Looking for Her2 Positive survivor stories

fightergirl711

Thank you for posting!!

NicNak

I am not NED, but I am still here! 3 years and 8 months since original diagnosis.

lago

NicNak congratulations! Remember this thread said survivors not NED. Metavivors should be posting here too.

MsBrompton

Recently celebrated my 1-year cancerversary. I've been taking a lot of comfort from this forum while going through treatment. Now finished herceptin, NED and looking to the long term future. Thanks to all who take the trouble to come back here years after putting cancer behind you and post messages to the newbies (who as you know are scared).

Cwhitney

MsBrompton, awesome news! Congrats on 1 year!

kdtheatre

I just recently learned that the receptor scores from my biopsy (ER/PR+, Her2-) was correct for one of my masses, but not the 2nd one. After my lx surgery - the path report says I am now Her2+, I guess this is called Triple Positive. I don't know why - but this scares me horribly. I was doing really well prior to all this - but then when it changed, and my surgeon sounded SO incredibly sad to tell me the news...I knew it must not be good. I am still trying to learn more about it, but am so anxious/panicked it is hard to read stuff. I have xanax, but am trying not to take it every night.

Reading the survivor stories has helped - but I am still terrified. Hope my apt with my MO tomorrow will relieve some of this.

Cwhitney

kdtheathe, I too am triple positive and freaked out like you did. I went from having dcis to idc then getting all my tests back and being Her2. That was probably the worst point of this journey. My breast surgeon acted the same way only because it meant a year of treatment instead of just my mastectomy and tamoxifen. But believe that we are very lucky that we have amazing drugs like herceptin and Pergeta in our arsenal. They are wonder drugs. And chemo is not as scary as I thought. You will get through this. I have many triple positive friends that are doing just fine years out from their diagnosis. They are living life and looking gorgeous!

MsBrompton

kdtheatre, triple positive is a GOOD one to be! The worst is triple negative!!

HER+ used to be bad news before Herceptin but now it's no worse than being HER- if you take Herceptin. As my onco said, "I've got something to treat". ER+ is good because taking things like Tamoxifen suppresses the growth. PR+ doesn't seem to mean much.

Hang in there.

lala1

kdtheatre---My friend was diagnosed with HER+ BC back in March. She did neoadjuvant chemo with Herceptin...6 doses at 3 weeks apart. She was very very frightened by this diagnosis. It's the opposite of mine and I didn't have to do chemo or rads so I couldn't really help her too much, just emotional support and I researched as much as I could. Her lump was fairly large so the goal was to shrink it enough to try a lumpectomy. She had that surgery 2 weeks ago and called me Friday to tell me that pathology showed a complete pathological response! The surgeon said he couldn't tell the lump from healthy tissue during surgery and pathology showed the same! Needless to say she's ecstatic so I just want you to know this is totally possible for you as well. And much of my research showed better long term outcomes for HER+ women over HER- women because of Herceptin. The chance of recurrence is slightly higher in the first couple of years but you will be followed so closely, it would get caught early. Then after that your recurrence risk drops a lot. My friend went into this thinking she would not live to see her son grow up but we are at 6 months out and even though she's about to start rads, she is very very optimistic. She planned to "burn the farm" with a double mastectomy and ended up being totally ok with lumpectomy which got clean margins and negative nodes in the first go round. I know it's scary but know that HER+ women have great outcomes these days. Stay on the boards where you'll get the best support possible and know you're way tougher than you ever thought!

lago

kdtheatre this Wednesday I will be celebrating 6 years NED (no evidence of disease). As you can see I was diagnosed triple positive, stage IIB with a rather larger tumor. I'm doing just fine. I too was scared as shit when I read about HER2+ but now they have so many ways to battle this. I did Herceptin and chemo. But now if your tumor is big enough they are giving Perjeta before surgery. I didn't get that but obviously I didn't need it because I'm still cancer free!

Lilyn

Eight years out now Hugs and strength to all

NWArtLady

5 years NED! Never thought I'd see this day. So thankful. Hang in there, everyone!!

lexi4

11 years NED, as of last month. So grateful for my team of dr.s as well as herceptin!

I had a pretty gloomy prognosis but my team of oncs always gave me hope.

Big hugs and prayers for my her2 sisters!

Lexi

fightergirl711

I love seeing these stories thank you

CassieCat

Keep the good news coming! So great to read the updates.

zjrosenthal

Just had my second ned mamo and sono this summer. All is looking good and I am beyond grateful. Treatment isn't easy but i am 73 yrs old ladies and if I got through this you can too. Love, Jean

Cwhitney

These stories give us all hope! Thank you for sharing!

AliceS

So thrilled for you, Lexi and you've made my day besides--lots of life out there to live! Am always looking for Stage 3 -er-pr success stories so it was fabulous to wake up this morning and find yours! Yes, thanks to Herceptin-- a real game changer and now there is Perjeta if needed. Do you watch your diet? Best wishes to you and keep posting--makes us all happy.

Stephanie

Deaconlady

So encouraging to read these! 💜 I had a follow-up mammogram last month on my right side that was clear!

AliceS

NicNak--thanks for posting! Thank goodness for Perjeta--came just in time! I have a friend who has the same diagnosis as you (and-er-pr), and doing great since 2009. Keep a healthy lifestyle--exercise and everything in moderation.

Stephanie

Pipandor

Thank you so much Lexi4! Your post is of great comfort for us HER2+ -er/-pr.

Sr2295

congratulations on one year! As a newbie to the forums and starting chemo and targeted therapies on Tuesday these posts are really amazing!!!!

lkc

just back from my Routine Onc visit; all's well and blessedly healthy , this after a really dismal stageIIIC , her 2 pos , 12 pos nodes, and no clear surg margins, ( only one of my family to suvive this beast) 11 .5 yrs ago., and all the negative statistics (back then.

There is so much hope and great LIFE after this crap

Wish you all a gentle road that no one wants to travel on

SpecialK

lkc - great pic, and congrats!

fightergirl711

Love the photo lkc, you look wonderful! Congrats, and it always makes me smile to see you post, it gives hope to us who are still in the thick of things.

KateB79

lkc, thank you for that! What a lovely picture!

I just saw my RO for my six-month check-up.

Still NED. Diagnosed July, 2015.

Elaine422

What's NED?

Elaine422

Do you know where a thread is on your first mammogram after finishing treatment? I'm a little scared. I'd like to know what others were feeling. Thank you. I am going to my support group tomorrow, so I'll ask them as well.

I don't have all my specifics in front of me, but I do know I'm HER-2+. Had chemo, lumpectomy, chemo again, radiation and now on Herceptin until November of this year.

zjrosenthal

No Evidence of Disease.... Love, Jean

MKTOC92315

No evidence of disease.