Lani

They also said her2+er+ tumors only made up 10% of her2+tumors for years and years until this year when the centralized/better testing required for the Herceptin trials in No. America and HERA trials came back with a figure more like 45%. And remember, herceptin research was almost given up because it was hardly more effective than control (because the patients they tried it on where not appropriately selected and/or inadequate/erroneous her2 testing had been carried out). As the mechanism(s) of action of herceptin are better understood, and her2testing improves and/or more reproducible/central testing is carried out, these statistics should probably improve. It is only with continued use of herceptin that we will see if/how often herceptin resistance occurs, whether it can be reversed by available/or soon to be available agents (lapatinib)and who it occurs in. Many on this site it seems have been on Herceptin for 6-8 years without loss of efficacy.

That said, any reports of ways which might relatively easily (and with few side effects) improve the chances of Herceptin function--flaxseed oil, primrose oil, even perhaps Xenical--are certainly welcome!

Sorry to have been so verbose this morning. I held this post for three days
while deciding whether its positive implications outweighed any negative thoughts it might entertain.

Hope this helps!
Lani