TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

SpecialK

starella - biomarkers include your hormonal status, for you ER-/PR- and Her2+.  They also include checking CA27/29 (checking for cells in a blood test) which some oncs do, and some don't.  Most likely your onc is still occasionally testing your CBC, but I don't think that is applicable.  Your Ki67 would be most likely located on your pathology report, showing speed of cell growth, which would no longer be applicable, but was a feature of your tumor.  BRCA is also a biomarker.  For purposes of the study, I am guessing they may look at tumor markers (blood tests) or possibly predictive markers to see if the Metformin is working.

Iamstronger

NW Art lady-I live in the Seattle area and I looked into that study and was told that it was being done at Madigan and Madigan is a military facility and therefore you must be a military healthcare beneficiary to be treated there.  Just got an email back from them.   Just thought I would share.

V

 

ricia

@starella:

 In many of the trial cases I've read, they want to measure what effects the chemical they are testing might have, in accordance with cancer (cell) types (Special K duly refers to these). The observance of what kinds of cells are impacted or produced or depleated (whether they are cancerous, cancer-produced, or no) are referred to as bio-markers. Not all bio-markers indicate cancer presence or multiplication at all, but are looked at in tandem with other cellular presences or characteristics. None are as accurate those used for tumour biopsies. In this case, biochemical markers will attest to significant reactions and ongoings within the bloodstream particularily.

Without having read the description myself, I can only guess, but... I suspect what they are looking to monitor will not be identical to what your Oncologist monitors... I imagine they'd have a wider field of view, for eg.

There are more accurate biomarking tests in development currently, for certain molecular and genetic protiens (which are sloughed-off into the bloodstream) and are associated to specific (multiplying) cancerous cells. It's possible they might have access to these, but to my knowledge none are yet approved for circulation.... Ops; just realized it's a militar-run project. Good chance they do have 'access'

Hope that helps? 

starella

thank you all for the information on biomarkers...i need to strongly question my oncologist about this

NWArtLady

vmarie, thanks for the info!  Dang it, I was hoping to participate.

Kay_G

Lago, my port is so huge and ugly. I forget about it, but then someone will see it and ask about it. Wish I had a kiddie port. I am only 5 1 and a half and keep getting told how small I am too. The first LE therapist measured my arm and told me she never had measured someone without getting to 40 cms before. Then she proceeded to ask me if my right breast has always been larger than my left or if it was from BC. She was old and frumpy. I got a hot new young guy LE therapist now. And he's so nice too!

redninrah

Speaking of ports, my scar was so small when they installed it.....when they removed it, I had this old man of a surgeon and all I remember him was he had difficulty pulling it out. I have a thicker scar line now, gross and it's not as if it's hidden. I wear a low top, and there u see it. Just great.

Scar there scar on abdomen, dark radiated breast, I shud change my nickname to scarlady lol



Need to use bio oil.

lago

Kay1963 I'm actually 5'6" with long arms and legs. I had to get the long length sleeve for LE but my frame is really small, at least on top. I wear size 4 on top at least I used to. Not sure if I can fit these new boobie prizes into 4's anymore but the shoulders are still tiny. I'm short waisted too technically I'm a petite with long legs and arms. Makes finding clothes that fit hell. Either too short , the crotch falls to low or the pants  fit like Erkle's

Omaz

red - my scar from the port removal still has redness along each side and a couple of bumps (small) in the scar line and a little divet at the one side.  It's not pretty and I had my port out in Aug.  I don't think I absorb those stitches very well.  Right in the middle it looks nice though.  It's 4cm long in a slight curve.

lago

I used vitamin E oil on my port scar for several. It was quite raise for a while. Now there are 2 small divots and a little redness but I take years to get rid of redness. I highly recommend this when your surgeon says it's OK to do this. My port surgeon used "glue" instead of stitches. I like the dissolveable  stitches better.

Omaz

lago - BS used glue and I did better with the glue.

Kay_G

Where do you buy the vitamin D oil?  I have to do something with the scar on my abdomen.

Very funny to hear someone 5'6 called petite to me, at 5'1 any way..  I get a kick out of it as well when my PS calls me tiny.  She's about 4'11.  LOL

lago

It's vitamin E oil. I got it at Trader Joe's. I'm sure Whole Foods sells it too I just don't shop there. Too $$

Kay_G

Thanks for the info, I'll check at Trader Joe's. I do buy some things at Whole Foods also. I shop at Costco and Acme, our local supermarket. If you want to buy organic, whole foods or trader joes is usually cheaper than acme. I was surprised organic milk is a dollar cheaper at whole foods. I pick and choose what I buy organic and try to find some good deals. Will look for the vitamin e oil tomorrow.

Omaz

Target carries organic milk too, it's less expensive than Safeway.  They have some other organic/natural products in the food section too.

dancetrancer

Hello all!  I'm new to the group and have a question, which, in 149 pages, I'm sure has already been asked and answered...LOL...so please forgive me if that is the case!  I was reading an article today that talked about how Tamoxifen may not work as well in ER+ women who are also HER2+.  What have you all heard about that?  

Omaz

dance - Yes we have discussed it at times but I don't know that there was a conclusion about it!  I for one am also wondering about it.  I am not sure if the research is sure about it either.  I have read that the degree to which your cells were ER+ (90% of them vs. 40% for example) can play a role in the effectiveness of the the anti-estrogen therapy.  It's the ER-HER2 crosstalk debate.

SpecialK

Kay1963 - yay for the hot new LE guy!

bucky317

wendyspet  YAY!!!! fabulous news!!!!  Yes  Yes!!! I am obsessed with the hair too!!!

bucky317

Gals, I have a question? Can we eat soy or not?  I have read so many conflicting reports. I have a Herceptin appt. next week, so can check with my Mo then, but I have so much confidence with you all!!!   I had dinner @ a Japanese Sushi Hibachi place last night and hard a hard time enjoying it with all that Soy Sauce being splashed all over everything.

SpecialK

bucky - I have tried to read as much as I can on this subject.  My understanding is that you probably won't do any harm with the occasional intake of soy, like your dinner last night.  However, a component in soy isoflavones, genistein, interferes with the effect of Tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, so for the time that we ER+ are taking those meds it is a good idea to try to refrain from soy, particularly in supplement form.

shore1

SpecialK, have you found any info about using products that contain soy in them, such as soy in body wash, lotion, shampoo? A lot if these products that are marketed as paraben free, natural etc contain soy extract, grapefruit, lavender - things I think we are supposed to avoid, but I don't know if that means we need to avoid them in bath & body products too. Its very hard to avoid these ingredients.

bucky317

Thanks for the great info!!! Special K BTW I have been doing some research on the website that you recommended (Skin Deep) Found out my favorite perfume, "Clinique Happy" has alot of "nasties" in it.  Figures....

Anonymous

I am up late watching Jimmy Fallon in Indianapolis.He has been all over this week, dressed as a woman running around town, etc. Ryan Gosling walked into a local bar and bought everyone a beer last night. My daughter is oout doing red carpet interviews tonight and texted that she has interviewed Michael Irvin, and Subway's Jarrod, among others. The city is so fun!



I would like some answers about the tamoxifen/herceptin crosstalk also. although I would assume that after you are done with herceptin it is not an issue? Which for me would mean that I only had 8 months wehn I was on both.



I try to use products with no soy or parabens for basic skin creams. Found a swiss company called Alchemie foreer and several of their products hae enither in them. The company even emailed me a list oof thier products with ingredients. Said they are changing formulas trying to get as many as possible to be free of both.

Kay_G

The only specific thing any doctor mentioned to me was to avoid alcohol and soy. Surprising when there is some thought out there that soy may actually decrease risk since less Asian women get BC. The RO said not to worry about the occasional cup of miso soup or the soy found in other products, but not to start eating tofu or switch to soy milk. So that is what I am following. I have also read that soy is okay if you've been eating it since adolescence, but otherwise don't start on it.



Special k, thanks for the note on the hot therapist. He's a single guy and my DH works with some nice, cute single women and I keep thinking what a good match they'd make. Sheesh, I guess I'm an Irish yenta.

Omaz

fluff - From what I was just reading recently when you take the anti-her2 (herceptin) and anti-estrogen together it makes the anti-estrogen work better. This article has a really good (technical too) discussion of the relation between HER2 and estrogen receptor crosstalk. LINK

SpecialK

kay1963 - So funny!  I was always happy to go get PT but it would make me even happier if my therapist was your hot guy!

shore - I am trying to eliminate anything containing soy but as kay1963 said above, incidental exposure won't hurt us.  The amount of intake is minimal.  For beauty products that are used daily I think I would rather not have soy in them, or at least have it very far down the list of ingredients.  Another culprit is tea tree oil.

shore1

I've heard that about tea tree oil too, but have used it on my nails the past month. When I feel like they are no longer in danger of lifting off, I wont use it anymore.

lago

dancetrancer  read about this long before I got chemo. I was still learning quite a bit. I too was ready to question my onc about this because I too read the article. I was peri-meno before chemo. Given my age, and my family history (mom started at 51, sister was just about finished at 53) my onc felt my period was not coming back so she put me on Anastrozole (generic Arimidex) and monitored my esteriol levels for several months.

She preferred Anastrozole because there are less serious SE than Tamox. I am 30%ER and 5%PR. I have read if you have SE then it's for sure working. (If you don't have SE doesn't mean it isn't). My SE are minor but I do have the stiff fingers, toes and legs in the morning. As long as I keep moving I'm fine.

I think there were problems with the studies. Not sure if they just tested HER2+ but not identify who was hormone positive and who wasn't. I would discuss this with your onc. I too am curious but I do believe they prescribe Tamoxifen for hormone positive HER2+ women and get results.

dancetrancer

Thanks Lago!!!  I will ask him about this issue this morning!