Hi All...
Well I had my first appointment with my new oncologist yesterday and it was interesting to say the least. First off, I like her a lot. She seems very knowledgeable, almost speaks in terms I can understand and does translate when I have that "what the heck did you just say" look on my face.
HER-2/neu Test
How is it used?
After a diagnosis of breast cancer has been made,
Her-2/neu testing may be used as a prognostic marker to help determine how
aggressive the breast cancer tumor is likely to be. It is usually ordered along
with estrogen and progesteron hormoe recepter status tests (ER & PR)
both of which were positive in this cancer and in the breast cancer I had in 2002. The results of these
three tests give the doctor information about the person's likely prognosis and
response to specific therapies such as hormone therapy and chemotherapy.
It is a relatively new test that is done in a single lab (only one in the US)....again I've cut and pasted information:
The Oncotype DX test is a genomic test that analyzes the activity of a group of genes that can affect how a cancer is likely to behave and respond to treatment. The Oncotype DX is used in two ways:
I found it interesting to hear the oncologist ask me which kind of chemo I had in my 2002 cancer treatment...........and her response when I told her (Adriamycin and Cytoxan) that if I had to do chemo again, they would not use those two meds.....that the body can only have them once in a lifetime.....now I know this will throw red flags up to my naysayer friends (that I love dearly and that I know loves me dearly and are looking out for my best interest) and it certainly gave me 'pause' to think that a medicine could be so strong and so destructive to your immune system that it could only be used for one grouped session of treatment (my session was 4 treatments in 2002).
So now I play the waiting game....I was told as soon as both tests are back I will be called in to have further discussion....and make decisions. More than likely if I have to have chemo it will begin the week before Christmas.....and if I don't have to have chemo, I am assuming that is when I will begin the 6 weeks (every day) of radiation.
Well now that I've bored you to tears.....I'll close with samples of thoughts that get me through this bend in my road.....
and this one....... because I hope that is what this blog is to someone......
both of which were positive in this cancer and in the breast cancer I had in 2002. The results of these
three tests give the doctor information about the person's likely prognosis and
response to specific therapies such as hormone therapy and chemotherapy.When is it ordered?
Her-2/neu tissue
testing is recommended along with ER & PR status testing as part of an initial workup of invasivev breast cancer and is sometimes
performed with recurrent breast cancer. It is not diagnostic but helps the
doctor determine treatment options and understand more about the tumor's
characteristics.
ONCOTYPE DX TestWhat does the test result mean?
If an IHC Her-2/neu test is positive, it means that the
Her-2/neu gene is over-expressing the Her-2/neu
protein. If a FISH test is done, then amplification of the Her-2/neu gene
can be detected. If either of these is positive, then the person is likely to
have a tumor that is aggressive, that will respond poorly to endocrine
treatment, and that will be resistant to chemotherapy. These people may be
considered candidates for trastuzumab (Herceptin®) therapy, a drug that was
created to target Her-2/neu protein.
My cancer in 2002 HER-2/neu test was negative. But the test that was initially done in the biopsy for this current cancer was "equivocal" (or not firmly positive or negative)...so they are redoing that test to see if they can get a more definitive result.
The second report we are waiting on and that takes the longest (at least 2 weeks) is the
My cancer in 2002 HER-2/neu test was negative. But the test that was initially done in the biopsy for this current cancer was "equivocal" (or not firmly positive or negative)...so they are redoing that test to see if they can get a more definitive result.
The second report we are waiting on and that takes the longest (at least 2 weeks) is the
It is a relatively new test that is done in a single lab (only one in the US)....again I've cut and pasted information:
The Oncotype DX test is a genomic test that analyzes the activity of a group of genes that can affect how a cancer is likely to behave and respond to treatment. The Oncotype DX is used in two ways:
- To help doctors figure out a woman’s risk of early-stage, estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer coming back (recurrence), as well as how likely she is to benefit from chemotherapy after breast cancer surgery.
- To help doctors figure out a woman’s risk of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) coming back (recurrence) and/or the risk of a new invasive cancer developing in the same breast, as well as how likely she is to benefit from radiation therapy after DCIS surgery.
Who is eligible for the Oncotype DX test?
You may be a candidate for the Oncotype DX test if:- you’ve recently been diagnosed with stage I or II invasive breast cancer
- the cancer is estrogen-receptor-positive
- there is no cancer in your lymph nodes (lymph node-negative breast cancer)
- you and your doctor are making decisions about chemotherapy.
- That would be me!
I found it interesting to hear the oncologist ask me which kind of chemo I had in my 2002 cancer treatment...........and her response when I told her (Adriamycin and Cytoxan) that if I had to do chemo again, they would not use those two meds.....that the body can only have them once in a lifetime.....now I know this will throw red flags up to my naysayer friends (that I love dearly and that I know loves me dearly and are looking out for my best interest) and it certainly gave me 'pause' to think that a medicine could be so strong and so destructive to your immune system that it could only be used for one grouped session of treatment (my session was 4 treatments in 2002).
So now I play the waiting game....I was told as soon as both tests are back I will be called in to have further discussion....and make decisions. More than likely if I have to have chemo it will begin the week before Christmas.....and if I don't have to have chemo, I am assuming that is when I will begin the 6 weeks (every day) of radiation.
Well now that I've bored you to tears.....I'll close with samples of thoughts that get me through this bend in my road.....
and this one....... because I hope that is what this blog is to someone......
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