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Lani · 09-16-2007, 03:12 AM

researchers busy. Thankfully, they have figured out that her2+ breast cancers are distinctive (and perhaps there are several/many subgroups of her2+ breast cancer), allowing them to detect a benefit in using herceptin in some patients (had it not been for being able to detect/predict a group of patients in whom it had an effect, they would have given up development of herceptin years ago). A couple of years ago I listed the breast cancer cell lines which are her2+--it helps to keep a list on hand when reading articles as it makes it more likely the article pertains to her2+ breast cancer ie, if an article claims efficacy of curcumin, green tea extract, etc. Otherwise its like saying treatment x helps skin or stomach cancer ie, its likely a whole other ballgame.

I have NO DOUBT of the intelligence of her2 members... what I doubt is their CONFIDENCE in their own ability to understand articles. Yes, they are written in "medicalese" but a medical dictionary and some help from Google as well as using the "search" function as I try to post news items in "nonMedicalese" English as well as abstracts go a long way.

Since many of the answers are truly unknown, your "take" on things is no less valid than that of others.

Knowledge is power...even when it is only the knowledge that we still don't understand an issue.

09-16-2007, 03:12 AM	#13
Lani Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,783	the fact is noone understands...that's what keeps all those researchers busy. Thankfully, they have figured out that her2+ breast cancers are distinctive (and perhaps there are several/many subgroups of her2+ breast cancer), allowing them to detect a benefit in using herceptin in some patients (had it not been for being able to detect/predict a group of patients in whom it had an effect, they would have given up development of herceptin years ago). A couple of years ago I listed the breast cancer cell lines which are her2+--it helps to keep a list on hand when reading articles as it makes it more likely the article pertains to her2+ breast cancer ie, if an article claims efficacy of curcumin, green tea extract, etc. Otherwise its like saying treatment x helps skin or stomach cancer ie, its likely a whole other ballgame. I have NO DOUBT of the intelligence of her2 members... what I doubt is their CONFIDENCE in their own ability to understand articles. Yes, they are written in "medicalese" but a medical dictionary and some help from Google as well as using the "search" function as I try to post news items in "nonMedicalese" English as well as abstracts go a long way. Since many of the answers are truly unknown, your "take" on things is no less valid than that of others. Knowledge is power...even when it is only the knowledge that we still don't understand an issue.