After my last biopsy, the pathologists decided to test the tumor for HER2 protein. What the heck is that, you ask? Well, I'll Wikirelay it for you:
HER2 "is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ERBB2 gene. HER2 is a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ErbB) family. Amplification or over-expression of this gene has been shown to play an important role in the development and progression of certain aggressive types of breast cancer. ... Over-expression is also known to occur in ovarian, stomach, and aggressive forms of uterine cancer, such as uterine serous endometrial carcinoma."
Confused? Uh, yeah. So this is all you really need to know. HER2 is positive in only about 20-30% of stomach cancers, which is what I've been treated for. Since I've now shown up HER-2 positive, we've pretty much deduced I have stomach (also known as gastric) cancer. So there's that. Also, HER-2 positive cancers react very well to a type of treatment called Herceptin. See, HER2 is in normal cells in which their receptors tell cells to grow and divide. Too many HER2 receptors, as is the case in these cancers, send more signals, causing cancer cells to grow too quickly. Herceptin has been shown to stop the HER2 receptors from signaling the cells to grow. Basically it's a blocker. It increases the median overall survivor rate of advanced gastric cancer by 23%. In the cancer world, that's pretty big.
So the good thing about Herceptin is that it has very few serious side effects. Mostly tummy troubles and fatigue. But you know what it doesn't cause? HAIR LOSS! I get to keep my hair! Unless the carboplatin decides to cause the fall out, which it typically doesn't do, but I'm not about to jinx myself. So that $700 human hair wig I bought last month? It'll stay in my closet for now. There may come a point where I'll need it, but hopefully not. And I don't mind it being there at all.
The BAD thing about Herceptin is that it can cause, how shall I say... heart failure. Sometimes there are signs, such as decreased breath, pain, etc. Sometimes there are no signs. So I have to get an EKG on Tuesday to make sure my heart is starting out healthy. Then I have to have one every 3 months to make sure my heart remains healthy. Even more reason to get on the spin bike and stay active!
After so many rounds, once the cancer is back in or close to in remission, my doc said there's a possibility of keeping me on just the Herceptin to prevent the cancer from growing any further. I'd get just the Herceptin every 3 weeks and go about my day, using the Herceptin sort of as maintenance.
So I look at this as another step in the process. Another way to fight this horrid disease and keep myself going until they find a cure or a drug that turns cancer in to a chronic disease. That's the plan.
And, ladies and gentleman, while the docs won't officially put it in my file, they got as close as they could to naming this stupid disease ravaging my body. Know what that means? It means...
I have a color!!!
And, as I said to my sister, it ain't blush or bashful, but it's a color. (go ahead, name that movie)
Finally, just in case you didn't know, November is stomach cancer awareness month. It's also pancreatic cancer and lung cancer awareness month. Be aware. Go to the doctor and be preventative. Quit smoking. Eat right and exercise. And be happy. And yes, all those things can coexist.
Ok, the ativan is wearing off and I'm getting tired and starting to get a headache. Big, big day. I gots to go.
Happy Thanksgiving all! Gobble gobble, yo!
xo,
Lisa
