HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Here it is: Circulating tumor cells associated with bad px in EARLY breast cancer

Lani · 08-13-2006, 03:35 AM

I would print out this article and the other I posted in the last 24 hours on CTCs indicating progression in metastatic breast cancer. They are both HOT OFF THE PRESS and if your oncologist is trying to decide whether to continue herceptin past one year perhaps he/she would test you to help make the decision. However if he/she is one of the "we don't have data to support that" types of oncologists--you will just have to keep reviewing the literature to see what new articles pop up supporting the use of CTCs in early breast cancer. If your oncologist acknowledges we don't know all the answers yet so it is reasonable to use our brains and follow common sense you might just convince them to get this test. Sorry to be so opinionated, but waiting for new positive research findings in TESTING (as opposed to TREATMENT where they must try to make sure something is safe) to come into clinical practice can be frustrating.

08-13-2006, 03:35 AM	#7
Lani Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,782	continued I would print out this article and the other I posted in the last 24 hours on CTCs indicating progression in metastatic breast cancer. They are both HOT OFF THE PRESS and if your oncologist is trying to decide whether to continue herceptin past one year perhaps he/she would test you to help make the decision. However if he/she is one of the "we don't have data to support that" types of oncologists--you will just have to keep reviewing the literature to see what new articles pop up supporting the use of CTCs in early breast cancer. If your oncologist acknowledges we don't know all the answers yet so it is reasonable to use our brains and follow common sense you might just convince them to get this test. Sorry to be so opinionated, but waiting for new positive research findings in TESTING (as opposed to TREATMENT where they must try to make sure something is safe) to come into clinical practice can be frustrating.