/curious

[Mary Jo]

Curiosity has struck! I was thinking of this the other day. Seeing as the statistics for us her2neu positive people isn't accurate anymore (now that herceptin is here for us) I just wondered how those of you were doing that were diagnosed with early stage (no mets determined by pet/ct scan) since your chemo/radiation/surgery is completed. This question is for those of you who were er/pr neg. her2neu positive.

I was a stage 2A or B - no mets determined by pet scan done a week and a half after diagnosis. Finished chemo 1 year ago this Nov. 30, 2006 (man, where did the time go?) and just recently finished herceptin (Oct. 11th, 2006 - received every 3 weeks for 1 full year) Only God knows what will be.................praying it's no recurrence AS we all do.

It's hard to follow any kind of statistics though because those you often see with recurrence had their original cancer diagnosis before herceptin was used.


So..........................er/pr neg. Her2neu positive. No mets at diagnosis AND received chemo and herceptin. How ya doin'?

God Bless all............................................... ..........Mary Jo

[Mgarr]

Hi Mary Jo,

Thanksgiving 2004 is when I discovered my lump I am finding myself more anxious about it but should be excited. Anyway, I am NED.

Mary

[Becky]

I was diagnosed August 2004 at Stage 2A and I am still ok. I am ER+ but PR neg.


Becky

[tousled1]

I was diagnosed Stage III in October 2005 and am still Stage III -- no mets.

[bmuenks]

I was Dx Stage I ER/PR-, HER2+++ in Nov 2004. I'm doing great! New job, go on vacations a lot more. Looking forward to first grandchild. For now, at least, life is good. Berta

[michele u]

stage 3b all nodes pos 2003---no recurrence!

You are right - there are not many statistics for ER negative tumors. These ER receptors really present two different pictures, don't they? Its like two different diseases. From what I could find out, the first two years are the most treacherous. If we ER negative people get through the first two years without recurrence, and then can get to five years without recurrence, the statistics balance out to be the same for ER negative as for ER positive tumors (early stage - other pathologic variables not stated). If someone else has better information, it would be great to know. There is a dearth of information for ER negative patients! So, based on what I could find, it seems to be you are doing fantastically well! Congratulations! My diagnosis is similar to yours, though I am relatively new, so that bit of info brings hope to me, thanks a lot!

[KellyA]

Hi there,

I was diagnosed in May '06, have finished chemo, about to begin rads, started Herceptin with chemo. Still kind of early, but will keep you informed as time goes on. Thanks for starting this thread- it is very hard to find stats for er -. I have been wondering the same thing myself.

Kelly

DX'd 05/06, 37 years old
2b, er/pr -, Her2 +, 3 + nodes
double mast., with immediate recon.
4 DD A/C, 12 weekly Taxols with Herceptin
35 rads to begin 12/06
Herceptin X 1 year

[momdeeco]

My signature is my story. Coming up on 1 year anniversary form dx. (Nov. 21, 2005)

[Audrey]

Hi all, I was diagnosed in July 2001, Stage III, er-, Her2+. large tumor, 11 positive lymph nodes. Had mastectomy, A/C, weekly Taxol, radiation and one year of Herceptin (thank God for clinical trials)! Five years later, I'm doing great!

[KellyA]

Hi Audrey!

Thank you so much for posting! I am happy that you are doing so wonderfully and it is always great to hear stories like yours. I hope that things continue to go well for you-

Love,
Kelly

[jener8er]

Hi everyone, I was diagnosed 10/04, Stage 3a, 4/20 +nodes. No mets, doing good, last dose of Heceptin Dec 6th, '06 - aarrrrgggghhhhh!!!

[lkc Gumby]

Hi Ladies,

I am erpr neg, her+++, dxed May 05 w/ Stage IIIC, 12/14 pos nodes.
did part mast, then mrm due to dirty margins,
4DD AC, Taxotere X4, with Herceptin, rads X 35. left prophylactive mast
with bilateral reconstruction June 06.
Almost done with Herceptin,but also on Tamoxifen as AHD was found in Left breast.
NED and feeling SOOOOOO much better then last yr.
God is good.

Linda

[romo9]

Diagnosed Oct 2004 Stage 2/3 18/25 positive nodes. No mets. Still on herceptin which I started in June 2005. NED.Will finish herceptin august 2007. Romo

[Lauriemn]

I was diagnosed 3/21/05. 4.5 cm tumor and 2+ nodes. I finished my year of Herceptin in 4/06 and so far so good. no recurrence.

Laurie

[Kimberly Lewis]

I was diagnosed as 3a on July of 2005... still here, still NED. Cautiously optomistic I suppose!

[bashmaz]

I had a lumpectomy, ACx4, Taxolx4, 37 rads for a 1.8 tumor, 1 node +ve. ER/PR negative, Her2 positive, all "poor prognosis" on my path report for lymphatic invasion, tumor necrosis, high s-phase, etc, etc, etc. Chose not to do herceptin - I'm now 52, feeling fit and healthy, enjoying every day.

Marianne

[CherylS]

I really love this thread marejo, thanks. I was dx 3/4/05, 1.7 cm, grade 3, stage 1. I was er+/pr- though. Had AC, Taxol/Herceptin, 1 year herceptin, bi-masectomy and hysterectomy. I do have the advantage of Arimidex. At 20 months all is well, and looking forward to hitting that 2 year mark!

[Tessa]

I was diagnosed in July 2002, tiny tumor (they almost didn't find it) but 10 of 16 lymph nodes were positive. I had a lumpectomy, 3 rounds of taxotere and epirubicin administered on successive days, 6 weeks of daily radiation, 3 more rounds of taxotere and epirubucin (the chemo sandwich that they do at the university hospital where I was treated here in Germany), and then I got into the one-year arm of the HERA trial of adjuvant Herceptin and got it every three weeks from January 2003 to January 2004. And I've been fine ever since. Thank goodness, thank Genentech...

Tessa