what was the % reduction of recurrence

[micheleu]

I am writing a article for my local paper. What was the % reduction of recurrence rate from the Herceptin trial? I was thinking almost 50%?

[Becky]

It was 52%

[Colleens_Husband]

Friends:

I have noticed that there were several incidences of people on this forum stating that the recurrence rate with Herceptin was over 50%. The recurrence rates with Herceptin are actually around 9 or 10% according to Colleen's oncologist and forgive me, I did not ask for a citation on the 9 or 10% number. I am wondering whether people have been misreading the percentage of reduction in recurrence and confusing it with the percentage of recurrence, which are two separate and completely different things.

A 52% recurrence rate is atrocious, a 52% reduction in recurrence is an incredibly good thing.

Lee

[Becky]

Dear Lee

That is what we were talking about (reduction of recurrence rate - see Michelle's post).

[Joan M]

Yes. It's a 52% rate in the reduction of recurrence. Michele, here's the original article which appeared in the NEJM if you need any more info. I had to dig it out.

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/353/16/1659

Joan