HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - determining which patients benefit from more than 5 years of antihormonal therapy--

Becky · 03-25-2014, 06:03 AM

Jean

There are things to consider in the trial. For example, will they test you for the biomarker? This would be an interesting piece of information. I guess they would have to test your tumor for the biomarker. Secondly, you have to look at the potential side effects of the test drugs. You also have to try to find out if there are additional side effects of taking these drugs together too. Is there a time frame for the trial participants - you may be too far out from treatment to participate. I am really thinking more on your quality of life here as you are almost 9 years out right now.

Also, can Metformin's side effects be more intense for a person taking it who is not diabetic or even pre-diabetic? Will you have to eat more to not lower your blood sugar too much? We all know that medications can be used for other diseases than they were intended but find out the facts. If you can try to get into a trial, you can at least talk to the trial folks and make a decision from there.

03-25-2014, 06:03 AM	#6
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Re: determining which patients benefit from more than 5 years of antihormonal therapy Jean There are things to consider in the trial. For example, will they test you for the biomarker? This would be an interesting piece of information. I guess they would have to test your tumor for the biomarker. Secondly, you have to look at the potential side effects of the test drugs. You also have to try to find out if there are additional side effects of taking these drugs together too. Is there a time frame for the trial participants - you may be too far out from treatment to participate. I am really thinking more on your quality of life here as you are almost 9 years out right now. Also, can Metformin's side effects be more intense for a person taking it who is not diabetic or even pre-diabetic? Will you have to eat more to not lower your blood sugar too much? We all know that medications can be used for other diseases than they were intended but find out the facts. If you can try to get into a trial, you can at least talk to the trial folks and make a decision from there. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"