IDC with DCIS HER2+

lulazoe

I recently received a dx of IDC with DCIS comedo pattern lt breast. My path report states HER2/neu 3+ positive unfavorable. I am confused by by the unfavorable part. My Oncologist advised I could choose lumpectomy/rad which is deemed to have the same "cure"rate as Mastectomy. I am assuming he is referring to what is present at this time and not for life. However I don't think the HER2 staining was complete at time I saw him. I can't imagine doing a lumpectomy and radiation and having any kind of peace. I am a Rad Technologist and know the adverse effects of rad on the lungs and heart as well as the thyroid and lens of eye. On the other hand my breasts are both symmetrical and such a beautiful part of my body that I can't imagine removing them. I feel like i'm on a bad roller coaster ride and it is never going to end. I am 53,no family hx of BC, post meno x 6yrs,gave birth to one child, and did use progesterone cream for 2yrs prior to compete cessation of monthly cycles. Can someone enlighten me on the facts of my path report?

MsBrompton

Hi Lulazoe

I had almost exactly same histology. My oncologist says HER2+ is a growth factor so the "unfavourable" histology report is really just saying "it's growing a lot". BUT HER2+ is really really sensitive to Herceptin, so it's only unfavourable if you don't get it treated! She told me they used to view HER2+ as a 'bad' one to have but now they say 'this is good, we can treat it with Herceptin and it will melt away'.

Look at this: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1406281 - a study of 400+ women with HER2+ early breast cancer, 99% were cancer free at 3 years after Herceptin / Taxol, whether lumpectomy or mastectomy.

BUT my personal choice was to have a mastectomy because I didn't like the idea of it sitting around in my breast, and mine was left sided, so I didn't want radiotherapy near my heart. My mastectomy went fine and the reconstruction is great! It looks like you are having the same subconscious feelings as I was - and if so, you'd feel way better if you just went for the mastectomy!!

chocomousse

I found out (just yesterday) weeks after my mastectomy that my IDC was HER2+, score 3+. I had a unilateral mastectomy due to the fear, among other things, of damage from rads and given the current findings, I'm glad I did.

Carolina59

Lulazoe, I can so relate to your wish not to remove your breasts. I had resigned myself to removing one due to the size of the tumor, but then after breast MRI, DCIS was found in the other, so I chose to remove both. I had chemo with Herceptin, five year of Arimidex, no radiation. I had reconstruction with silicone implants. Honestly, I still miss my originals. But what I don't miss is the underlying fear that cancer was not completely removed (a fear which never completely goes away anyway). I don't miss mammograms, ultrasounds, breast MRIs. I treated the cancer very aggressively, and it has allowed me some peace of mind moving forward. It is a bad rollercoaster ride for now, but it will get better. I hope you are doing all right.

jumbledbamboo

Hi there! I had tumors that were IDC and DCIS. Triple pos. My larger tumor was 3.5 cm I had a mastectomy. I have finished the big chemo, THCP, and am now on to herceptin as well as a prophylactic ooph that I am recovering from. This is a rough year, but one that I hope to be worth it

lulazoe

Hey its me again. A lot has happened since my last post. I decided to go ahead with the DMX and on 9/9/15 had both breasts removed and immediate reconstruction started. I experienced a couple of days of considerable pain but was primarily plaqued by hypersensitivity under my arms. The left one is still somewhat sensitive. I discovered that when I wore the camisole or the bra it was worse. I had my right drain for 2 weeks and the left for 3 weeks. I used someone elses idea of using a tube bra to place my drainage bulbs and tubing and it was more comfortable. It is weird to touch my newly forming breasts as they are numb. I have had one inflation and am at 250cc's each breast. I really don't like how my chest/breasts contract when pushing or pulling anything...just weird.

I had my heart scan on the 5th of Oct and my Port-a-cath placed on the 6th, I have 3 appointments next week at my Treatment place. On Monday I see my MO and get labs. Tuesday I start my Chemo: Taxotere,Carboplatin,and Herceptin (TCH). I've been told total chemo time will be 4hrs. Wednesday I go back for Antibodies. I've been told this will be my new normal every three weeks until 6 rounds are completed and then will continue with the Herceptin for total of one year from first dose.

I seen where lots of ppl have taken a chemo class prior to starting it. I haven't, didn't even know I needed too. I am now feeling unprepared. We live an hour and half from Huntsville, Al where my treatment will be administered (Clearview Cancer Institute). Getting really nervous. I have scalp psoariasis and also have a tendency to develop fever blisters on my lower lip and am worried about them getting worse. Also my son is getting married June 2016...i'm not going to have hair and afraid will still look sickly. Plus a million other fears concerning chemo and its side effects.