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06-08-2007, 08:51 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 556
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Her2serum test: How reliable it is?
I have doing Her2 serum test since an year and always been below 8. The range is 0 to 15. But the last blood draw showed 10.1. I am little concerned.
For those who is monitoring with Her2serum test how reliable the test is for you? Is it accurate for decease progression?
Thanks,
Julie
__________________
Diagnosed in Sept 2004 while pregnant with the second child. Stage 3b, tumor 4.5cm, 4 auxillary and supraclav node positive. Her2+++ FISH 9.4 and er-,pr-.
Had dose dense neoadjuvant AC,Taxol then mastectomy,radiation+xeloda+Herceptin.
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06-08-2007, 09:40 AM
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#2
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Webmaster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home of the "Flying Tomato"
Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 2,036
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Julie,
A reading below 15 still indicates that the cancer may not be active. You may wish to repeat the test .
Christine has always been about 6.
I will be speaking with Dr. Carney who developed the serum test over the weekend and will ask him for his opinion.
Regards
Joe
__________________
A Proud webmaster to the internet's most informed, educated, COMPASSIONATE and caring group of breast cancer survivors.
Illegitimi non carborundum
My Album
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06-08-2007, 10:35 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Shingle Springs, CA - near Sacramento
Posts: 295
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Thanks Joe!
Hello Joe,
Thanks for all you do for this amazing group! I can't wait to hear about the reliability of the serum test. Thank you so much for checking on it!
Have a great day!
Donna
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06-08-2007, 11:17 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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3 tests
Hi -
Congrats on the good numbers.
I have used this serum test now 3 times. My cancer status has been stable at NED for a few years now, but this test gives me comfort. Results are always within a point or two of the last test.
My med onc seems to like this HER2 serum test and has confidence in the results.
Just wait a short time and repeat the test, as scans most likely will not show any tumor activity. Do you use the other breast cancer markers? How are those numbers?
__________________
"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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06-08-2007, 06:28 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Julie,
I get the HER2 serum test and am hoping that it will be a better indicator if I ever get mets. My first one was 10.1 and now we are down to 6.5. At least I know the Herceptin did it's job. I have been off Herceptin for 6 weeks now and will see my oncologist in 3 weeks. At that time, I will have the serum test done again. Hopefully the numbers will be good. I found that the regular tumor marker tests were no good for me. When I was diagnosed with Stage IIIc my tumor marker was 15.3 which was well within the "normal" rage. While on A/C it jumped to 31.4 and the back down to 15. I'm hoping that ther HE2 serum test will be more reliable
__________________
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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06-08-2007, 08:01 PM
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#6
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Webmaster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home of the "Flying Tomato"
Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 2,036
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Julie,
I talked to Dr. Carney this evening and he suggests a retest in 1-2 months.
Regards
Joe
__________________
A Proud webmaster to the internet's most informed, educated, COMPASSIONATE and caring group of breast cancer survivors.
Illegitimi non carborundum
My Album
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06-09-2007, 03:35 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: virginia
Posts: 99
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HER2 serum
Have done the HER2 serum level 3 times....about every 4 months. Started at 8...did a jump to 12 and now at 8 again. This test was requested by me after doing much reading here and about the test. The onc and the lab appreciated the info that I took to them and do believe my test was the first. Hummmm, will try to remember to ask the onc on the next visit if anyone else it doing the HER 2 serum levels. Finally graduated to seeing the onc every 8 weeks ! Feel free to fly !! Hugs, Bonnie
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06-09-2007, 09:54 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 27
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Her2 serum test
I'm confused about what the serum test actually does. My oncologist never gave it to me.
Is this something that I should ask for when I get my blood work done? All of my tumor markers have been normal & NED at the moment.
Eileen
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06-09-2007, 04:43 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 556
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Joe,
Thanks for contacting Dr.Carney. I will repeat the test in a month.
Steph,
There is almost no change in my other tumor markers(CA27-29,CA15-3 and CEA), only CA27-29 increased by 1 it is around 9. Still anxious about the Her2Serum.
Thanks,
Julie
__________________
Diagnosed in Sept 2004 while pregnant with the second child. Stage 3b, tumor 4.5cm, 4 auxillary and supraclav node positive. Her2+++ FISH 9.4 and er-,pr-.
Had dose dense neoadjuvant AC,Taxol then mastectomy,radiation+xeloda+Herceptin.
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06-09-2007, 05:55 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern California
Posts: 900
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my question...
Is this test done only on those with metastatic disease or is it also beneficial for early stage bc? My onc doesn't run any tests, tumor markers or scans and I am comfortable with that but if this is something that is useful in monitoring all stages I will ask about it.
Thanks for the info!
__________________
Gerri
Dx: 11/23/05, Lumpectomy 12/12/05
Tumor 2.2 cm, Stage II, Grade 3, Sentinel Node biopsy negative
ER+ (30%) /PR+ (50%), HER2+++
AC X 4 dose dense, Taxol X 4 dose dense
Herceptin started with 2nd Taxol, given weekly until chemo done
then given every 3 weeks for one year ending on March 16, 2007
Radiation 30 treatments
Tamoxifen - 2 yrs (pre-menopausal)
May 2008 - Feb 2012 Femara
Aug 2008 - Feb 2012 Zometa every 6 months
March 2012 - Stop Femara, now Evista for bone strengthening
********** Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. - Robert Brault
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06-10-2007, 07:44 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Here's the link where Dr. Carney discusses the HER2 Serum test.
Bayer Serum Test - Dr. Walter Carney
The test was originally FDA approved only for advanced or metastic breast cancer. I'm not sure if it's been cleared for early breast cancer. The thread is long but answers many questions you may have.
__________________
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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06-10-2007, 02:09 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern California
Posts: 900
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Thanks Tousled1 - that was very informative. I'll keep my eye on the updates.
__________________
Gerri
Dx: 11/23/05, Lumpectomy 12/12/05
Tumor 2.2 cm, Stage II, Grade 3, Sentinel Node biopsy negative
ER+ (30%) /PR+ (50%), HER2+++
AC X 4 dose dense, Taxol X 4 dose dense
Herceptin started with 2nd Taxol, given weekly until chemo done
then given every 3 weeks for one year ending on March 16, 2007
Radiation 30 treatments
Tamoxifen - 2 yrs (pre-menopausal)
May 2008 - Feb 2012 Femara
Aug 2008 - Feb 2012 Zometa every 6 months
March 2012 - Stop Femara, now Evista for bone strengthening
********** Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. - Robert Brault
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