HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - To all recently dx. and those who are visiting the site who are

Jean · 02-11-2010, 02:56 PM

AA,
True enough that women do not have the option of herceptin without chemo. We have not had the trials of herceptin alone - when you consider that herceptin is truly a new drug only the last few years.

But we have to address what is available today. At least for those that have tumors that have high levels of Ki-67...and demonstrate other profiles that demonstrate that chemo/hercepitn should benefit them. While medicine has improved over the years (there is a wonderful book ) "the last 100 years in medicine" the advances in medicine is the most compelling in the last century.

The last two articles clearly demonstrate by the trial the improvements in patient survival just in the last 5.5 yrs. with the treatment of chemo/herceptin. Prior to this treatment women were fighting an uphill battle. Now at the very least we are gaining some ground.

While I do agree we need research in the treatment of herceptin alone - Just imagine the woman who has a small tumor of 4mm and the cut off for treatment is 5mm. How does she feel if she does want the treatment but the protocal is set. In life and medicine there will always be protocal and standards of care that we may not agree with, until the research proves differently. Doctors are terrified of being sued in todays world were everyone is on the ready to call their lawyer.

It was only in 1984 that the National Breast Cancer Awarness Month organizaiton came into being. So much has changed in the last dozen years...we still have a long journey ahead.

No single scientific discipline can answer the complexity of this disease. Many more paradigms need to be broken down to understand why controls break down as we sick/or get cancer.

All I attempt to do on this site is support the ladies that come to this site who have been dx. and are terrified of hearing they have breast cancer and may or may not need chemo/herceptin.

I guess I always attempt to see the glass half full, my mind positive and look for the cutting edge side of a situation...make a decison then pray like heck.

I promised myself I would not allow this disease to break my soul. I fought back each day to maintain my health, energy, deal with the loss that comes with this disease.
My hair is thinner, my joints ache here and there, the AI is stripping me of estrogen that does offer some good things, but being estrogen highly positive I have to accept what comes with that treatment. I can sit and brood, or I can put on my sneakers and go for a long strong power walk.

Someone recently said we should not be called survivors, but people who LIVE! ...I must agree.

Jean

02-11-2010, 02:56 PM	#18
Jean Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,154	Re: To all recently dx. and those who are visiting the site who are AA, True enough that women do not have the option of herceptin without chemo. We have not had the trials of herceptin alone - when you consider that herceptin is truly a new drug only the last few years. But we have to address what is available today. At least for those that have tumors that have high levels of Ki-67...and demonstrate other profiles that demonstrate that chemo/hercepitn should benefit them. While medicine has improved over the years (there is a wonderful book ) "the last 100 years in medicine" the advances in medicine is the most compelling in the last century. The last two articles clearly demonstrate by the trial the improvements in patient survival just in the last 5.5 yrs. with the treatment of chemo/herceptin. Prior to this treatment women were fighting an uphill battle. Now at the very least we are gaining some ground. While I do agree we need research in the treatment of herceptin alone - Just imagine the woman who has a small tumor of 4mm and the cut off for treatment is 5mm. How does she feel if she does want the treatment but the protocal is set. In life and medicine there will always be protocal and standards of care that we may not agree with, until the research proves differently. Doctors are terrified of being sued in todays world were everyone is on the ready to call their lawyer. It was only in 1984 that the National Breast Cancer Awarness Month organizaiton came into being. So much has changed in the last dozen years...we still have a long journey ahead. No single scientific discipline can answer the complexity of this disease. Many more paradigms need to be broken down to understand why controls break down as we sick/or get cancer. All I attempt to do on this site is support the ladies that come to this site who have been dx. and are terrified of hearing they have breast cancer and may or may not need chemo/herceptin. I guess I always attempt to see the glass half full, my mind positive and look for the cutting edge side of a situation...make a decison then pray like heck. I promised myself I would not allow this disease to break my soul. I fought back each day to maintain my health, energy, deal with the loss that comes with this disease. My hair is thinner, my joints ache here and there, the AI is stripping me of estrogen that does offer some good things, but being estrogen highly positive I have to accept what comes with that treatment. I can sit and brood, or I can put on my sneakers and go for a long strong power walk. Someone recently said we should not be called survivors, but people who LIVE! ...I must agree. Jean __________________ Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05 Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC Node Neg. (Sentinel node) ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH Ki-67 40% Arimidex 5/05 Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05 Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk TOPO 11 neg. 4/06 Stopped Arimidex 5/06 TCH 5/06, 6 treatments Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr. 9/06 Completed chemo Started Femara Sept. 2006 Last edited by Jean; 02-11-2010 at 03:06 PM..