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Retesting ER status
I am going to have my most recent tumor (from my lung) retested for ER status. I have heard that false negative results are as high as 20%. There is new technology that tests for ER status with quantitative accuracy. This is call AQUA technology, and the testing can be done with 5 unstained slides of tumor or 1 tumor block. The best part is that Genoptix who does that testing has a "patient first" policy so that the patient never pays out of pocket more than their "in netowork" copay/coinsurance for the test.
I plan to get the ball rolling for mine next week.
Below is a link about the testing. I just thought I would share. I know it is a long shot, but imagine if those of us who tested ER- were to all of a sudden be able to use drugs like Tomoxifin or AI's??
http://www.genoptix.com/nexcourse_bca.html
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March 2010: Diagnosed with Stage IIIC IDC with axillary, mammary and suplaclavicular node involvement. ER/PR -, HER2+++. 7cm tumor in right breast.
April 2010: Started neoadjuvent chemo. 4 DD A/C every 2 weeks, 4 DD Taxotere every 3 weeks with Herceptin weekly.
August 2010: Finished chemo!
August 20, 2010: PET/CT showed no cancer in any nodes, and only a little uptake to the breast.
September 9, 2010: Bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with implants and Alloderm.
September 16, 2010: Pathology report showed 18/51 positive axillary nodes, 3.2cm tumor. Granual sized cancer found in the fatty tissue between levels 1 and 2.
October 19, 2010: CT showed several spots on lungs and 1 spot on liver. Liver spot is 2mm, lung spots range from 2mm to 4mm. We don't know if they are cancer or not.
12/15/10: Brain MRI clear
1/7/11: PET/CT
1/13/11: Recurrence in lungs. Start Tykerb
5/13/11: Progression in lungs
6/3/11: Lung surgery to get tumors for chemosensitivity testing.
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