HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Anyone in their 70s with High Blood Pressure taking Herceptin treatments?

Becky · 10-28-2007, 08:53 AM

I will respond to the "cancer in the other breast" question.

There is a difference between local recurrence (the same cancer coming back in the same breast) and contralateral cancer (a new cancer in the opposite breast).

Women who have had breast cancer are obviously at the highest risk of developing a new breast cancer (what I mean is a completely new and different one). For invasive ductual carcinoma (IDC - cancer in the milk ducts), the risk of a new cancer in the opposite breast is 1% per year with a 10% - 12% chance over 10 years. For invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC - cancer in lobes which is the milk producing site) the 10 year risk is 20%.

The current cancer can spread to the other breast. This is why it is important to get biopsies done but it is not as common as one might think. A new lump in the other breast (if cancerous) is probably a brand new cancer. So U Penn is right about what they told you. Did you see Dr. Fox there?

Herceptin does not have a side effect of increasing BP (Avastin does) but your mom's heart should be in good shape prior to using Herceptin. Side effects tend to be more like Hayfever - runny nose etc. Very tolerable.

10-28-2007, 08:53 AM	#4
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	I will respond to the "cancer in the other breast" question. There is a difference between local recurrence (the same cancer coming back in the same breast) and contralateral cancer (a new cancer in the opposite breast). Women who have had breast cancer are obviously at the highest risk of developing a new breast cancer (what I mean is a completely new and different one). For invasive ductual carcinoma (IDC - cancer in the milk ducts), the risk of a new cancer in the opposite breast is 1% per year with a 10% - 12% chance over 10 years. For invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC - cancer in lobes which is the milk producing site) the 10 year risk is 20%. The current cancer can spread to the other breast. This is why it is important to get biopsies done but it is not as common as one might think. A new lump in the other breast (if cancerous) is probably a brand new cancer. So U Penn is right about what they told you. Did you see Dr. Fox there? Herceptin does not have a side effect of increasing BP (Avastin does) but your mom's heart should be in good shape prior to using Herceptin. Side effects tend to be more like Hayfever - runny nose etc. Very tolerable. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"