HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - for Jean and others-Topo2a identifies those patients needing anthracylines

Jean · 05-11-2006, 05:07 AM

Lani,
The arrangments for the TOPO 11 test were done by Dr. Slamon, at USC.
I had returned back from LA and contacted my New York hospital to send
five slides in parafin to USC for testing. It took five days to test and two
days for the slides to be sent.
My radiation was on my right side.
Radiation had gone extremely well and I had no side effects or negative
reactions during the treatment.
I am very fortunate that the test was done since the dr. here in New York
was set to go forward with A/C.
Lani- also to note many times when patients inform their onc. with current
updated information they are reluctant and hold off - (as you mentioned in the post) it appears that it takes time for new trt or test to take hold.
I would like to think that some onc. would at least take some moments out of their busy work days to investigate the information that their patient has reseaarched. There is a change occuring in medicine with paitent care in that patients are taking (as it should be) a team role in their treatment. Gone are the days where patients sit and just listen to the doctor's orders. I am always concerned for the group of patients that come from the old school, that my doctor knows best. I have had many dicussions with close family and friends who during my dx. did not understand questioning the dr. esp. with a disease such as cancer. Believe me there are many patients who DO NOT
question the trt or the dr. When I was receiving radiaiton most of the women did not even know the type of cancer they had, often times they said, "Oh my dr. said I was lucky I had the good kind." I could not understand this at the time. I have come to understand that many women are so frightened in those early months they are almost paralysed. This is noted in a certain age group, I would like to think the younger women are more prone to push and ask questions. I do believe that education in patient awarness is vital to women who are facing this disease (esp. 55- and up age group). This site is a GIFT
and I hope more women learn of it.
Many thanks for your well wishes!
Jean

Regards,
Jean

05-11-2006, 05:07 AM	#5
Jean Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,154	Topo 11 Lani, The arrangments for the TOPO 11 test were done by Dr. Slamon, at USC. I had returned back from LA and contacted my New York hospital to send five slides in parafin to USC for testing. It took five days to test and two days for the slides to be sent. My radiation was on my right side. Radiation had gone extremely well and I had no side effects or negative reactions during the treatment. I am very fortunate that the test was done since the dr. here in New York was set to go forward with A/C. Lani- also to note many times when patients inform their onc. with current updated information they are reluctant and hold off - (as you mentioned in the post) it appears that it takes time for new trt or test to take hold. I would like to think that some onc. would at least take some moments out of their busy work days to investigate the information that their patient has reseaarched. There is a change occuring in medicine with paitent care in that patients are taking (as it should be) a team role in their treatment. Gone are the days where patients sit and just listen to the doctor's orders. I am always concerned for the group of patients that come from the old school, that my doctor knows best. I have had many dicussions with close family and friends who during my dx. did not understand questioning the dr. esp. with a disease such as cancer. Believe me there are many patients who DO NOT question the trt or the dr. When I was receiving radiaiton most of the women did not even know the type of cancer they had, often times they said, "Oh my dr. said I was lucky I had the good kind." I could not understand this at the time. I have come to understand that many women are so frightened in those early months they are almost paralysed. This is noted in a certain age group, I would like to think the younger women are more prone to push and ask questions. I do believe that education in patient awarness is vital to women who are facing this disease (esp. 55- and up age group). This site is a GIFT and I hope more women learn of it. Many thanks for your well wishes! Jean Regards, Jean