HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - discovering why some Stage IVs are exceptional responders to herceptin/lapatinib(long

StephN · 02-15-2016, 05:31 PM

This study does not give an answer to the post title, just tells us that a group of long term surviving patients has been narrowed down and identified through a U of Mich study.

Does not tell me where these patients live, if they are all from one treatment center or several, and a lot more unspecified.

I do particularly like this nugget of information:
"Four patients discontinued anti-HER2 therapy and are without evidence of progression of disease after a median 7.4 years (0.2-12.0) since stopping therapy."

My own case falls right into the median span of 7.4 years, at 7 years and 2 months since I had any Herceptin.

Would love to know what the next step is with what the study brought out.

02-15-2016, 05:31 PM	#2
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: discovering why some Stage IVs are exceptional responders to herceptin/lapatinib( This study does not give an answer to the post title, just tells us that a group of long term surviving patients has been narrowed down and identified through a U of Mich study. Does not tell me where these patients live, if they are all from one treatment center or several, and a lot more unspecified. I do particularly like this nugget of information: "Four patients discontinued anti-HER2 therapy and are without evidence of progression of disease after a median 7.4 years (0.2-12.0) since stopping therapy." My own case falls right into the median span of 7.4 years, at 7 years and 2 months since I had any Herceptin. Would love to know what the next step is with what the study brought out. __________________ "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.