Lyn - Re. Aromasin post below

[Steph N]

Lyn wrote:
"I am not hormone resonsive either but I took Aromasin and it is what they put the ladies on when the Tamoxefin stops working, no reasoning for it but I had it while I was waiting for radiation to the neck and the lumps went from the Aromasin and I didn't need radiation THAT time around"

This statement piques my curiosity. If you are NOT hormone positive, then how could the Aromasin have done the job on the neck lump?? Was this new lump ever biopsied and checked for er/pr receptors?
The way my med onc has explained it, new tumors can mutate and be different from our originals, complicating our cases, and needing further thought on treatment options for success against these new tumors.
Were you also on Herceptin with the Aromasin? Anything else? Maybe the synergy of the drugs are what whacked that lump. Good on ya!

[Lyn]

Hi there, no my onc gave up biopsing me because I was always disappoined, POSITIVE of course, but my last lump was biopsied because it woulnd show up anywhere but you could see it and feel it and the path said it was similar to the cells on the left side so it appears we can get other types of mutations. I went into early menopause with my chemo and had my tubes tied as well so it is possible that this has had some effect, I was on the pill for donkey years and only stopped when I got this curse instead. I took aromasin and herceptin again up and until I started this last trio so it is possible that the aromasin has kept everything else away because in the MRI the lump being treated is the only one found, confusing I know but this lump has taken over 12 months to be treated and not spread anywhere else only the surrounding area numb and hard so I am not surprised it has taken so long for it to go.

Love & Hugs Lyn

[Steph N]

Hi Lyn -
Your onc should be biopsying you for MORE than just to see if the new place is malignant or not. They should do another assay for the cell biology so they know how to treat it. This is something my onc does, so I guess it seems so reasonable, that all of them should do that for mets as much as possible.
So, that new lump is being subborn, huh? Sometimes they are, then like my big tumor around my main hepatic vein (was well fed there!) it finally just gave in to the chemo and went away to just a tiny scar place about 3mm. Had to hope for that as it was a hard place to ablate.
Keep us informed on the progress, ok?
So glad to know that so far only this lump is bedeviling you right now and you are going to conquer it.

[Lyn]

HiSteph, thanks for the encouragement, which combo were you on and for how long?

Love & hugs Lyn

[Lyn]

Hi, sorry it so long to get back, our messages drop off the page so quick now. I didn't have it tested HER2 but I think I will try and get it done. I have never stopped the Herceptin, only a bit late when in hospital, so yes Herceptin and Aromasin. The lump got bigger gradually but blew out when I had the biopsy?, I looked like I had no neck on the right side, so luckily it was settled what it was with the MRI and treatment started, I starated radiation then added Carboplatin while still having radiation, just about cremated my neck, the lump stagnated so then added Taxol and it started to get smaller, let me know if you I can help anymore.

Love & big hugs Lyn