Re: Abnormal mammogram & Xolair

[Guest guest]

Please, please, please focus hard on the knowledge that most abnormal

mammograms turn out to be revealing something benign, as you

mentioned. I know it's very hard not to worry, and the snail's pace

of your gyn in getting the info to you and the radiology dept in

getting your old films sent for comparison does not help at all. It's

also important to remember that the small blip of cancers found in

the initial clinical trials was very small indeed and later shown to

be statistically insignificant by a a major cancer center (M.D.

, if I recall correctly) using a more powerful statistical

analysis of the data than had been used by Genentech.

Having said all that, of course there is the unknown you mention

about possible adverse effects of monoclonal antibodies in general

over the long term, and anti-IgE specifically. It's true that we just

won't know until we know, i.e. until enough time passes and enough

studies are done. As you may be aware, Genentech is currently

conducting a large 5-year study of Xolair patients, in order to try

to settle the cancer question more satisfactorily.

In the mean time, I'm hoping your mammo abnormality turns out to be

benign and that you find out SOON! Please keep us posted.

Fran

--- In , SD Designer <instdesgn1@...>

wrote:

>

> I just found out that my mammogram was abnormal. This was quite a

shock as breast cancer does NOT run in my family at all and I do not

have a history of breast disease. A doctor (board certified former

prof) I've gone to for many years figured I was at less risk for

certain reasons too although certainly no one is " safe " and he's made

that clear. What's bothoring me (among many other things) is the

slight (depending on statistical method used) increase in cancer

w/Xolair. And breast cancer appears to be one of the more common

ones.

>

> Of course I do NOT know right now that I have breast cancer (no

palpable lump). They want to compare it to old films and the former

clinic is taking their sweet time getting them ready. I've heard

that most turn out to be benign. I asked my pulmo if the

odd " nodule " that turned up in a chest x-ray several years ago and

disappeared completely in subsequent catscans could have anything to

do with it and she said " no. " I guess the other part that bothors me

is that it took them nearly 2 weeks to get a FORM LETTER to me - not

even the decency to call - and the gyn left it sitting on her desk

for a week while she was out. For that insensitivity I am FURIOUS.

The scarey part still lingers ... no one knows for sure exactly what

happens with any monoclonal antibody. Lung function improved ... and

now this ... hoping it's nothing.

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not

web links.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks very much and you do have a good point.

Just talked to another specialist who has no interest in Xolair

either financially or professionally and he said Xolair had NOTHING

to do with the goofy Mammogram. So, I think that's a good point,

plus, as I pointed out he has no vested interest so it's not

political at all. He also told me to stop analyzing it and working

myself up (what? me?) and just go to the surgeon for the

consultation I've scheduled.

I did pick up the films 2 days early - called just for the heck of it

(leaned on them a bit with the " abnormality " aspect) and the films

actually were there so got them to the hospital for comparison.

Whew!

Really, breast cancer, like many diseases, doesn't have a really

truly honest-to-goodness KNOWN cause. There has been a lot of

research but they still don't know for sure who gets it or why.

Maybe I should think about vacation! <grin> Of course, that brings

up airplanes w/yucky air but maybe xolair will help more with that

this time!

> >

> > I just found out that my mammogram was abnormal. This was quite

a

> shock as breast cancer does NOT run in my family at all and I do

not

> have a history of breast disease. A doctor (board certified former

> prof) I've gone to for many years figured I was at less risk for

> certain reasons too although certainly no one is " safe " and he's

made

> that clear. What's bothoring me (among many other things) is the

> slight (depending on statistical method used) increase in cancer

> w/Xolair. And breast cancer appears to be one of the more common

> ones.

> >

> > Of course I do NOT know right now that I have breast cancer (no

> palpable lump). They want to compare it to old films and the

former

> clinic is taking their sweet time getting them ready. I've heard

> that most turn out to be benign. I asked my pulmo if the

> odd " nodule " that turned up in a chest x-ray several years ago and

> disappeared completely in subsequent catscans could have anything

to

> do with it and she said " no. " I guess the other part that bothors

me

> is that it took them nearly 2 weeks to get a FORM LETTER to me -

not

> even the decency to call - and the gyn left it sitting on her desk

> for a week while she was out. For that insensitivity I am

FURIOUS.

> The scarey part still lingers ... no one knows for sure exactly

what

> happens with any monoclonal antibody. Lung function improved ...

and

> now this ... hoping it's nothing.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------------

> > oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not

> web links.

> >

> >