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09-02-2011, 07:57 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
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The Good Kind
Here's how much things have changed. I spoke with a woman who's mother has just been diagnosed. She told me that her mother has "the good kind" of breast cancer, because it's Her2+ and there are targeted drugws to treat it. She may be reading this because I directed her to this site. I am amazed that some doctors are encouraging patients by calling Her2 the "good kind of cancer to have."
No cancer is good, but it's a fact of life. And I'm grateful that I got diagnosed early, right after Herceptin came on the market. Her2 was a terrifying cancer to have back in the day. Now thanks to Herceptin and Tykerb, it's very treatable. Amazing.
__________________
MJO
IDC, Stage I, Grade 2
Oncotype DX Score 32
Her2++ E+P+, Node Neg.
Lumpectomy 11/04/05 Clear Margins
3 Dose dense AC (Couldn't tolerate 4)
4 Dose dense Taxol & Herc. (Tolerated well)
36 weeks Herceptin (Could not complete one year due to decrease in MUGA score)
2 years of Arimidex, then three years of Femara
Finished Femara May 2011
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09-02-2011, 10:14 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: El Paso ,Tx
Posts: 436
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Re: The Good Kind
Thats crazy, I was first diagnosed with DCIS, I was told that was the good one to have. HER2 not so good, but treatable. I guess it all depends on your point of view. What is good about HER2 is that it has a specific group of meds to treat it, something other cancers don't.
Kind of like is the glass half full or half empty.
__________________
 dx: DCIS 6/8/10, HER 2+ 7/26/10; Stage I Age 41
Double mast w reconstruction
6 TCH w 1yr herceptin
Tamox.
25 radiation tx
Removal of expander on L due to infection. Tried to save it had 3 bouts of antibiotics and went to see plastic surgeon 2-3x wk to get drained. Saving it was my idea not his. But lost it anyway.
Reconstruction set for December 21st,2011
Finished chemo 12/2010
Finished Herceptin 8/26/11
Reconstruction 12/21/11
Expanders exchanged for silicon 3/19/12
Nipple reconstruction 5/18/12
Nipple tatooing- 7/9/12- All done yay!
11/22/12-Went back to get scar tissue stretched to even the outside of breast, didn't work due to it being radiated skin.
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09-03-2011, 04:19 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Re: The Good Kind
With many new drugs coming online for us I'm now seeing my her2 pos dx as good news too! 
__________________
Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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09-09-2011, 12:58 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,744
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Re: The Good Kind
Yes, I agree, it is amazing! When I was diagnosed I was told Her2+ cancers had a very poor prognosis. All I can say is thanks to all the hard work, struggles and faith that cancer does not have to be a death sentence. Hooray for Herceptin.
__________________
 Suzan W.
age 54 at diagnosis
5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast
5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++
6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg.
Oncotype DX-high risk
8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C
10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin
arimidex-5 years
2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis
7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE
8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy
10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection
RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis)
6/14/10 5 year cancerversary!
8/2010-18%increase in bone density!
no further treatments
Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance"
I say,"What a long strange trip its been"
'One day at a time'
6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!
7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use
6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis
2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL.
6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year
as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!!
6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!
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09-09-2011, 10:37 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 434
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Re: The Good Kind
What magic words. Thanks for sharing them.
Trish
__________________
5/2004 (R) 30mm bre gr3 infiltrating ductal ca 16/18nodes er (2+) pr (3+) HER2 (3+)
6/2004 6 cycles(FEC), Oct 40 rads, Tamoxifen
5/2006 oopherectomy, Arimedex
12/2006 liver mets largest 9cm
1/2007 Herceptin,
3/2007 Taxol + Herc
1/2008 Herc alone
4/2008 Multiple bone mets,Zometa
7/2008 Herc + Gemcitabine
8/2008 Herc+Navelbine/vinoralbine
10/2008 Herc+Carboplatin+Taxol
12/2008 Tykerb+Xeloda
2/2010 Herceptin + trial drug
5/2010 Herceptin+Tykerb
8/2010 Tykerb+Abraxane
9/2010 Abraxane
12/2010 Abraxane+Tyk+Herc
4/2011 Tyk+Herc+Femara
6/2011 Liver and bone mets prog.Abraxane continue Herceptin,Tykerb,Femara and Zometa
8/2011 Probable liver progression and increased neuropathy. Xeloda with Tyk+Herc. Zometa 6 weekly.
9/2011 Liver progression,TM +++. Cyclophosphamide and Methotrexate metro Herc Zometa
10/2011 liver mets prog.Herc, 3 Tykerb +2mg decodron daily,Zometa
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09-10-2011, 03:15 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Re: The Good Kind
I have always thought that timing is vital. We still must always remain dilagent to our health.
When I was waiting for my pathology report after my lumpectomy - I had heard a news report on Herceptin the miracle drug for Her2 breast cancer. I clearly remember thinking, "I hope my cancer is Her2"
this way I can have hercpetin. Being a novice to the entire knowledge of breast cancer that there was different subtypes, KI 67 levels, ER- or ER +, Pr - or Pr+, etc. and that Hercpetin was given only to stage 4 patients...(at the time 05 ) I didn't even realize that a stage 4 patient was permitted to have hercpetin. So imagine my horror being dx. as Her2 and I cannot have hercpetin. I was screaming why not? What is the difference if stage 1 or stage 4...her2 is her2 .... So the battle for me began not only to fight the disease but the establishment for treatment.
Yes, Her2 has changed in the last 6 to 7 years. Now early stage women are allowed to have the proper treatment one does NOT have to be Stage 4 to have herceptin.
Now - let's get this disease down to NO ONE needing
hercpetin....and PS there is no good breast cancer.
God Bless All,
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
Last edited by Jean; 09-10-2011 at 03:19 PM..
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09-11-2011, 02:06 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Marengo, IL
Posts: 518
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Re: The Good Kind
Times have changed. Finally the stats are catching up with those of us with early stage breast cancer that received Herceptin.
I remember my onc saying I couldn't have gotten cancer at a better time being Her2+. Herceptin is our miracle drug. I am so thankful for the research that went into getting Herceptin on the market.
Just celebrated my 5 year canceriversay Aug 31st. I am living proof!
Also thank you Christine and Joe (I know you can hear me up there Joe) for this support group. I have learned so much from my sisters here and gained so much support and encouragement. I am blessed.
__________________
Donna
Crystal Lake, IL
Diagnosed 8/4/06 at age 54
Lumpectomy 8/30/06
Stage llA, grade 3, ER/PR-, Her2++
1.7 cm tumor, 1+ lymph node out of 9
Completed 4 A/C, & 4 Taxol with Herceptin
36 rads completed 5/16/07
Mammograms, 7/07 clear
fractured ribs in radiated area 10/07
Finished Herceptin 12/27/07
Mammogram,CT,tumor markers 1/08 - small lung nodules in radiated area, repeated tests 3/08 stable
Mammogram,CT ,tumor markers 6/08 stable
NED 2 years!!
3 years !!!
4years!!!!
4 years, 10 months and 8 day NED, calling it 5 years!!!
Official 5 years 8/30/2011
8/31/ 2012 - 6 years!!!!!!
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09-11-2011, 09:24 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,173
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Re: The Good Kind
Thats awsome Donna! Gods blessings to you and your family!
__________________
dx 11/12/09 IDCI
Stage 3a
ER 98% PR 80%
Her2 +3
4/12 nodes
6 rounds TCH
Herceptin 12 months 3weeks
Rad. 30 tx
Tamoxifin 6 months stopped
Arimedex stopped 9/12 (side effects)
Aromasin 10/12
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09-12-2011, 06:51 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Near Chicago
Posts: 196
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Re: The Good Kind
Go Donna!
You and I are two of the lucky/fortunate women/persons to have been diagnosed shortly after Herceptin was approved for earlier staged cancer. [I'm just one year behind you!]
Melanie
__________________
Diagnosed: 7/13/07 (or 7/7/07)
Surgery: 8/15/07 Modified Radical One Side with Lymph Node Dissection
Pathology Report: ER/PR-, HER2+ with FISH at 8.4 copies, Grade 3, Stage IIIa, 3.2 cm tumor plus 4/19 positive lymph nodes
Portacath: 9/7/07
Chemo: 9/14/07 with AC (every three weeks) for four rounds
Physical Therapy for ROM Loss / "Cording" (but not Lymphodema)
Taxol + Herceptin weekly (started 12/2007 with 8 of 12 Taxol)
Radiation: (28 rads from 3/07 to 4/07)
Reconstruction (silicone implant)
Herceptin done (10/08)
Cognitive Remediation (11/08 - 12/08)
Lymphedema Diagnosed 5/10/10 (almost 3 years post cancer diagnosis)
Lymphedema Rehab 9/10/10 - 11/10/10
Six years NED...7/7/2013!
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