HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Question about strategy for more adequate testing with minimal expense

AlaskaAngel · 08-17-2012, 09:52 AM

DebbieL,

I am happy to see an alternative such as Lani's post too!

You and I sometimes differ, but all in the pursuit of better care, as I know that to be your goal as well as my own.

However, when it comes to discouraging the use of the CA 15-3 or CA 27.29 in the meantime, while continuing to tell women to "come back in 6 months" for a repeat mammo and ultrasound in these circumstances, I am less inclined to lean toward avoiding the use of these tests despite their track record for accuracy, particularly since as you note, the need is not limited to those who are in fact early stage at time of analysis. When you add those particular patients to the patients whose cancers may be early stage but are highly aggressive cancers and yet remain undetectable by mammogram and ultrasound at that point, an actual clinical trial for the use of these tests for patients to have the choice of "wait and see" or "get the test" might show more value than basing the judgement upon only the reliability of them.

A.A.

08-17-2012, 09:52 AM	#7
AlaskaAngel Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 2,018	Re: Question about strategy for more adequate testing with minimal expense DebbieL, I am happy to see an alternative such as Lani's post too! You and I sometimes differ, but all in the pursuit of better care, as I know that to be your goal as well as my own. However, when it comes to discouraging the use of the CA 15-3 or CA 27.29 in the meantime, while continuing to tell women to "come back in 6 months" for a repeat mammo and ultrasound in these circumstances, I am less inclined to lean toward avoiding the use of these tests despite their track record for accuracy, particularly since as you note, the need is not limited to those who are in fact early stage at time of analysis. When you add those particular patients to the patients whose cancers may be early stage but are highly aggressive cancers and yet remain undetectable by mammogram and ultrasound at that point, an actual clinical trial for the use of these tests for patients to have the choice of "wait and see" or "get the test" might show more value than basing the judgement upon only the reliability of them. A.A. __________________ Dx 2002 age 51 bc for granny, aunt, cousin, sister, mother. ER+/PR+/HER2+++, grade 3 IDC 1.9 cm, some DCIS, Stage 1, Grade 3 Lumpectomy, CAFx6 (no blood boosters), IMRT rads, 1 3/4 yr tamoxifen Rads necrosis BRCA 1 & 2 negative Trials: Early detection OVCA; 2004 low-dose testosterone for bc survivors Diet: Primarily vegetarian organic; metformin (no diabetes), vitamin D3 Exercise: 7 days a week, 1 hr/day No trastuzumab, no taxane, no AI NED