I think this conclusion is very important to preventing recurrence:
Quote:
Our most important findings are that each intrinsic subtype displays a specific pattern of recurrence and that the proliferation pathway plays a key role in the development of early recurrences. These results directly point to adjuvant treatment approaches and clinical follow-up schedules for surveillance, suggesting that both should be different depending on intrinsic subtype.
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It is fun to analyze these studies. But keep in mind there was a population of 151 women who were Her2 enriched and ONLY 18 received Herceptin(page 5). That is only 12%, so the other 88% represent a time when Her2 positive was the worst diagnosis.
The best thing about this study is not the data - (because treatments have progressed and much of this is not valid for our experience) - but the change in thinking about managing cancer long term. It changes from the wait and see and let progress to hey there are subtypes with definite recurrence patterns, lets manage care and surveillance with this in mind. It is a move to more personalized medicine.
And we cancer survivors say: Hey, lets use boosters to ward off recurrence. And why not?
In this study 22% progressed to MBC, another 5% to local regional and less than 1% to contralateral. Let us keep redefining who is progressing and take active steps to prevent recurrence beyond surveillance.