HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Why Do Some Breast Cancers Stop Responding to Targeted Therapy?

StephN · 03-05-2008, 12:59 PM

I think the original question has great validity and meaning on this forum.
Can we get back to addressing that question??

As Brenda says, there are many of us here fighting for our lives in real time who want to know why the "dart board" method of throwing drugs at the tumors does not work.

Understanding how cancer cells grow and divide is crucial to an effective treatment. Perhaps all the answers are not known, but in trying to forge ahead on this subject we need all the GOOD information we can get.

Just last evening Christine and I were talking about how we felt and had to deal with so much unknown when we had our cancers come roaring back way before there was any support for us and when the knowledge was very thin on HER2.

This forum is not a scientific one, but a certain amount of science is needed for those of us who are able to devote some brain cells to it. That is why we have the Articles of Interest area of this web site.

In our fight, most of us want to be able to follow our onc's thinking on where we go next when there is progression. Some onc's are more thoughtful than others and it is clear that some also have a hidden agenda. We need to be able to discern these things.

Keep up the discussion, but try to keep it on the subject, please.

03-05-2008, 12:59 PM	#13
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Valid question I think the original question has great validity and meaning on this forum. Can we get back to addressing that question?? As Brenda says, there are many of us here fighting for our lives in real time who want to know why the "dart board" method of throwing drugs at the tumors does not work. Understanding how cancer cells grow and divide is crucial to an effective treatment. Perhaps all the answers are not known, but in trying to forge ahead on this subject we need all the GOOD information we can get. Just last evening Christine and I were talking about how we felt and had to deal with so much unknown when we had our cancers come roaring back way before there was any support for us and when the knowledge was very thin on HER2. This forum is not a scientific one, but a certain amount of science is needed for those of us who are able to devote some brain cells to it. That is why we have the Articles of Interest area of this web site. In our fight, most of us want to be able to follow our onc's thinking on where we go next when there is progression. Some onc's are more thoughtful than others and it is clear that some also have a hidden agenda. We need to be able to discern these things. Keep up the discussion, but try to keep it on the subject, please. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.