Warning for All of Us...

[Tom]

..........

[Barbara]

Tom:

It does not surprise me. I have a friend who has had ovarian cancer twice and breast cancer once. I think this risk also applies to other cancers. My Aunt had successful surgery for colon cancer and then twelve years later developed non-Hodgins lymphoma which resulted in her death. I appreciate your post as it warns us to be on the lookout for the symptoms of other cancers as well as breast cancer reoccurrence.

Barb

[al from Canada]

Hey Tom,
These stats were accumulated from a patient population base dating from long before there as any test for HER2 or herceptin or tamoxifen or AI's and certainly doesn't address the question of statistical significance on BC patients receiving herceptin. Most of these cancers have very high EGF, HER1, HER2, HER3 and sometimes hormonal expressions. So the retorical question is, did they do a FISH or IHC on these secondary cancers, did they separate the HER2 population from their stats, What was the secondary cancer rates on people using tamoxifen, etc.
I think we have to stay focused on the fact that HER2 BC should be treated as a completely different type of cancer....... as is being confirmed by everything I'm hearing at SABCS. That said, sun block SPF 30 -45 is manditory for BC girls, especially if they are on chemo.

From chilly S.A. (freezing drizzel last night)
Al

[Tom]

That's a very good point Al, and well taken here. I guess what I wanted to remind everyone of, is that we are often so caught up in the "cancer of the moment", that we might not be vigilant about the others out there that might normally be lurking in all of us. As an example, my Father was being treated for a cancer of the bladder that just would not stop recurring. He had minor out-patient surgery about every three months, to try and get the upper hand on it, and prevent it from spreading through the bladder wall and killing him. On his last visit to the urologist, we were ecstatic to learn that for once it had not returned so quickly. Upon pressing the doctor very hard about a lingering pain in the area, he agreed to order a CT of the pelvis. When the CT was examined, we discovered that a colorectal cancer that was surgically removed seventeen years earlier, had come back with a vengeance, and it subsequently took him from me in a horrifying and rapid course. It made me wonder how much the stress of being treated for the bladder tumors and prostate cancer, had influenced the recurrence of a cancer that was considered cured so long ago. I guess my message is "don't get blind-sided by something in the rear view mirror.

[al from Canada]

Tom,
absolutly right.....vigilence is parmount. Also, very sorry to hear about you dad. Knowing the system, I have to wonder if he wasn't treated for bladder cancer primary because that was symptomatic when it was in fact secondary to CR cancer. Just a thought and thanks for sharing the info.....
From SA,
Al

[jessica]

Tom,
Thanks for all the info, but I can't help thinking "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush..." or something like that. As far as I'm concerned, dealing with the current circumstances of my disease is overwhelming enough. I just don't have enough space in my head to worry about my increasing risk for a secondary malignancy.
As I plan to survive this disease for many many many years, I have great faith that medical science will provide us with means to do so, gracefully. And if a secondary malignancy should unfortunately pop up, well, I'll cross that bridge if it ever comes...
Keep the Faith!

[AlaskaAngel]

Having a variety of viewpoints here is so good for widening our own perspective.

I saw this article too, and thanks for posting it. I will add my perspective to the pile.

For those who are on the fence, marginally considering chemotherapy, I think this article is especially important. I think we need to remember that for early stage bc, it is estimated that 60% of those diagnosed would never need any treatment beyond surgery. Yet many still choose chemotherapy in the belief that it adds that "extra bit of protection".

HER2 positives are generally considered at higher risk, and the most important aspect of that is to be sure the testing that is done is reliable so that people aren't encouraged to take on chemotherapy that may not even be targeted to treat what they are dealing with.

AlaskaAngel