Relapse HISTORY for her2+S

RobinP · 09-15-2006, 08:20 AM

I see that many are interested in the relapse history for her2+s. If you look at the 2006 ASCO, there is a virtual presentation, I believe by Winer, that charts some of the relapse natural history to date. From that data it is clear that her2+ bc can and do relapse after the 18-24 peak, albeit less frequently. I would ONLY presume that the relapse time MAY be delayed in cases of hormonal positive and in very early stage disease where it takes longer to seed and spread cancer.

SusanV · 09-15-2006, 09:32 AM

Hello Robin,

Could you direct me as to how I could find the ASCO information that your referenced ?

Many thanks !!!

Lolly · 09-15-2006, 12:52 PM

Susan, if you scroll to the bottom of this page, you'll find the "forum jump", which contains the ASCO 2006 forum where you should be able to find the link Robin mentions.

CLTann · 09-15-2006, 01:28 PM

I looked under forum jump on Asco highlights, but can't find the subject on relapse. Would appreciate it if you would be a little more specific, like pointing out the article in the number sequencing. Thanks.

Ann

Lolly · 09-15-2006, 04:52 PM

I can't find it, hoping Robin posts with some help.

dawbs · 09-15-2006, 04:57 PM

Try this link:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/data/353/16/1673/DC1/1

Vicki

Yorkiegirl · 09-15-2006, 05:27 PM

YOu wrote<<<<From that data it is clear that her2+ bc can and do relapse after the 18-24 peak, albeit less frequently.<<<<

I have been freaked ever since I read this, this morning. Now I just have to go and find the article you mentioned.

Susan Rankin · 09-15-2006, 06:53 PM

This also freaked me out!!!! I want to read this article and then talk to my oncologist soon!

Susan

Becky · 09-15-2006, 07:22 PM

Don't let this freak you out. There is a natural relapse period for all breast cancer. All pathologies. For Her2+ and triple negative, the highest period of recurrence occurs within the first two years. This is also true for "run of the mill" bc that is only hormone positive. However, the "only hormone" positive bc also has a "blip" in relapse in the 7-9 year period (but this blip is smaller than in the first 2 years from diagnosis.

Now the article chronicals relapse after the first year of Herceptin. It is natural that this period would be the same period that is the most common for recurrences for Her2+ cancer. Who relapses? Well - the women who would - what I mean by this is that Herceptin does not work for everyone (about half) so half of those who would relapse do. But remember, even without Herceptin, not everybody relapses. More DO NOT relapse.

So, is it logical that if you received Herceptin through this vulnerable period that it would prevent relapse? The only way to start to really evaluate this question is when the Hera trial is completed so one can see if 2 years of Herceptin is better than one year (because 2 years will cover this "relapse" period).

Preliminary evidence is pointing to the fact that more does not improve the odds (it may "save" 1-3 women per thousand more - not statistically significant).

As good as Herceptin as an adjuvant is, it will not prevent the relapse for some. This will be more relevent and reliable when better tumor testing is available AND when clinical oncologists separate out these pathologies to analyze where the failure rates occur and address them with newer and better drugs (ie: do Her2+ and ER+ (and/or PR+) recur less when on Herceptin and an antihormonal or do ER/PR negatives do better on Herceptin. Do the failures come from women who are also Her1+ or some other tumor marker we don't even know anything about?)

So, I would not freak out over this. This vulnerable period exists regardless of drug therapy (be it Herceptin, Tamoxifen, AIs etc). It is a period that every woman with breast cancer has to live through and live beyond. With these drug therapies available and new technologies on the horizon, we have a very bright future in which to go out and live our lives fully.

Have a nice weekend

Kindest regards

Becky

Susan Rankin · 09-15-2006, 09:28 PM

Becky,

Thank you. I feel much better after reading your message.

After being off of Herceptin for three months now I feel as if I lost my security blanket.

Susan

Hopeful · 09-16-2006, 07:16 AM

This is a guess on my part, because I went searching for the article RobinP cited also. Go to http://www.asco.org/portal/site/ASCO...y&abstractID=3 and click on "slides" under Associated Presentations 1. Pre-operative therapy for women with Her2 positive breast cancer. Based on RobinP's description of what she read, this was as close as I could find.

Hopeful

kat in the delta · 09-25-2006, 01:54 PM

Just looked at this--Thanks for the info.I like the Facts and the Details and no cover-ups, and am glad someone had some statistics.!!! ..I have been trying to find something. I have finished my 1 yr of Herceptin after getting the A/C, rads and taxol with 1/2 of my taxols with herceptin right after my Onc. came from a meeting about using it for early stagers, then the other half alone + 1 yr of herceptin.
I have felt like a sitting duck after stopping herceptin eventho' it may not have worked for me. Also, for the past few weeks my upper right chestwall has been really hurting me at the site of my masc.& lymph node removal. I have even taken pain meds for it. Sometimes I feel like my chest is on FIRE !!! My Onc. says that this is normal..--???-(I don't think so)
Has anyone here experienced a burning pain at the site of surgery and nearby regions ? rsvp kat in the delta

julierene · 09-25-2006, 02:36 PM

If you look at my history below, you will see that there will always be those women... I got BC very young at 28 (as well as my mother at 28) because we have a genetic mutation in the p53 gene. There is new info out about a drug called advexin (i think) and they are hoping that will help with the p53 pathway. For a woman who fell in the 11% category, I have often wondered how many other pathways there are. So much for node negative and small tumor size!