Sarcoid-like reaction

Alicethecat

Hello everyone

Did you know that sarcoidosis - or a sarcoid-like reaction - can mimic mets but actually isn't?

http://www.springerplus.com/content/2/1/113

Best wishes

Alice

SpecialK

Alice - after reading the abstract I did not see any specific Her2 reference - did I miss it? They seem to be trying to establish a link between antineoplastic agents (Adriamycin/Epirubucin and others) and sarcoidosis, but the discussion indicated to me that they couldn't strongly link it. I wonder what the implication is if we were treated with a taxane (antimicrotubule rather than antineoplastic) that was combined with a platinum-based agent.

Alicethecat

Hello SpecialK

Thanks very much for responding to this post.

I posted this study here because I want to offer some comfort/hope to anyone who is awaiting the results of tests.

A few months ago, the Ophthalmology team did a biopsy of my tear gland and said it was inflamed and they thought I had sarcoidosis. Then I was told I had some haze on a chest xray. I was terrified. Wondered if I had lung mets. But because I had read about sarcoidosis - the body making granulatomous lumps - I did not panic.

Yesterday, a respiratory consultant told me that I have a sarcoid-like reaction - not mets. I have to have an ECG to check it is not in the heart but other than that...no treatment, apart from continuing with Beclometasone for asthma. Just observation for two years. What a relief!

Interestingly, in terms of developing sarcoidosis - or a sarcoid-like reaction - I did have combination chemotherapy - Fluorouracil, Epirubicin and Cylophosphamide (FEC) - and I did have a taxane like you - Taxotere. I'll look out for info on Taxotere/Cisplatin and sarcoidosis and post if I see something.

I also posted this study in the HER2+ forum as well as this one because I have noticed that some of the ladies who have had HER2+ breast cancer also have autoimmune conditions too. Mine are pernicious anaemia and asthma, for example. I am wondering if there is any connection between people with HER2+ and autoimmune conditions and treatment who develop sarcoidosis. Any thoughts?

However, the positive takeaway I got from this study is that sometimes sarcoidosis mimics mets but it isn' mets!

This thought has cheered me up in the months between getting the chest xray (September) and seeing a consultant (November).

I hope all this helps someone out there.

Best wishes

Alice