HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Serum HER-2

StephN · 11-10-2014, 03:45 PM

I was away from my computer or would have replied.

Laurie is correct. Her2 Elisa serum test has been for use in advanced stage monitoring. I have had this blood test as part of my monitoring toolbox for several years. I now have it run only 2 times per year, and my insurance still pays for it.

My numbers stay in the midrange and are steady. I have been off Herceptin now almost 6 years, which was never supposed to happen for someone in a stage IV remission. I only have a CT scan once a year and use the blood markers as a possible tipoff that something maybe activating during the rest of the year.

11-10-2014, 03:45 PM	#11
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: Serum HER-2 - Do You or Don't You? I was away from my computer or would have replied. Laurie is correct. Her2 Elisa serum test has been for use in advanced stage monitoring. I have had this blood test as part of my monitoring toolbox for several years. I now have it run only 2 times per year, and my insurance still pays for it. My numbers stay in the midrange and are steady. I have been off Herceptin now almost 6 years, which was never supposed to happen for someone in a stage IV remission. I only have a CT scan once a year and use the blood markers as a possible tipoff that something maybe activating during the rest of the year. __________________ "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.