Confused about recurrence

Mantra

My sister is ER +, PR - and HER2 +.  She is on chemo every two weeks. . . 6 down, 2 to go. She also started Herceptin.

When they talk about HER2 + having a higher rate of recurrence, are they talking about a recurrence in the breast or a recurrance anywhere? She is stage 111 (16 positive nodes).

Thanks

orange1

The risk for recurrance is higher for Her2+ cancer at both local and distant sites.  Luckily Herceptin + chemo GREATLY reduces risk of recurrance and tamoxifen substancially further reduces risk (even PR- patients).  Thanks to chemo, herceptin and hormonals, MOST patients with Stage 3 Her + ER+ do well long term.

Best Wishes for you and your sister.

bluedasher

I think that Herceptin levels things out for women with HER2+. Before Herceptin, recurrence risk was very high, both for distant and local recurrence. But with chemo and Herceptin, I don't think it is worse for HER2+. 

CoolBreeze

My cancer recurred almost the instant I was off herceptin, to my liver.  I think it's higher distant and local.  HER2 is nasty, nasty.

kathleen1966

I believe that Her2+ before Herceptin  almost always recurred. I was told that before Heceptin it was a very bad cancer to have, even with negative lymph nodes. Herceptin has helped but it does not work for everyone.  And I think the percentage that is DOES work for may not be as large as we are all being led to believe it is. The good news (at least what I believe is) is that now that they actually got funding for research for Herceptin and it made it to the general public after clinical trials, it is only the beginning of more and better drugs to come.  Drugs that will illiminate chemo.  We just have to hope that there is funding for these treatments.  It seems as if Herceptin was almost a no go.  I wonder how many others there are which never make it to any trials that could be possible cures. Which is why we should donate to RESEARCH more than to breast Awareness....

Mantra

Is Tamoxifin started after chemo is finished or is it taken at the same time? I know my sister is not on it, and I'm going to tell her to speak to her oncologist about it when she sees her next week.

I'm also concerned that she isn't going to have the second mastectomy until after chemo and rads are finished. Is surgery out of the question for a patient undergoing chemo and rads?