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03-07-2007, 08:21 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Bradenton,FL
Posts: 977
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Lani, anyone? ,Elevated ANA titer, have questions?
Is anyone knowledgeable in the area of ANA (anti-nuclear antibody) titers and its relationship (or lack thereof)to being Her2+?
I am being checked for inflammatory disease and the only test that came back high is my ANA titer(160). The Doc suggested that I do further testing to rule out Lupus, Scleroderma or other auto- immune conditions. Was wondering if this elevation might have something to do with having had Herceptin, which is a monoclonal antibody, and could therefore assume the reading is "normal" for my body.
Thanks for any andall info!
Marcia
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03-07-2007, 09:14 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Henderson, NE
Posts: 413
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Marcia,
very interesting you are asking. I had a elevated ANA for 10 years before dx. I had 3 miscarriages in earlies 1990's. My ANA has been high every since. I did all the testing like you, and the only thing that has been high is the ANA. I think there is some connection with pos. ANA and getting breast cancer. I don't think it is the Herceptin. Why did they check a ANA on you? The funny thing is that when i was in the vaccine trial after i was done Herceptin my ANA titer went back to normal. Figure that. After my last vaccine injection is was a little high again. I went to rheumitologist and everything and they couldn't find anything either.
__________________
Michele Ulmer
dx: August 2003 stage 3b 35 pos nodes ER/PR neg Her+
4 AC 12 weekly taxol
one year Herceptin in trial
35 rad tx
vaccine trial Seattle
NED
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03-08-2007, 12:54 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,778
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quick thought
I have read papers which say herceptin may decrease T regulatory cells (a good thing in that they keep the immune system from attaciking the cancer cells, but a bad thing in that it may cause the body to fail to recognize its own tissues as "self" and potentially bring on autoimmune diseases)
Try not to worry, get the work-up and let us know how it comes out. Best of liuck (short as I am out of town with limited internet access)
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03-08-2007, 01:18 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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Positive ANA as well
My ANA has been running positive ever since I was tested for all sort of things when I got the "adult version" of Fifth's Disease in 1994. It is a kind of Parvo virus, but not what dogs get!!
I got this from my poor little grandson who was sick after I picked him up at school and brought him home till his Mom could get him. We did not know what he had - just the early symptome which could have been anything.
All the rheumatoid tests came out neg and my docs could not figure out anything else. No lupus or other such cause came to light.
After my second bout with chemo I had sore and swollen wrists and hands. Again all the tests came out neg but the ANA. MY ANA continues to be positive but not very high. This knocked me out of the DNA vaccine trial here at the U of W. I was tested two times lately.
I really do not think it is the Herceptin in my case.
__________________
"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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03-08-2007, 06:16 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Bradenton,FL
Posts: 977
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Good morning ladies!
I had bloodwork to search for the cause of the ongoing pain and swelling in my hands/wrists etc. I also had some mysterious skin lesions a while back which the skin Docs called "granuloma annulare" (which can be a result of a compromised immune system) so I doing a bit of "sleuthing" on my own. And yes, I am on Arimidex...
I have been taking Cymbalta for the past 3 months and have had some relief. In fact in since the weathers been warming up here I have felt much better for the first time in 2 years.
. The recommendation is for me to see w/a Rheumatologist. Not sure IF I am spinning my wheels or not. May just let this one go as its time for my 6 mo CT and Bone scan..so MANY tests so little TIME...argh!
Thanks for your responses...this may be a subject we need to look at in terms of our community.
Marcia
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03-09-2007, 11:36 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
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This is an interesting subject. My ANA is tested yearly due to me having and auto-immune disease called Sjogren's Syndrome. I have often wondered if having Sjogren's or any of the auto-immune diseases pre-disposes one to getting cancer and all I could find was that there is a slight increase in Lymphoma for Sjogren patients. When it comes to things like this, does medical science really have all the answers? My guess is no because sometimes things aren't tracked or they just plain old don't know yet. Next time I go to my rheumatologist I will ask him what he knows and ask him to probe deeper this time.
__________________
~Rina~
Dx:3/06 had a lumpectomy April 19, 2006
Her2+ er/pr- Stage I Grade 3 tumor size 1.4 cm, node negative
AC 4 dense doses
34 radiation treatments including booster doses
receiving herceptin every 3 weeks since late August 2006 for 12 months
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03-09-2007, 06:00 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 138
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I am pretty sure my ANA was/is high and my anit smooth muscle titer is also high. All of this was checked out, pre bc diagnosis because I had chronic hives for 5 months. I had so many blood test, I can't even remember which ones I've had.
I ended up having a liver biopsy (to check for auto immune Hepatitis) and it came back negative.
Very interesting thread.
Karen
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10-17-2007, 04:01 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,778
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bumped this up as I am posting a new thread with relevant info--
might AIs increase incidence of Sjogren's syndrome, rhematoid arthritis
I already theorized earlier however that Herceptin, by decreasing T regulatory cells, may possibly cause predispose to autoimmune diseases
Trying not to alarm, as all this is still very preliminary and unknown
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10-17-2007, 04:23 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Lab Tests OnLine
Go to Lab tests on line.com and you can read all about it. ma
__________________
MA in TX.
Grateful for each and every day....
Diag. 12/05 at age 60
Stage II, Grade 3, 4.5 cm primary tumor
ER/PR- Her2 +3 strongly positive
Her2 by FISH 7.7 amplified
vascular invasion
Ki67 20% borderline
Jan - March '06 Taxotere/Adriamycin X 3 to try to shrink tumor - it grew
April '06 Rt Modified Radical Mas, 7 of 9 nodes positive
April - Aug. '06 Herceptin/Taxol/Carboplatin X 8 (dose dense)
Sept - Dec. '06 Navelbine/Herceptin x 8 (dose dense)
Radiation & Herceptin Jan. 22 - March 1, 2007
Finished Herceptin Dec. 10 '08! One extra year.
Port removed August, 2012.
8 1/2 years since diagnosis! 5 1/2 Years NED!
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10-17-2007, 04:36 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,778
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Mary Ann I don't understand what you are referring to
I was directing soccermom and others with concerns about Sjogrens' syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases to look at the abstract I posted on a possible increased risk of such diseases with AIs
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10-17-2007, 04:47 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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When I want to read more about the tests that I have or have heard of and don't understand, I go to LabTestsOnLine.com and read all about them. It's a great resource.
http://www.labtestsonline.org/index.html
__________________
MA in TX.
Grateful for each and every day....
Diag. 12/05 at age 60
Stage II, Grade 3, 4.5 cm primary tumor
ER/PR- Her2 +3 strongly positive
Her2 by FISH 7.7 amplified
vascular invasion
Ki67 20% borderline
Jan - March '06 Taxotere/Adriamycin X 3 to try to shrink tumor - it grew
April '06 Rt Modified Radical Mas, 7 of 9 nodes positive
April - Aug. '06 Herceptin/Taxol/Carboplatin X 8 (dose dense)
Sept - Dec. '06 Navelbine/Herceptin x 8 (dose dense)
Radiation & Herceptin Jan. 22 - March 1, 2007
Finished Herceptin Dec. 10 '08! One extra year.
Port removed August, 2012.
8 1/2 years since diagnosis! 5 1/2 Years NED!
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10-17-2007, 04:51 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,778
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bumping this up again in hopes soccermom/others w autoimm problems may notice
see my post on possible link between AIs and Sjogrens, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disorders w elevated ANA or rheumatoid factor
note, though, that Herceptin has been reported to decrease T regulatory cells (good thing for those w bc), which may predispose to autoimmune disease though (not so good in the long run, but at least it helps provide a longrun)
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10-17-2007, 05:16 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,193
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thanks Mary Anne
for that link to the lab tests on line site. I checked it out and it looks very helpful. I am sure I'll be using it in the future. Thanks.
__________________
PinkGirl
Dx Aug/05 at age 51
2cm. Stage 2A, Grade 3
ER+/PR-
Her2 +++
Sept 7/05 Mastectomy
4 FAC, 4 Taxol, no radiation
1 year of Herceptin
Tamoxifen for approx. 4 months,
Arimidex for 5 years
Prophylactic mastectomy June 22/09
" I yam what I yam." - Popeye
My Photo Album
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10-17-2007, 05:43 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 230
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I plan on reading the abstract (hopefully I can understand it) anyway, I am not nor have been on AI's and I too had to see a rheumatologist and have been diagnosed w/ an arthritis that is inflammatory as described to me it is an autoimmune disease. Aside from my hip the moved in my wrist, hands, elbows then the larger lower joints.
Best of luck.
__________________
Mary
Diagnosed 11/04 @39yrs. young
Stage IIB
2.5 cm, ER/PR- Her+++, grade 3
Partial Mast., 1/3 pos. node
1/05 full node dissection
4 A/C 4 Taxol DD, Herceptin 1 yr.
30X rads.
BRCA Negative
NED
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all -Emily Dickinson
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10-17-2007, 06:24 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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There is also a link between silicone breast implants and auto immune disease....just a FYI for any of us that have one or two .
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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