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Lolly · 02-06-2007, 06:49 PM

Now I have to temper my enthusiasm with this caution taken from the article posted by Julie2 on the main board:

"...Indeed, the MammaPrint is much better at predicting who isn't likely to relapse than who is, Gutman said. He cited studies suggesting that when the MammaPrint predicts a woman is at high risk of cancer returning in five years, it will be right just a quarter of the time. That compares with 95 percent accuracy if the woman is told she's at low risk of a relapse.
"This information has to be used very carefully by physicians," Gutman said. "This is a complex test. It requires use by people who know their business."

The FDA has no information on whether the test results actually helped improve the survival of high-risk women, Gutman said."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070206/...st_cancer_test

02-06-2007, 06:49 PM	#4
Lolly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,756	Now I have to temper my enthusiasm with this caution taken from the article posted by Julie2 on the main board: "...Indeed, the MammaPrint is much better at predicting who isn't likely to relapse than who is, Gutman said. He cited studies suggesting that when the MammaPrint predicts a woman is at high risk of cancer returning in five years, it will be right just a quarter of the time. That compares with 95 percent accuracy if the woman is told she's at low risk of a relapse. "This information has to be used very carefully by physicians," Gutman said. "This is a complex test. It requires use by people who know their business." The FDA has no information on whether the test results actually helped improve the survival of high-risk women, Gutman said." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070206/...st_cancer_test __________________ Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation. Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.