Tests needed to check if HER 2 is back

[sofa333]

If Femara only prevents the production of oestrogen that feeds the cancer. What are the tests needed to check if there the HER 2 positive 3+ cancer is coming back?
Thank you!

[zouzi]

You welcome Sonia.
I am so sorry you are having bad side effects with Femara.Many women do suffer because of this drug but they try to cope the best way they can by keeping active,exercising and take pain medication when needed.I also heard that some women have pain relief by Acupuncture.
Side effects will eventually disappear gradually once the treatment is completed.
I think you should talk to your Oncologist about the pain you are experiencing and maybe a change of drugs such as Arimidex or Aromasin,can be better tolerated.
I don't think it's a good idea to try alternative therapies or any other medication without your Oncologist's consent.
Although Femara and other similar drugs may have bad side effects,they lower the risk of breast cancer recurrence by 50%
Also these drugs are approved by the FDA .
Please discuss with you Oncologist regarding any problems you may have,especially if you are feeling depressed or worried about cancer recurrence.I am sure that he/she will be able to help you as much as possible.
Hang in there Sonia,the worst is over and I am sure that you will feel good again.
All the best! :)

[sofa333]

Thank you Zouzi,
I did not received any medication for my HER2 cancer because it was so small that they oncologists considered that giving me oestrogen suppressants would be enough as a preventive measure I asked there for my oncologist if I needed another blood test or even what kind of tests he was doing to prevent that HER2 cancer from appearing somewhere else for (to my understanding ) this is not exclusive to the breast. The answer was blood test nor more than once a year other wise keep an eye on symptoms every 4 months, while taking Femara (for 5 years) as a preventive measure.
My dream is to put all this behind and carry on with my life but unfortunately the impact of the side effects of Femara on my life are too great and I am finding it is too hard to find a balance and acceptance that life is not any more like it was. I also feel lonely I don't know in which direction to turn, should I try alternative therapies or not?
Any way thank you for your reply.
Kind regards,
Sonia

[zouzi]

Hi,
That's a good question! Many of us hope that when treatment is completed,the cancer has been destroyed.But we find it hard not to worry at times about cancer coming back,no matter how successful treatments are.This feeling is a very common concern for all of us who have had any type of breast cancer.
HER2-positive breast cancer is a distinct form of breast cancer that demands attention because HER2-positive tumors are fast growing.The combination of trastuzumab (Trade name Herceptin)with chemotherapy is now standard for the first-line treatment of women with HER-2-positive.
This treatment combination could extends survival across all stages of HER2-positive breast cancer by activating the immune system and suppressing the HER2 receptor and preventing HER2 positive cells from growing and dividing.
Your doctor/oncologist will watch you closely and I am sure that he/she will know which tests have to be ordered,(depending on your symptoms,if any) to make sure that cancer has not recurred.
Wishing you all the best and hoping that you'll never have cancer recurrence...