HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - To treat or not to treat VERY early stage HER2 IDC

Jackie07 · 02-21-2011, 07:59 AM

Just from my personal experience...

It had taken 4 years for the very fast-growing small chunk of cells missed in my first bc surgery (a lumpectomy) to grow into a 2+ cm tumor. The original 1.2 cm tumor was estimated (by my surgeon) to have been growing for 2 1/2 years .

By that time (if it indeed happens) there will be more advanced way of diagnosing/treating the cancer - in my case, Herceptin had become standard treatment. I'm basing this also on the way my brain tumors (life-long Central Neurocytoma - unrelated to BC)have been treated... We watched the three small 'enhanced signals' grow and used Gamma-knife 11 years after my initial craniotomy. After another10 years, there're now new machines/technology that can take care of one of the tumors that's currently causing some allergy-like symptoms and other potential problems. I probably would not have been able to continue my career and cumulate Social Security points had I had radiation tratment immediately following my original brain surgery.

Both chemo and Herceptin carry risks... I wondered what would have happened if I had been given Herceptin in 2003 and got my heart function weakened (as it happened in 2007) before I had to deal with the recurrence...

Tamoxifen is prescribed because of the ER+ component of your tumor. You can not take Tamoxifen while on Herceptin. I think your doctor is practising 'evidence-based' medicine and focus on the part that's known to be in need of treatment/prevention.

02-21-2011, 07:59 AM	#9
Jackie07 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: "Love never fails." Posts: 5,808	Re: To treat or not to treat VERY early stage HER2 IDC Just from my personal experience... It had taken 4 years for the very fast-growing small chunk of cells missed in my first bc surgery (a lumpectomy) to grow into a 2+ cm tumor. The original 1.2 cm tumor was estimated (by my surgeon) to have been growing for 2 1/2 years . By that time (if it indeed happens) there will be more advanced way of diagnosing/treating the cancer - in my case, Herceptin had become standard treatment. I'm basing this also on the way my brain tumors (life-long Central Neurocytoma - unrelated to BC)have been treated... We watched the three small 'enhanced signals' grow and used Gamma-knife 11 years after my initial craniotomy. After another10 years, there're now new machines/technology that can take care of one of the tumors that's currently causing some allergy-like symptoms and other potential problems. I probably would not have been able to continue my career and cumulate Social Security points had I had radiation tratment immediately following my original brain surgery. Both chemo and Herceptin carry risks... I wondered what would have happened if I had been given Herceptin in 2003 and got my heart function weakened (as it happened in 2007) before I had to deal with the recurrence... Tamoxifen is prescribed because of the ER+ component of your tumor. You can not take Tamoxifen while on Herceptin. I think your doctor is practising 'evidence-based' medicine and focus on the part that's known to be in need of treatment/prevention. __________________ Jackie07 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2 NICU 4.4 LB Erythema Nodosum 85 Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d 3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills CN 3 GKRS 52301 IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET 6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M Diastasis recti Tamoxifen B. scan Irrtbl bowel 1'09 Colonoscopy 313 BRCA1 V1247I hptc hemangioma Vertigo GI - > yogurt hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410 Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk DEXA 1/13 1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer. 3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer. Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement （600mg x2) 10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016 7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence. 7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule. 1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule. "I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe Last edited by Jackie07; 02-21-2011 at 02:51 PM..