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Bonnie,
My tumor marker tests have never been a good indicator for me - 15.3 at diagnosis and now at Stage IV 15.1. Some women this test is the first indicator that something is going on. There are too many things that can affect the results of this test - having a cold, antiobiotics, etc. It is not a realiable tool on it's own.
The HER2 serum test is mainly used for Stage III patients and metastatic patients. I am the person Becky mentioned that used this test and thus my mets were discovered early. My oncologist does this teston me every 12 weeks. Perhaps the reason she is so inclined to do this is that she was involved in the initial research on this test. I have found my system is extremely sensitive to this test. My baseline before starting Herceptin was 10.1. During my year of Herceptin treatment I was tested every 12 weeks and it gradually went down each time to a low of 6.3. When it went up to 9.5 after stopping Herceptin I knew something was wrong so my oncologist ordered a scafn and that's when my lung mets were discovered.
You may want to do a search for HER2serum test on the board. I know that Joe has posted phamplets detailing this test, exactly what it is, how it should be used and by whom.
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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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