Roll Call early stage and herceptin

[Anonymous]

I admire your efforts Lauren to collect observation data on early stage BC and Herceptin and reoccurence information but I must warn you it is only observational data with all the shortcomings of observation research- that is it lacks real statistic power in conclusions mainly due to lack of randomazation and regression variance analysis. This really is not a scientific study at all and therefore the results of your data collection are scewed which means all of your final conclusions as well will be scewed. I am writing this as a nurse who has experience and participation in real scientific research studies. I do not mean to discourage you but I do want you well informed that your conclusions will not be reliable. Take care and best of luck to you.

[lauren]

Hi...thanks for your concern. I agree - it is totally NOT scientific. But here is how I put it to my doctor, who has NOT answered me (which I am a bit miffed about):

If for every 10 patients that complete a year of herceptin, 4 are having recurrences within 6 months after finishing their year of herceptin, THAT is significant to me, even if it is not significant to the study, or even if the study has not come out with official results.

It is significant to me in that it provides me with info that will potentially contribute to a gut feeling of comfort or discomfort with continuing herceptin. ANY information is valuable.

[Rozebud]

lauren - I had not seen that stat before....I take it that is why you are doing this - to see if the #s make sense? What is the group of patients - adjuvent early stage breast cancer or mets??

I don't care if it's scientific or not, and believe me I'm in finance so spend most of every day in statistics....every success story helps encourage me in my "battle".