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06-08-2007, 08:51 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 556
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Her2serum test: How reliable it is?
I have doing Her2 serum test since an year and always been below 8. The range is 0 to 15. But the last blood draw showed 10.1. I am little concerned.
For those who is monitoring with Her2serum test how reliable the test is for you? Is it accurate for decease progression?
Thanks,
Julie
__________________
Diagnosed in Sept 2004 while pregnant with the second child. Stage 3b, tumor 4.5cm, 4 auxillary and supraclav node positive. Her2+++ FISH 9.4 and er-,pr-.
Had dose dense neoadjuvant AC,Taxol then mastectomy,radiation+xeloda+Herceptin.
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06-08-2007, 09:40 AM
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#2
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Webmaster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home of the "Flying Tomato"
Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 2,036
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Julie,
A reading below 15 still indicates that the cancer may not be active. You may wish to repeat the test .
Christine has always been about 6.
I will be speaking with Dr. Carney who developed the serum test over the weekend and will ask him for his opinion.
Regards
Joe
__________________
A Proud webmaster to the internet's most informed, educated, COMPASSIONATE and caring group of breast cancer survivors.
Illegitimi non carborundum
My Album
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06-08-2007, 10:35 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Shingle Springs, CA - near Sacramento
Posts: 295
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Thanks Joe!
Hello Joe,
Thanks for all you do for this amazing group! I can't wait to hear about the reliability of the serum test. Thank you so much for checking on it!
Have a great day!
Donna
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06-08-2007, 11:17 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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3 tests
Hi -
Congrats on the good numbers.
I have used this serum test now 3 times. My cancer status has been stable at NED for a few years now, but this test gives me comfort. Results are always within a point or two of the last test.
My med onc seems to like this HER2 serum test and has confidence in the results.
Just wait a short time and repeat the test, as scans most likely will not show any tumor activity. Do you use the other breast cancer markers? How are those numbers?
__________________
"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.
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06-08-2007, 06:28 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Julie,
I get the HER2 serum test and am hoping that it will be a better indicator if I ever get mets. My first one was 10.1 and now we are down to 6.5. At least I know the Herceptin did it's job. I have been off Herceptin for 6 weeks now and will see my oncologist in 3 weeks. At that time, I will have the serum test done again. Hopefully the numbers will be good. I found that the regular tumor marker tests were no good for me. When I was diagnosed with Stage IIIc my tumor marker was 15.3 which was well within the "normal" rage. While on A/C it jumped to 31.4 and the back down to 15. I'm hoping that ther HE2 serum test will be more reliable
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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06-08-2007, 08:01 PM
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#6
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Webmaster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home of the "Flying Tomato"
Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 2,036
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Julie,
I talked to Dr. Carney this evening and he suggests a retest in 1-2 months.
Regards
Joe
__________________
A Proud webmaster to the internet's most informed, educated, COMPASSIONATE and caring group of breast cancer survivors.
Illegitimi non carborundum
My Album
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