finally, someone tells the HER2 survival story the way it is:

[al from Canada]

What we suspected all along is confirmed for the first time I'm aware of in print:

"These data suggest that trastuzumab radically changes the natural history of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. While women with HER2-positive tumors have historically been thought to have a worse prognosis, the advent of trastuzumab means that they appear to do far better in response to chemotherapy than do patients with HER2-negative tumors, exhibiting higher rates of response, longer durations of treatment, and improved overall survival. Thus, HER2-negative and HER2-positive tumors remain clinically distinct, and it is not fair to say that HER2-negative outcomes are equivalent to HER2-positive outcomes in patients also receiving trastuzumab."

For those who want to read the whole article:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/466393

Finally, we're out of the dungeon; kind of like the tortoise and the rabbit wouldn't you say?

Regards,
Al

[TriciaK]

Thanks, AL. MOST interesting!

[RhondaH]

and one that is very often needed here (though, the dialog amongst us is a quite positive one). Take care and God bless.

Rhonda

[Esther]

I have long suspected that since Herceptin worked on a specific trigger that causes cancer growth, our prognosis would be better.

They've found one of our triggers, her2- women also must have a trigger fueling cancer growth, they just haven't found it yet.

Good to hear that our prognosis is actually better! Of course I've been choosing to believe that one step at a time, I'll be here for 40 more years.

[Becky]

My oncologist told me that he felt with the use of adjuvant Herceptin, it puts Her2 + women on a better footing than the plain old ER/PR+ women (with all other criteria being equal - tumor size, staging, #nodes etc).


Regards

Becky

[julierene]

I don't seem to have access to this article.

[CherylS]

I am unable to get it too. Can anyone paste this whole article or at least the bulk of it if it is not too long? Thanks.

[Christine]

To access the article:


Username: HER2 Support
Password: member



Hugs
Christine