion at the City of Hope and one question I had was about the Her2 serum test. The onc I had was very QUICK to reply on every question I had. She was FAST and seemed very knowledgable about everything I asked her. But when I asked about the her2 serum test it looked like I totally caught her off guard and she looked like she had no idea of what test this was? She just looked at me for a few seconds like she was thinking and said "We don't use that here".
Am I to assume most the cancer centers still don't use this test as of yet? Or maybe she just wasn't up on it?
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
|
|
|
|
06-20-2007, 03:53 PM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
|
I think it is still not generally used a lot - although there continues to be a lot of research on it, basically to find out when it is most useful. At some point, I think the evidence will be sufficient to clearly point to when it should be used, then the doctors will get on board.
This is interesting: My doctor on the clinical trial, who was my 2nd opinion onc, really poo poo'd it when I brought it up over a year ago. But, this is one of the MANY tests they run as part of the trial! So I assume this is all to contribute to the data - in this case, will the Her2 Serum level correspond to the efficacy of Tykerb treatment. The trial coordinator, by the way, previously worked at Bayer when they were developing the test. All goes round in circles, huh!
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
|
|
|
|
|
06-22-2007, 06:50 AM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 301
|
My onc pooh-poohs it but humors my and has it done for me when I ask - my numbers on it are sky-high right now, so I'm not that excited to keep getting it done!!
Regards,
__________________
Shell
init diag 3/17/03-stage IIIC
ER-/PR-/HER2+++
CET x4 neo-adjuvant
lump & SNB 8/03
CET x2
radiation and herceptin/navelbine 11-03-1/04
1st reoccur to lymph nodes 8/04
complete axillary dissection 12/04
herceptin/taxotere til progression (lungs) 3/05
xeloda w/out lapatinib trial 6/05
lapatinib/tykerb added 4/06
ended trial 8/06 due to progression
doxil / avastin 11/06-12/06 - wasn't working
navelbine/herceptin/avastin 12/06/3/07 - progression
gemzar/carboplatin/tykerb 4/07
mri shows extensive mets to bone in pelvic area 6/07
switched to abraxane (3 on/1 off) + tykerb 6/07
|
|
|
|
|
06-22-2007, 08:42 AM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern California
Posts: 900
|
Chelee,
Who did you see at City of Hope? When you described the onc as "FAST" it makes me believe you saw mine. She is a little speed demon but will take all the time needed to answer all questions and concerns. City of Hope follows the national guidelines and therefore does not do any of the tumor markers, scans, or other miscellance tests that other oncs do. (However, there is a clinical trial going on right now concerning tumor markers.) The doctors and the facility are are top notch and highly regarded nationwide. I have had all of my treatment done there and am grateful for the care I have received.
__________________
Gerri
Dx: 11/23/05, Lumpectomy 12/12/05
Tumor 2.2 cm, Stage II, Grade 3, Sentinel Node biopsy negative
ER+ (30%) /PR+ (50%), HER2+++
AC X 4 dose dense, Taxol X 4 dose dense
Herceptin started with 2nd Taxol, given weekly until chemo done
then given every 3 weeks for one year ending on March 16, 2007
Radiation 30 treatments
Tamoxifen - 2 yrs (pre-menopausal)
May 2008 - Feb 2012 Femara
Aug 2008 - Feb 2012 Zometa every 6 months
March 2012 - Stop Femara, now Evista for bone strengthening
********** Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. - Robert Brault
|
|
|
|
|
06-22-2007, 11:17 AM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
|
My oncologist does the HER2 serum test every 12 weeks for me and it may be that I'm Stage IIIc. My tumor markers have never been reliable (15.3 at diagnosis which is well below "normal" level) so now we are depending upon the HER2 test and any symptoms I may develop. So far my numbers have been below the accepted normal of 15l. Her feeling is that if my number goes up then she will order scans.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
|
|
|
|
|
06-22-2007, 01:27 PM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
|
Chrisy, That is really something that they are using the her2 serum test in your trial. Ha! I really thought it was being used on a regular basis now at all your major cancer centers...guess not though.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gerri, I get all my six month scans but I have to push for them. They rather me not have them to save money. I did ask about the tumor marker at City of Hope and it was mentioned they don't do that either. As we know they really aren't reliable. But I have the place I'm at do them anyway. Mine always seems to be 15. Is it the City of Hope doing a clinical trial on tumor markers...and if so are you in this one?
I sent you the name of the onc I am seeing...I do believe you have the same one.  She is awesome...I really like her.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kate, I am stage IIIA and my onc won't do the her2 serum test. I am not sure she even knows what it is? I am surprised that every time I bring up this test to *any* onc they look like they have no clue what I am talking about? I will have to copy
some literature on this to have on hand for them next time I bring it up.
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
|
|
|
|
|
06-22-2007, 01:39 PM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern California
Posts: 900
|
Chelee,
I sent you a PM regarding the name of the onc - same one! The tumor marker clinical trial is for newly diagnosed patients prior to any treatment.
__________________
Gerri
Dx: 11/23/05, Lumpectomy 12/12/05
Tumor 2.2 cm, Stage II, Grade 3, Sentinel Node biopsy negative
ER+ (30%) /PR+ (50%), HER2+++
AC X 4 dose dense, Taxol X 4 dose dense
Herceptin started with 2nd Taxol, given weekly until chemo done
then given every 3 weeks for one year ending on March 16, 2007
Radiation 30 treatments
Tamoxifen - 2 yrs (pre-menopausal)
May 2008 - Feb 2012 Femara
Aug 2008 - Feb 2012 Zometa every 6 months
March 2012 - Stop Femara, now Evista for bone strengthening
********** Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. - Robert Brault
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:09 PM.
|
Linear Mode
