HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Herceptin results from the two key North American trials revisited--benefit holds up

Becky · 11-23-2014, 05:39 PM

I think that Herceptin helps most Her2+ women however, some women have another devil involved besides ER or PR. They may be insulin receptor positive or Her1+(aka EGFR) or something else so they need something to block that. Some women have truncated Her2 receptor so Herceptin doesn't attach to it right so it doesn't work. However, I think the Herceptin is still needed. It works but the woman has more than one "GO" button on the cancer. There is still much to learn and Herceptin and Her2 in general is just one piece of the puzzle. For some of us, ER and PR are also part of the puzzle. Once the puzzle pieces are identified, everyone will benefit. Even women who are only ER and PR positive do not all do well even though there are many hormonal treatments for this. Research is needed and ongoing. Hopefully they find more receptors for multiple targets so the chemo poisons can be stopped and treatment will be effective but there will be a better quality of life thru it.

11-23-2014, 05:39 PM	#10
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Re: Herceptin results from the two key North American trials revisited--benefit holds I think that Herceptin helps most Her2+ women however, some women have another devil involved besides ER or PR. They may be insulin receptor positive or Her1+(aka EGFR) or something else so they need something to block that. Some women have truncated Her2 receptor so Herceptin doesn't attach to it right so it doesn't work. However, I think the Herceptin is still needed. It works but the woman has more than one "GO" button on the cancer. There is still much to learn and Herceptin and Her2 in general is just one piece of the puzzle. For some of us, ER and PR are also part of the puzzle. Once the puzzle pieces are identified, everyone will benefit. Even women who are only ER and PR positive do not all do well even though there are many hormonal treatments for this. Research is needed and ongoing. Hopefully they find more receptors for multiple targets so the chemo poisons can be stopped and treatment will be effective but there will be a better quality of life thru it. __________________ 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"