HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - What options do pre menopausal +++ women have?

astrid · 06-07-2006, 03:46 PM

Alaska Angel; Herceptin is NOT dependent on the patient being menopausal at all. Herceptin is ONLY given to patients who are HER2+.

Herceptin is not chemotherapy. It is a monoclonal antibody (sometimes called biologic therapy). Antibodies are part of the body's normal defense against bacteria, viruses, and abnormal cells such as cancer cells. Heceptin targets cells that make too much HER-2. HER-2 is a protein found on the surface of cancer cells. 25% of breast cancers are HER-2+. HER-2 + cancer tumor are more aggressive and tend to grow back faster. My cancer was HER-2+. Herceptin binds to HER2-positive cancer cells and may block them from dividing and growing. It may also signal the body's own immune system to destroy the cell. Herceptin, a monoclonal antibody, zeroes in on cancer cells much more closely than chemotherapy drugs do, thereby sparing surrounding tissue. Because it's a monoclonal antibody and not a chemotherapy drug, Herceptin doesn't bring about the same side effects as chemotherapy drugs do, such as nausea and vomiting, hair loss, and increased risk of infection. And Herceptin is not an anti-estrogen treatment, so it doesn't cause side effects related to the lowering of estrogen levels, such as bone thinning or hot flashes. However, Herceptin does increase your risk of congestive heart failure. Although this risk is low, trials don’t yet provide long-term outcomes, so it's possible this risk could increase over time.

Susan Loves breast book says that tamoxifen is not very effective with HER2+ cancers, so I did some web research and have seen the following: The tumors most resistant to tamoxifen are those that contain not only estrogen receptors but also an overabundance of another growth factor receptor called HER2/neu and a molecule that activates the estrogen receptor called AIB1. Other studies suggest that some estrogen receptors may be located in the membrane, close to HER-2. “Tamoxifen binds to the estrogen receptor in those cells and instead of antagonizing it, it activates it. It acts like estrogen”.

Panicked911; I also considered NOT doing chemo; however after research it was shown that reoccurrence rates and survivability rates for young women are improved by chemo. Not at first, the first 5 years there is less then 10% advantage; however this doubles at 10 years and doubles again at 15 years, so your reoccurrence and survivability are 40% better for women who did surgery + chemo + radiation then surgery + radiation alone. Of course chemo is not required for everyone. Tumor grade, age, status, tumor size etc all indicate the need for chemo. My surgeon stated that if my tumor had been less then 1.5 cm that chemo would not be required. Mine was 1.8 cm, grade 3 and ER+, PR+ and HER2+.

06-07-2006, 03:46 PM	#6
astrid Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Central North Carolina, USA Posts: 112	Alaska Angel; Herceptin is NOT dependent on the patient being menopausal at all. Herceptin is ONLY given to patients who are HER2+. Herceptin is not chemotherapy. It is a monoclonal antibody (sometimes called biologic therapy). Antibodies are part of the body's normal defense against bacteria, viruses, and abnormal cells such as cancer cells. Heceptin targets cells that make too much HER-2. HER-2 is a protein found on the surface of cancer cells. 25% of breast cancers are HER-2+. HER-2 + cancer tumor are more aggressive and tend to grow back faster. My cancer was HER-2+. Herceptin binds to HER2-positive cancer cells and may block them from dividing and growing. It may also signal the body's own immune system to destroy the cell. Herceptin, a monoclonal antibody, zeroes in on cancer cells much more closely than chemotherapy drugs do, thereby sparing surrounding tissue. Because it's a monoclonal antibody and not a chemotherapy drug, Herceptin doesn't bring about the same side effects as chemotherapy drugs do, such as nausea and vomiting, hair loss, and increased risk of infection. And Herceptin is not an anti-estrogen treatment, so it doesn't cause side effects related to the lowering of estrogen levels, such as bone thinning or hot flashes. However, Herceptin does increase your risk of congestive heart failure. Although this risk is low, trials don’t yet provide long-term outcomes, so it's possible this risk could increase over time. Susan Loves breast book says that tamoxifen is not very effective with HER2+ cancers, so I did some web research and have seen the following: The tumors most resistant to tamoxifen are those that contain not only estrogen receptors but also an overabundance of another growth factor receptor called HER2/neu and a molecule that activates the estrogen receptor called AIB1. Other studies suggest that some estrogen receptors may be located in the membrane, close to HER-2. “Tamoxifen binds to the estrogen receptor in those cells and instead of antagonizing it, it activates it. It acts like estrogen”. Panicked911; I also considered NOT doing chemo; however after research it was shown that reoccurrence rates and survivability rates for young women are improved by chemo. Not at first, the first 5 years there is less then 10% advantage; however this doubles at 10 years and doubles again at 15 years, so your reoccurrence and survivability are 40% better for women who did surgery + chemo + radiation then surgery + radiation alone. Of course chemo is not required for everyone. Tumor grade, age, status, tumor size etc all indicate the need for chemo. My surgeon stated that if my tumor had been less then 1.5 cm that chemo would not be required. Mine was 1.8 cm, grade 3 and ER+, PR+ and HER2+.