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Lee is correct when he says:
Please understand that the people on this site are not a representative sample of the HER2 community. Most people survive cancer and move on to other things, such as living to a ripe old age, and just look at their cancer experience in the rear view mirror and they have no desire to deal with it anymore.
Most of the people who are "active" on this type of forum are those who are also actively in the fight. MOST of them do just move on, putting it behind them.
Also you should know that many of the stats are pre the use of adjuvant herceptin which has truly changed the face, and prognosis, of Her2+ cancer. Many of the people (such as myself) who are dealing with recurrence or advanced disease did not have the advantage of getting herceptin upon initial early stage diagnosis.
True, nobody has a crystal ball - but your chances of being one of the people who "look at their cancer experience in the rear view mirror and they have no desire to deal with it anymore" are excellent.
Enjoy your good health and feeling normal! By the way, worrying about recurrence is normal, too - but will get better the more years you get under your belt.
Go for 80,90 or more!
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Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
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