HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - insufficient her2 testing--not enough patients given possibility of benefiting from

CLTann · 09-15-2009, 02:30 AM

RLS,

An interesting term, satellite tumor! It really matters not whether or how the second came from the larger tumor they originally found. The important factor is that the tumor cells did not spread to anywhere outside the removed breast. You are perfectly correct that the verdict comes on elapsed time. The longer you waited for the absence of any outward symptoms, the more assurance you are getting "cured" and NED. Good luck to you. Yes, time will tell. Too bad that we cannot detect mets on single cancer cells. Even if we could, either the presence or absence of one cancer cell does not mean bad things are happening.

09-15-2009, 02:30 AM	#6
CLTann Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 476	Re: insufficient her2 testing--not enough patients given possibility of benefiting f RLS, An interesting term, satellite tumor! It really matters not whether or how the second came from the larger tumor they originally found. The important factor is that the tumor cells did not spread to anywhere outside the removed breast. You are perfectly correct that the verdict comes on elapsed time. The longer you waited for the absence of any outward symptoms, the more assurance you are getting "cured" and NED. Good luck to you. Yes, time will tell. Too bad that we cannot detect mets on single cancer cells. Even if we could, either the presence or absence of one cancer cell does not mean bad things are happening. __________________ Ann Stage 1 dx Sept 05 ER/PR positive HER2 +++ Grade 3 Invasive carcinoma 1 cm, no node involvement Mastec Sept 05 Annual scans all negative, Oct 06 Postmenopause. Arimidex only since Sept 06, bone or muscle ache after 3 month Off Arimidex, change to Femara 1/12-07, ache stopped Sept 07 all tests negative, pass 2 year mark Feb 08 continue doing well. Sep 09 four year NED still on Femara.