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caya · 03-30-2007, 09:58 AM

Hi Annie,

Welcome to this terrific site. You will get all the latest information about our HEr2Neu+ BC, and alot of good, hopeful advise, and alot of support from the marvellous women and men on these boards.
The first onc. you saw is obviously not up to date on all the recent news about Herceptin and Tykerb- and you have a small tumour and are node negative? That is good news right there.
-My onc., tops in his field is Canada and his associate are what I would say cautiously positive - they both say that with the dramatically successful recent studies on Her 2+ BC, especially early stage, which it sounds like you are , my prognosis is much better than it was even 1 year ago.
When you search throught the internet, most of the stats you will find are OLD - basically any study before 2005, from what I have found, does not necessarily include Herceptin as part of the treatment for early stagers, and the double whammy of chemo/Herceptin ups the survival and DFS stats.
Will the onc. you are seeing be at at research/teaching hospital? Is he/she a BC onc. specialist, rather than just a general onc.? This is important. I also think the general consensus on this board is that these types of hospitals are more "with it", and have more access to the latest info.
Are you ER+/PR+? If so, this gives you more treatment options like tamoxifen or an AI, although at age 40 you are probably still premenopausal. Ask the onc. about getting your ovaries out, or any other suggestions.

You will feel much better once you see the other onc., I'm sure.
All the best
Caya

03-30-2007, 09:58 AM	#4
caya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Thornhill, Ontario Canada Posts: 2,320	Hi Annie, Welcome to this terrific site. You will get all the latest information about our HEr2Neu+ BC, and alot of good, hopeful advise, and alot of support from the marvellous women and men on these boards. The first onc. you saw is obviously not up to date on all the recent news about Herceptin and Tykerb- and you have a small tumour and are node negative? That is good news right there. -My onc., tops in his field is Canada and his associate are what I would say cautiously positive - they both say that with the dramatically successful recent studies on Her 2+ BC, especially early stage, which it sounds like you are , my prognosis is much better than it was even 1 year ago. When you search throught the internet, most of the stats you will find are OLD - basically any study before 2005, from what I have found, does not necessarily include Herceptin as part of the treatment for early stagers, and the double whammy of chemo/Herceptin ups the survival and DFS stats. Will the onc. you are seeing be at at research/teaching hospital? Is he/she a BC onc. specialist, rather than just a general onc.? This is important. I also think the general consensus on this board is that these types of hospitals are more "with it", and have more access to the latest info. Are you ER+/PR+? If so, this gives you more treatment options like tamoxifen or an AI, although at age 40 you are probably still premenopausal. Ask the onc. about getting your ovaries out, or any other suggestions. You will feel much better once you see the other onc., I'm sure. All the best Caya __________________ ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+ 1.7 cm and 1.0 cm. Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested) MRM Dec.18/06 3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08 Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012 BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so. Reclast infusion January 2012 Oopherectomy October 2013 15 Years NED!!