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Lien · 04-20-2007, 01:30 PM

Dear Maria & Kelly,

I can understand how you feel. ALthough I'm ER/PR positive, I missed out on Herceptin. It wasn't available in the adjuvant setting when I was diagnosed in 2004. I keep reading about how the Herceptin would cancel out the increased risk in Her2 positive tumors. I didn't get that benefit. Fortunately I have the option of ovary suppression and Arimidex. But it certainly is no walk in the park for many. Yes, it's another option and No not everyone can tolerate this therapy. Some women have very bad joint and muscle aches. Mine are mild, so I guess I'm lucky. But I can't get out of bed and start walking. I got used to that.

On another note, I remember reading somewhere that for the first couple of years prognosis is slightly better for ER pos tumors, but the difference is no longer there after 4 or 5 years. I don't think the difference in risk of mortality is very high. Just something like 6-10 %. That isn't a very big difference. I'm sorry, I don't remember where I read that.

I have never been able to find by how much my risk of recurrence / mortality is increased because of the pos. Her2. I've just heard: increased risk. Poor prognosis. But how poor? I've no idea. So I can let that thought scare me or I can choose to ignore it. I have to keep breathing, I have to keep eating and I have to bring up my kids.

Just hang in there girls. I want you to be around when I celebrate each year of survival.

Jacqueline

04-20-2007, 01:30 PM	#5
Lien Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Haarlem, the Netherlands Posts: 835	Dear Maria & Kelly, I can understand how you feel. ALthough I'm ER/PR positive, I missed out on Herceptin. It wasn't available in the adjuvant setting when I was diagnosed in 2004. I keep reading about how the Herceptin would cancel out the increased risk in Her2 positive tumors. I didn't get that benefit. Fortunately I have the option of ovary suppression and Arimidex. But it certainly is no walk in the park for many. Yes, it's another option and No not everyone can tolerate this therapy. Some women have very bad joint and muscle aches. Mine are mild, so I guess I'm lucky. But I can't get out of bed and start walking. I got used to that. On another note, I remember reading somewhere that for the first couple of years prognosis is slightly better for ER pos tumors, but the difference is no longer there after 4 or 5 years. I don't think the difference in risk of mortality is very high. Just something like 6-10 %. That isn't a very big difference. I'm sorry, I don't remember where I read that. I have never been able to find by how much my risk of recurrence / mortality is increased because of the pos. Her2. I've just heard: increased risk. Poor prognosis. But how poor? I've no idea. So I can let that thought scare me or I can choose to ignore it. I have to keep breathing, I have to keep eating and I have to bring up my kids. Just hang in there girls. I want you to be around when I celebrate each year of survival. Jacqueline __________________ Diagnosed age 44, January 2004, 0.7 cm IDC & DCIS. Stage 1, grade 3, ER/PR pos. HER2 pos. clear margins, no nodes. SNB. 35 rads. On Zoladex and Armidex since Dec. 2004. Stopped Zoladex/Arimidex sept 2009 Still taking mistletoe shots (CAM therapy) Doing fine.