(speechless)

[AlaskaAngel]

Found on the Mayo Clinic website:

"Breast tissue can be tested for HER2. But routine testing of all breast cancers for HER2 protein at initial diagnosis isn't recommended because the results don't affect treatment decisions. However, if the cancer returns or spreads (metastasizes), a doctor will likely recommend testing for HER2."

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-cancer/AN00495

[Becky]

This is incredibly ludicrious. I can't believe this would be on the Mayo clinic site. Especially now with the advent of adjuvant Herceptin.


Maybe someone should let them know its there if they have a comment section. Sometimes older parts of a website aren't updated and sometimes, people don't even know that bad info is out there.

Becky

[AlaskaAngel]

Well I thought that too, Becky, but the weird part of it is that the spokesperson mentions 2005 in what he has to say so it can't be old info.


A.A.

[Lolly]

Even more perplexing is the statement earlier in the text of the article:

"...Trastuzumab (Herceptin) — a drug that targets HER2 — may slow the growth of the cancer and even decrease its size. Herceptin may be used as a treatment by itself or combined with chemotherapy. A study published in 2005 also found that Herceptin can reduce breast cancer recurrence by as much as 50 percent..."

Apparently the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing!

<3 Lolly

[sassy]

I found a place to contact them by e-mail and sent one with a link to this response asking them to review the information as many of us on this site well know the advantage of early testing and treatment of HER2+. Maybe we should all e-mail them. I go back and see if I can post a link.

Sassy
________
Novana Residence Condo

[CherylS]

Wow, AA, you said it, speechless. As a Minnesota girl who grew up with Mayo in Rochester this just stuns me. Don't know what to say. I even talked to them on the phone last spring and was going to go there to receive Herceptin if my onc. here in Minneapolis didn't agree to it. That comment just doesn't make sense or align with what they are doing there at all, but I clicked on the link and saw the 2005 date just like you said. Wow, speechless.

[sassy]

Let see if this works:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/contact-us/contactus

Sassy

It works.
________
MEDICAL MARJUANNA DISPENCERIES

[AlaskaAngel]

Thanks, Sassy! Hopefully they will figure out what the problem is!

Just to put this in the record for posterity:

ASK A CANCER SPECIALIST

HER2-positive breast cancer

Q.

A friend of mine has "HERS" breast cancer. What does that mean?
Terry/ Arizona

A.



You're probably referring to HER2-positive breast cancer — a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells. In about one of every three breast cancers, the cancer cells make an excess of HER2 due to a gene mutation. This gene mutation can occur in many types of cancer — not only breast cancer.

HER2-positive breast cancers tend to be more aggressive than other types of breast cancer. They're also less responsive to hormone treatment. However, two treatments that may be effective against HER2-positive breast cancer are:

• <LI class=doublespace>Trastuzumab (Herceptin) — a drug that targets HER2 — may slow the growth of the cancer and even decrease its size. Herceptin may be used as a treatment by itself or combined with chemotherapy. A study published in 2005 also found that Herceptin can reduce breast cancer recurrence by as much as 50 percent.
• Certain chemotherapy medications, such as combinations of anthracycline drugs (doxorubicin, epirubicin).

Breast tissue can be tested for HER2. But routine testing of all breast cancers for HER2 protein at initial diagnosis isn't recommended because the results don't affect treatment decisions. However, if the cancer returns or spreads (metastasizes), a doctor will likely recommend testing for HER2.

[al from Canada]

"You can't always judge a book by its cover."

Al

FYI, the guy who answers the Q's:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/biography/SB00036

[AlaskaAngel]

Given the prominence of this institution and the physician, I have to ask the question as to how prevalent this perception is among his colleagues. Is there any interest among us here in having some kind of more formal dialogue between this website and that institution, in behalf of the women being treated under that policy?

AlaskaAngel

[Liz]

In August I went to Mayo since my surgeon was leaving for a 2 week vacation in Europe and we had yet to find the primary tumor in my breast. (I detected the cancer by discovering a very large lymph node.) Within a day they found the tumor and scheduled surgery. I had not even heard of HER2 cancer. They did the testing for this automatically. Thank goodness since it was discovered that I was HER2+++.


Liz

P.S. Mayo is a wonderful facility!!

The guy who answers the questions at Mayo needs to " get with the program".
As someone pointed out-- guess the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing !!
It's pretty scarey to think that the pros, so called, are skewing the facts of the trials with his " slant"--
Carol

[sassy]

Glad to see they changed response---I would hate to think someone would use the previous misinformation and not be tested.

Sassy
________
Vape info

[MCS]

all.


Cannot believe! don't they have an editor? don't they have meetings? actually I think it's embarrasing

MCS
(maria)

[CherylS]

I don't want to bash Mayo, it is a wonderful institution. Has anyone tried clicking on that link now? It's completely gone! Is there a new response somewhere?

[CherylS]

just answered my own question. We do that alot around here don't we? I went back to Alaska Angel's original post and clicked on it. There is the revised statement. Good work all.

[Maggie]

"We do that alot around here don't we? I went back to Alaska Angel's original post and clicked on it. There is the revised statement. Good work all."
Cheryl


May I second the "good work all," and add my thanks to all of you for the advice and knowledge you share on this board. Your awesome!

Maggie

[AlaskaAngel]

I'm bringing this old thread forward briefly for consideration of another piece of misinformation that remains online at Mayo. I think Mayo is a great place for treatment, but the problem of misinformation online is still there. Granted, the link I'm concerned about indicates it is a response dated 2002, but for those who are new to bc or less familiar with the lingo or English language, I still think this dated stuff should be designated as OUT OF DATE INFO, or removed. I think this is the same doc that is quoted who was involved with the previous problem that was removed. The thrust of his commentary here (that treatment generally needs to start in 12 weeks) is fine, but the complete lack of any mention of trastuzumab as well as the legitimate exploration of ovarian ablation/hormonal manipulation as a possible alternative just doesn't cut it.

http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu/expert...&ss=22&id=1780

"Chemotherapy and tamoxifen remain the standard and unwavering recommendations for this patient."


Comments?

-AlaskaAngel

[suzan w]

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT???!!! Yikes!

[Rich66]

This must be why so many medical professionals warn about information "from the internet".