Question about survival rates..

Options
miles10836
miles10836 Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
Question about survival rates..
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • miles10836
    miles10836 Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2008

    My 70 year old step mother was diagnosed just before Christmas with HER2+ breast cancer, stage 2.  She said her doctor gave her a 50% chance to survive.  My family is very upset about this chance given to her--she is a very strong person, and has a fantastic state of mind (she says she is too mean to let this beat her).  Does anybody have information about survival rates-I get a lot of conflicting information on the internet.  Thanks.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • juanita63
    juanita63 Member Posts: 171
    edited January 2008

    I'm a 3 year survivor, so i don't think you can always go by stats.  You shouldgo to her2support.org.  There are many on there who have survived for a long time.  Some of them might have mets, but they're battling them and they are still surviving!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sassa
    Sassa Member Posts: 1,588
    edited January 2008

    I don't know what the old statistics for HER2 positive cancer are.  However, there is a drug called Herceptin that specifically targets the HER2 receptor sites on cancer cells.

    Herceptin is turning the old statistics on their ear.  It has only been approved for early stage cancer (and Stage 2 is considered early stage) for about two years.  This means there are no long term survival statistics available for herceptin users.

    The study that led to the approval of herceptin in early stage breast cancer showed that the drug cut the recurrence rate in women by 50%. 

    Have you read this information on this site?

    http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/targeted_therapies/herceptin/index.jsp

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DebbieB
    DebbieB Member Posts: 161
    edited January 2008

    I was dx'd in 2001 and was highly HER+++  Stage 2, Grade 3.  At that time you could not find HER+ statistics.  Most of the stats were for ER+/PR+ bc and most of it was from very old data.  The standard course of treatment for bc is totally different than it was 10 years ago.  At the time I was dx'd the onc told me I had a 70% survival rate without chemo.  With chemo, it went up to 80% so I did the chemo.  At that time (2001), herceptin was only offered for Stage 4 so I never received herceptin.  I do know there are lots of women who are HER+ Stage 4 who are surviving long term because of herceptin.

    There is a web site specifically for HER+ women.  It has more information in one place about being HER+ than any place I have ever been.  The site is:  http://www.her2support.org/

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jengrsq
    jengrsq Member Posts: 26
    edited January 2008

    Hello Miles,

                       Don't believe the stats. I know when I first started my journey my team told me don't read everything on the internet or believe the stats for Her2. They said with the new drug herceptin they do not have numbers or all the facts because it's a new drug. I know in Canada we have been only using for a couple of years.  But in the states they have been using this for 7 years. I know there are lots of surviors...My friend Hazel with Her2 with Er-Pr- is going on 8 years. So you tell your grandmother to be strong and by reading your email she will beat this......!!!!!!

    Debbie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kerry1000
    Kerry1000 Member Posts: 103
    edited February 2008

    I'm not sure where the doctor is getting is statistics from, but they sound totally out of line to me or maybe there has been misunderstanding.  I also have Stage II Her-2 positive disease (tho I'm in my 40's) and yes there is a 50% survivial rate WITHOUT TREATMENT (sorry for the big letters but that part is important!!).  With treatment of chemo, rads, and Herceptin, the 10-year survival rate is close to 90% (this is from both my doctor's statements and my own calculations).

    There is no reason for your step-mom not to receive agressive treatment despite her age, so long as she is in otherwise good health.

    There is a website which will help you compute the stats with and without various forms of treatment, it's fairly technical and oriented towards physicians but I was able to figure it out without too much trouble.  Unfortunately I don't remember the exact name - adjunctive.com, or adjunct.com, or something like that.  Your physician should know.

    Best of luck to you and your step-mom.  She is lucky to have such a caring child!

    Kerry 

    I forgot to add - the survival stats usually include all forms of death, not just b.c.-related death.  So if the stats. for your step-mom;s age are lower, it's probably because the death rate in general for people her age is higher.  My understanding is that age does not have a significant effect on survival for patients who receive similar types of treatment.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lrs
    lrs Member Posts: 55
    edited February 2008

    remember that 50% is without any treatment! I was given that number also, but plan on being around for another 30 years.

    and if I am I will be in my 70'ds.. I would rather have an honest estimate than not. Triple positive

    Tell her to be positive. :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories