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chrisy · 07-11-2006, 04:35 PM

Dawn, I'm glad you have been receiving such good reports! Good news is always good news. The docs do have a way of confusing us, tho. My interpretation of what you are quoting is that you had GREAT margins, equivalent to they got all the tumor, and with rads and other treatment, the odds will get even better. With this beastie, you just never KNOW for sure - that's why you want to stay vigilant.
Re the "great news" you are ER+PR+HER2+? I interpret that as the cancer has presented a "target-rich environment" - with lots of options for shutting it down. In the past, this was true with ER+ (Tamoxifen and Aromatase inhibitors), and now for HER2 there is Herceptin, Lapatinib coming down the pipeline and other research to target HER2. HER2 does usually mean a more aggressive cancer, which was associated with poor prognosis - I use past tense because those statistics are before Herceptin.
Good luck, and I hope you continue to get good news and do very well as you continue treatment.
Chris

07-11-2006, 04:35 PM	#5
chrisy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 3,207	Dawn, I'm glad you have been receiving such good reports! Good news is always good news. The docs do have a way of confusing us, tho. My interpretation of what you are quoting is that you had GREAT margins, equivalent to they got all the tumor, and with rads and other treatment, the odds will get even better. With this beastie, you just never KNOW for sure - that's why you want to stay vigilant. Re the "great news" you are ER+PR+HER2+? I interpret that as the cancer has presented a "target-rich environment" - with lots of options for shutting it down. In the past, this was true with ER+ (Tamoxifen and Aromatase inhibitors), and now for HER2 there is Herceptin, Lapatinib coming down the pipeline and other research to target HER2. HER2 does usually mean a more aggressive cancer, which was associated with poor prognosis - I use past tense because those statistics are before Herceptin. Good luck, and I hope you continue to get good news and do very well as you continue treatment. Chris __________________ Chris in Scotts Valley June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?" 9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++ 10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response! 04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED 04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial 06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin 01/08 Progression in liver 02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial 08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1 02/09 Continue NED 02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED 12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver 07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:( 12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:( 03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial 5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!! 8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!) 9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3 11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc 11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go. 2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go. 3/13 TACE procedure