HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

Becky · 03-14-2009, 07:10 AM

What will be interesting in 2011 will be the long term results of 1 yr of Herceptin versus 2 yrs. Those results, if favorable, may begin trials (such as the Tamoxifen trials from decades ago) on the true length of Herceptin.

I agree that the short term 1 yr vs 2 yr results could not have been dramatically different. I heard Eric Winer speak once and he alluded to this fact. However, I have a friend from a local support group who is a 26 yr bc survivor who was in the very first Tamoxifen trial. She got the one year arm so she received it for only one year. In the beginning years, there was very little difference between who got Tamoxifen 1, 2, 3 yrs etc. It was over time that that difference became dramatic (and it was the trial that concluded 5 yrs was optimal. In the 10 yrs of Tamoxifen trial it seemed 7 yrs was the best but not that much better vs 5 and the associated side effects of Tamoxifen). So, all I am saying is over time, more may be better. How much more, I don't know. Also, it may be better but associated with side effects or future detriments that none of us really know about yet. Prior to recently, the only long term Herceptin users had metastatic disease and many weren't around for years and years of follow up.

Time will tell and we'll see. I did get 16 months of Herceptin (long story - had to do with getting ooph so I could be on Arimidex and then convincing my onc to give me extra Herceptin so I could be on the Herceptin/Arimidex combo a full year. Did my research based on metastatic disease and the combo results for mets was great so I figured why not?)

I too was disappointed about the 2 yr results not being published.

Lastly, I do want to comment that Tamox and the AIs are also considered adjuvant therapies and they are given over years. Chemo is short term but Herceptin is immunotherapy. Perhaps Tykerb could be tested differently (a Tykerb a day keeps the cancer away

). Pills are easier for the patient and the whole medical community if just one pill a day (much like Tamox or an AI) could help the Her2+s out long term (just thinking out loud here).

Have a great weekend

03-14-2009, 07:10 AM	#12
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	What will be interesting in 2011 will be the long term results of 1 yr of Herceptin versus 2 yrs. Those results, if favorable, may begin trials (such as the Tamoxifen trials from decades ago) on the true length of Herceptin. I agree that the short term 1 yr vs 2 yr results could not have been dramatically different. I heard Eric Winer speak once and he alluded to this fact. However, I have a friend from a local support group who is a 26 yr bc survivor who was in the very first Tamoxifen trial. She got the one year arm so she received it for only one year. In the beginning years, there was very little difference between who got Tamoxifen 1, 2, 3 yrs etc. It was over time that that difference became dramatic (and it was the trial that concluded 5 yrs was optimal. In the 10 yrs of Tamoxifen trial it seemed 7 yrs was the best but not that much better vs 5 and the associated side effects of Tamoxifen). So, all I am saying is over time, more may be better. How much more, I don't know. Also, it may be better but associated with side effects or future detriments that none of us really know about yet. Prior to recently, the only long term Herceptin users had metastatic disease and many weren't around for years and years of follow up. Time will tell and we'll see. I did get 16 months of Herceptin (long story - had to do with getting ooph so I could be on Arimidex and then convincing my onc to give me extra Herceptin so I could be on the Herceptin/Arimidex combo a full year. Did my research based on metastatic disease and the combo results for mets was great so I figured why not?) I too was disappointed about the 2 yr results not being published. Lastly, I do want to comment that Tamox and the AIs are also considered adjuvant therapies and they are given over years. Chemo is short term but Herceptin is immunotherapy. Perhaps Tykerb could be tested differently (a Tykerb a day keeps the cancer away). Pills are easier for the patient and the whole medical community if just one pill a day (much like Tamox or an AI) could help the Her2+s out long term (just thinking out loud here). Have a great weekend __________________ 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"