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Joan M · 08-12-2009, 08:54 AM

Brenda,

Congratulations on finishing Herceptin.

I would agree with the two-year mark for Herceptin. My feeling is that two years is a sort of mini five-year mark. That is, most women who are destined to relapse will do so in the first two years. In general, about 75% of cancers that come back do so in five years, and about 90% do so in 10 years. I believe these general figures are based on the date of surgery.

As to follow-up scans, that may vary based on a patients initial diagnosis. I had a lot of scans, but my onc said that if I had been stage 1, she would probably have done only regular blood work and tumor markers such as CA 27-29 or CA 15.3.

Joan

08-12-2009, 08:54 AM	#9
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: Now What? Brenda, Congratulations on finishing Herceptin. I would agree with the two-year mark for Herceptin. My feeling is that two years is a sort of mini five-year mark. That is, most women who are destined to relapse will do so in the first two years. In general, about 75% of cancers that come back do so in five years, and about 90% do so in 10 years. I believe these general figures are based on the date of surgery. As to follow-up scans, that may vary based on a patients initial diagnosis. I had a lot of scans, but my onc said that if I had been stage 1, she would probably have done only regular blood work and tumor markers such as CA 27-29 or CA 15.3. Joan __________________ Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2023 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!