Womens Weekly article - Jane McGrath

[jezza]

Finally got round to reading the story about Jane McGrath in the WW. I think it was worth a read and she expressed herself well.

What a brilliant doctor! So reassuring when others wouldn't operate. As she said if they hadn't operated they couldn't have done the pathology and she would have had different treatment.

Yes she was so young at dx. She looks to be doing well now. Lets hope she continues to do so.

jezza

[ozzie]

Hi All just to let you know that Tykerb is free here at one hospital in the WEST its the Mounts hospital..and it is only given to ppl that can no longer use Herception..
Herception is of no use to ppl that are HER2 -
I am ER and PR + but Her 2 - so cannot have it ...
Thanks for all the replies re Jane..I did wonder re that and BC yep she did have bone mets..
Gosh I hate to read these stories on ladies that have ABC and they are so young..
Heard tonight re a lady (now) who was DX with Ovarian cancer when she was 8 shocking I think..
Gee's it makes me think!
Hugs.

[cheryl]

Just to clarify, there is HER-2- and HER-2+. herceptin is for you when you are HER-2+. the estrogen receptor is something different. I am triple positive- ER+PR+HER-2+. So i take Arimidex and Herceptin.
Take care
Christine

I must remember to ask my onc the next visit about the HER-2 status.

[chrismelb]

Yes she had a bone met in her hip a few years ago. That is why hubby came racing home from the cricket OS. Just to clarify, there is HER-2- and HER-2+. herceptin is for you when you are HER-2+. the estrogen receptor is something different. I am triple positive- ER+PR+HER-2+. So i take Arimidex and Herceptin.
Take care
Christine

[cheryl]

Oz, not to sure about the herceptin being just for HER2- I think that I did read somewhere and of course cannot remember where, that someone was ER+ and was taking herceptin. there are degrees of ER+ so maybe herceptin can be used for weak ER+

I would say for sure that she is advanced, I think from memory, which isn't real good, that she has/had bone mets.

[jezza]

Gonna have to go and buy The Womens Weekly.

Have seen Jane interviewed a couple of times and she comes across as being a beautiful person.

jezza

[chrismelb]

Ozzie, i am sure her brain tumor is from her BC. HER-2+ does metastisize to the brain. There is a new drug called Tykerb which is used for brain mets in HER-2+. About to be available in the USA but just in trial here. But you can get it on compassionate use if necessary.
I will have to read the article to see what it says.
Christine

[ozzie]

Yep we also had the story of Jane in our papers here in the West ..and I also wondered about it..Does anyone know if the tumor she had on her Brain was caused by BC? the story said it was her 3rd cancer? so I am wondering if she also is in the ABC group?

And I am sure these mags make up stories just to sell their mags..that is one reason I wont buy them..

As for Herception it is only used for ladies with HER2 - BC no good if one is HER2 +

when will they get it right? the mags that is...

[jezza]

Yes I have seen a lot of this doctor on TV and read a lot of interviews. That Australian Story was amazing television.

He speaks so well and has a lot of compassion and hope as well as being realistic.
We need more doctors like him. He is brilliant.

jezza

[chrismelb]

Good to know he is out there. I saw an Australian Story on that young fella. very interesting story. Thanks Cheryl
Christine

[cheryl]

we were talking about this at the funeral yesterday and Jane McGrath was operated on by a Dr Tia, this is the surgeon that operated on a young pianist who had been told that there was no more could be done in relation to his brain tumour.

apparently this same surgeon operated on Stan Zimanik(spel?) who has the same sort of brain tumour as the pianist and Dr Chris O'Brien (RPA)

he takes on cases that no one else will do.

[chrismelb]

Aggresiveness is the grade. ER+ and ER- both have there advantages and disadvantages. And yes it is JAne McGrath's HER-2 status that would give her Herceptin. if she had a bone metastisis years ago i would assume she has been on it since then. Unfortunately HER-2 does go to the brain a bit(not everyone of course) but now there are lots of treatments and new ones coming out.
It is very frustrating reading about peoples BC experiences in the media as the journalist don't have a proper grasp of the subject. And for us experts (lol), we want the niitty gritty.
Don't forget the Young ones tomorrow night if you are interested.
Christine

[Kj]

I fing it confusing My cancer isnt hormone dependent but it was very aggresive.

[yowyow]

Hi Kelly, I just read art' in sun today, which doesn't get into so much detail, but talks of her
being told the brain tumor was inoperable, steve waugh giving her another surgeons name
and he operated and was sucessful. Yes inspiring. But agree why wouldn't the writers
do a bit of research into their stories.

Oh, by the way the Moet was magnificent, I would have loved to share !! It surely had me loving the world last night.

nav

[sedgymum]

I have to say yet again that a major publisher has printed incorrect information with regards to breast cancer. I have just finished reading the article on Jane McGrath and her battle with breast cancer. The article states that her cancer has changed homone status and "is no longer oestrogen dependent ....and it means the cancer is slow, non-aggressive and just grumbling along." It was my understanding that it is the grade of the cancer that determined aggressiveness - not hormone status. It also states that now she can use herceptin. I am sure it would be her Her2 status that would determine whether she can receive herceptin or not. The way it read to me in the article was that because her hormone status changed so did her ability to use Herceptin.

I am sure these inaccuracies are not going to affect the general public and the story really is inspirational, I just wish the journalist would get their facts right.

I would like to see at the end of any of these articles a promotion on the NBCF, BCNA and the Cancer Council. I think promoting the McGrath Foundation only is somewhat biased.

What do you think?

Cheers Kelly