HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Routine marker testing and recurrence... worth it?

Becky · 10-16-2007, 06:15 PM

I believe that the earlier mets can be diagnosed, the better the quality of life for the patient. For example, less toxic cocktails can be used like Herceptin/Arimidex, Herceptin/Tykerb, Herceptin/Avastin. Many of these targeted therapies don't do as much damage to the body as chemo does, yet it may bring on complete NED or NED for quite awhile before bigger guns have to be employed. Oncs really have to work with the big guns when tumors are large because those tumors can get in the way of the body working properly. Secondly, getting it under control while small means it isn't a big tumor that is shedding cells all over the place - yes, treatment will still get these cells but it gives more chances for some of those cells to go to the brain.

I am PR- and don't understand what the study is trying to say and I really like to understand since being ER+, I would love to figure out the real role of the progesterone receptor (or lack thereof) in this disease.

10-16-2007, 06:15 PM	#23
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	I believe that the earlier mets can be diagnosed, the better the quality of life for the patient. For example, less toxic cocktails can be used like Herceptin/Arimidex, Herceptin/Tykerb, Herceptin/Avastin. Many of these targeted therapies don't do as much damage to the body as chemo does, yet it may bring on complete NED or NED for quite awhile before bigger guns have to be employed. Oncs really have to work with the big guns when tumors are large because those tumors can get in the way of the body working properly. Secondly, getting it under control while small means it isn't a big tumor that is shedding cells all over the place - yes, treatment will still get these cells but it gives more chances for some of those cells to go to the brain. I am PR- and don't understand what the study is trying to say and I really like to understand since being ER+, I would love to figure out the real role of the progesterone receptor (or lack thereof) in this disease. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"