| There is important research being done on breast | | | | copy of the HER2 gene, this is something that allows |
| cancer and almost everyday new findings are being | | | | normal cells to grow. The gene is found in the DNA, |
| revealed. An important piece of information that will | | | | and it contains the information for producing the |
| directly affect one out of every four women who | | | | HER2 protein. |
| have been diagnosed with breast cancer is that | | | | Also called the HER2 protein, the HER2 receptor, is |
| Herceptin is highly effective in the treatment of | | | | found also found on the surface of some normal cells. |
| breast cancer. | | | | The HER2 proteins send out signals from the outside |
| Herceptin is used to boost the benefits of | | | | to the inside of the cell to grow and divide. |
| Chemotherapy and surgery, and now experts say | | | | In Breast Cancer that is HER2+, the cancer cells |
| that it must be used to reduce the risk of cancer | | | | have an abnormally high number of HER2 genes in |
| recurrence and overall health. | | | | every cell. This extra HER2 protein appears on the |
| Herceptin is a drug that is highly effective in the | | | | surface of cancer cells as well adding to the rapid |
| treatment of breast cancer in its early stages. It is | | | | growth and multiplication of cancer cells. This is the |
| specifically targeted against certain receptors in the | | | | reason why HER2+ breast cancer is usually |
| body that aggravate the cancer. Approximately 25% | | | | extremely aggressive. |
| of patients have tumors that are diagnosed as | | | | Women who have been treated with Herceptin |
| HER2+, this is a receptor in the body called Human | | | | during or after chemotherapy and surgery show |
| Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2. HER2+ tumors | | | | remarkable improvement. The drug also decreases |
| tend to grow and metastasize more rapidly than | | | | the chance of developing breast cancer in the other |
| others. Herceptin is especially effective in the | | | | breast. Over a prolonged period of time, the |
| treatment of HER+ tumors. Herceptin usage is seen | | | | treatment via Herceptin has shown tremendous |
| to reduce the risk of distant recurrence of the | | | | reductions in the recurrence of breast cancer. |
| disease by almost 50%, which is a phenomenal rate | | | | Experts are now of the opinion that Herceptin must |
| of decrease for cancer risk. | | | | be included as standard care for breast cancer |
| HER2+ breast cancer is very aggressive and | | | | treatment unless there is some specific reason not |
| therefore it becomes important to find out the HER2 | | | | to. Even for those with early stage cancer of the |
| status of your breast cancer. This helps the doctor | | | | breast, Herceptin is now considered an important |
| the treatments that may be right for you. | | | | treatment. |
| Each breast cell that is normal actually contains a | | | | |