New article on HER2+chemo/herceptin need for T1a tumors

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KC71579
KC71579 Member Posts: 73
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Hi Ladies

I've been reseraching my condition, ER+ 98%, PR+ 90%, HER2+ breast cancer pT1a, N0, M0 with Ki67 <5%.  Many of you have said that ANY HER2+ cancers need to be considered for chemo and herceptin regardless of size.  This is a very recent article 2-25-10 that may be useful in our discussion.  http://www.hemonctoday.com/article.aspx?rid=61261

If you don't feel like reading the article, here is just an excerpt:

Together, the results infer that HER-2-positive breast cancers measuring 1 cm or less carry sufficient risk that the anticipated benefit from chemotherapy plus trastuzumab - a reduction of at least 50% in the risk of disease recurrence - is worthy of serious consideration, they wrote.

However, Burstein and Winer instead suggested that this may not always be the case. "We suggest that consideration of trastuzumab plus chemotherapy generally should be limited to patients with T1b or larger cancers and selected patients with T1a tumor. ... We believe that among patients with small T1a or microinvasive cancers, it is less likely that the trade-offs of risk and benefit warrant chemotherapy plus trastuzumab," they said.

Food for thought ladies!  I am faced with a tough decision soon, so I've been researching endlessly.  If I come across any more useful information, I will share it with all of you :)

Hugs! 

Krissy

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited March 2010

    What size is T1A and T1b tumors ?? I keep hearind different information.

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  • Beach
    Beach Member Posts: 127
    edited March 2010

    Jaimieh,

    My understanding is that T1a tumors are less than 5mm and T1b tumors are 5mm to 1cm.

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  • Liz08
    Liz08 Member Posts: 470
    edited March 2010
    • The breakdown of node negative Stage 1 tumors:
    • T1: Tumor not larger than 2.0 cm in greatest dimension
      • T1mic: Microinvasion not larger than 0.1 cm in greatest dimension
      • T1a: Tumor larger than 0.1 cm but not larger than 0.5 cm in greatest dimension
      • T1b: Tumor larger than 0.5 cm but not larger than 1.0 cm in greatest dimension
      • T1c: Tumor larger than 1.0 cm but not larger than 2.0 cm in greatest dimension
    • True Mico-invasive DCIS means that no invasive component is larger than 1mm in it's greatest dimension. 


    What I hate is that Stage T1mic (truly microinvasive) is never mentioned in these recent studies.  Many don't know that stage T1mic exists, which is the earliest of stage one since it is categorized below stage T1a!

    We definitely need more research done on the tiny tumors that are her2+.

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  • kimbers
    kimbers Member Posts: 26
    edited March 2010

    I am in clinical trial right now that is for small node negative HER2+ tumors (mine was T1a). It is 12 weeks of Taxol and Herceptin and then Herceptin every 3 weeks to finish the year. Maybe you could ask your Oncologist about the trial. Various hospitals through out the United States are offering this trial.  Check out www.clinicaltrials.gov. If you Private message me with where you live I could give you the closest hospital offering the trial.

    I just finished week 9 out of 12 and it is pretty well tolerated. There is also a thread on the trial.

    Check out HER2+ and Taxol trial. 

     Good luck with your decision.

    Kimber

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