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Old 04-20-2010, 03:31 PM   #1
bejuce
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NYT article on HER-2 Testing

The NYT published an article today on HER-2 testing. After reading it, I got the impression that HER-2 testing can be very inaccurate.

Should we all be asking for a repeat test?
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ER+ (30%)/PR-/HER-2+, stage 3

Diagnosed on 02/18/09 at 38 with a huge 12x10 cm tumor, after a 6 month delay. Told I was too young and had no risk factors. Found swollen node during breastfeeding.
March-August 09: neo-adjuvant chemo, part of a trial at Stanford (4 DD A/C, 4 Taxotere with daily Tykerb), loading dose of Herceptin
08/12/09 - bye bye boobies (bilateral mastectomy)
08/24/09 - path report shows 100 % success in breast tissue (no cancer there, yay!), 98 % success in lymphatic invasion, and even though 11/13 nodes were still positive, > 95 % of the tumor in them was killed. Hoping for the best!
September-October 09: rads with daily Xeloda
02/25/10 - Cholecystectomy
05/27/10 - Bone scan clear
06/14/10 - CT scan clear, ovarian cyst found
07/27/10 - Done with Herceptin!
02/15/11 - MVA-BN HER-2 vaccine trial
03/15/11 - First CA 15-3: 12.7 and normal, yay!
10/01/11 - Bone scan and CT scan clear, fatty liver found
now on Tamoxifen and Aspirin


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Old 04-20-2010, 05:21 PM   #2
whatz
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Re: NYT article on HER-2 Testing

I know my onc used two different tests to determine Her2 status. I assume though they came from the same lab (which according to the article is also a factor).
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4/09 suspicious lump in left breast
5/09 biopsi lead to diagnosis ER/PR -
Her2+.Grade 3,full masectomy left breast,sentinel nodes clear,Stage 1
6/09 Adriamycin + Cytoxan 4 treatments (every 3 weeks) followed by Taxol + Herceptin, 1 treatment weekly for 12 weeks, followed by Herceptin for 40 weeks
MRI Brain 4/10 clear
CT Body 4/10 clear
PET Body 2/11 clear
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Old 04-20-2010, 05:47 PM   #3
Rich66
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Re: NYT article on HER-2 Testing

Even more disconcerting from an efficacy and reimbursement standpoint is the emerging concept(recently posted here) that breast cancer stem cells may be vulnerable to Her2 therapies regardless of test results. How do you get reimbursed for Herceptin, as suggested, for multiple years with a FISH negative result? You don't.
But..you can go after this pathway, along with EGFR, to some degree with Capsaicin and green tea.
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