Second Analysis of Tumor ... HER2neu Equivocal

Mom2ABoy

Hello HER2'ers ...

I'm not sure if what I have would be considered "micro-invasive" or not, when an area of cancer was found within my 1.5cm DCIS, it was characterized as "infiltrating ductal carcinoma" but also very small (1.5mm), so the terminology isn't really clear, at least to me!

Anyway, I just saw my actual tumor genetics analysis report. (My husband has had it since last week, I didn't even realize there was a printed report i could look at! Sheesh.) When I met with my MO before my first chemo last week, he said that unlike the initial report from the local pathology lab, their analysis of the tumor's HER2neu status is "equivocal", and apparently they tried the CISH test a second time just to be sure.

The way the doctor put it, it sounded like this test result was saying the tumor just a little bit less strongly HER2neu positive than the first one said, but after reading the report, it seems to me as if the statement is saying that it's not at all certain that the tumor is HER2neu positive. Especially with the second test to make sure.

Since I'm just starting out on what I understand will be quite a long love affair with Herceptin, I'm suddenly off balance - what if the Herceptin isn't appropriate? How would we know? What should I ask my MO about, and is there anything else we can do to test the tumor again to see if we can conclude with any certainty that it's HER2+?

Anyone else have an "equivocal" HER2neu reading? If so what did you do about it?

Thanks in advance!