Post menopause triple positive

3positive-57

There does not appear to be many of us post menopausal that are triple positive out there, looking for others to share your information that your doctors have told you. I have been told I cannot be given a prognosis due to lack of studies in this subtype group. Anyone get different information?

SpecialK

I am a post-menopausal TP and a difference in prognosis from younger patients was never discussed during my treatment. What specific info are you seeking?

HelenWNZ

hi I'm the same TP and post menopausal and I'm the same with no differences discussed

SpecialK

There is also a triple positive thread (linked below) and the age ranges among the participants, but there are plenty of us that are post-meno there. Might be worth asking any questions on that thread too to see if any of the members there have any info for you.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topics/764183?page=1005#idx_30134

3positive-57

My understanding is being triple positive is less common in postmenapausal women. I guess what I am looking for is chances of recurrence for those of us that are postmenapausal. Supposedly, 3+has been studied more in the younger women because there are more of you. This is where my doctors have said there are no current studies out there regarding statics because the current common chemo treatments have not been on the market long enough to be studied. (2 years). I have chosen to have a lumpectomy August 24th and am hoping I have made the right decision. I believe currently the premenopausal and postmenapausal are medically being treated the same. Still don't know if lymph nodes are involved yet. Just want to feel confident in my decision. Thank you for everyone's response.

SpecialK

The chemo treatments for triple positive have been on the market and in use for years, it is the targeted non-chemo treatments (Herceptin and Perjeta) which are newer. Herceptin has been used for Her2+ breast cancer since 1998, with use for early stage since 2006 - so, 10 years. You are correct that pre and post menopausal receive the same treatment, and to my knowledge, have similar outcomes. Perjeta is the newest targeted drug, and I believe the one your MO is referring to, that has only been FDA approved since late 2013 for early stage patients. Perjeta is currently only FDA approved for neoadjuvent use, but some oncologists have been able to secure insurance coverage for adjuvant treatment also - usually in higher risk or node positive patients. I don't think you are going to find specific recurrence rate info for pre vs post meno Her2+ patients, but in the clinical trials conducted looking at effectiveness, a cross-section of patients would have been enrolled with representative age distribution. There are a number of us on the TP thread I linked above that are post-menopausal and years out from treatment without recurrence.

HelenWNZ

I'm 52 and believe I was going through menopause at the time of my diagnosis if the hot flushes were anything to go by. Had a hysterectomy in 2012 so bit hard to tell otherwise. I kept my overies. What I believe is that although blood tests showed I was post menopausal my insides were a jingling mess. Which could have caused my E8 P6 her2+ readings.

SpecialK

Helen - your ER percentage on pathology has no connection to the amount of estrogen circulating in your body - it is the number of receptors available on your breast cells that could be fed by estrogen. When they look at 100 cells on a slide they will count the number of receptors - say they see 78, you would be 78% ER+. I had a total hyst/ooph, very little circulating estrogen yet I was 96% ER+ because of the number of receptors visualized.

Spice57

Hello Special K

Recently diagnosed, RT breast 1.5 cm tumor Er+Pr+Her2+, grade 3, FISH+ IDC with DCIS.

I am 60 years old now. My husband turned away from our marriage in the last few years. Personally, I don't see any benefit to the therapy after another surgery (Implant, tumor, and nipple and areola removal).

Medical Oncologist wants to use Taxol every week for 12 weeks and Herceptin. Anti estrogen med for 5 years and Radiation to follow Chemo every day for 6 weeks.

I will be physically turned into a man and dried up to a shrivel down there. NOT to mention all the muscle and joint pains-reversing All of my years of gaining fitness.

9 years ago I had Rt breast DC IS 6 cm with grade 3 come do tumor underneath, Er-Pr- Her2 +. I chose mastectomy for the DC IS. The tumor below was found underneath it all. Chemo: Taxotere, Carboplatin: 6 rounds and Herceptin 1 yr. Lost all my body hair and TWO fingernails started to come off toward the end. I lived on slimfast, diet coke, and ramen noodles. It was HELL! Taking it's toll on my body, psyche, and marriage. YES, I did survive it, but after implants (szD) for him, he became a stranger, jealous of men that would look at me or ask me to dance. Sexuality dove into depths and I didn't feel libido or natural down there for almost 5 years.

SpecialK

spice -I’m sorry you are dealing with another diagnosis, going through treatment for this once is enough, right? If I am understanding you correctly, you are to do 12 weekly Taxol/Herceptin for your new diagnosisbut are questioning going forward with anti-hormonals due to the potential side effects?

Ingerp

Interesting to see this thread bumped up (and to see SpecialK here too—hi honey! I keep up with the TP thread!). I am definitely post-menopausal and will have my initial consult with an MO a week from Monday. I've been researching/thinking like crazy. My current mindset is to do Herceptin, rads, and an AI but skip the Taxol. I was leery of all of it except the rads but have come around on the H and AI. My BS said rads and an AI give the biggest bang for the buck. In fact he said if it were a family member refusing an AI, he'd grind it up and sneak it in her food. He believes they are that beneficial.

Spice keep in mind your treatment decisions are yours to make

Texasborn

I am triple positive and stage 1a and going to have a lumpectomy in 2 days. Have I made a hasty decision?

Ingerp

Texas—not sure what decision you're referring to. Between lumpectomy and MX? Whether to have surgery at all?

Moderators

Texasborn, welcome to the BCO Community. It would be helpful, as Ingerp asked, if you provided a few more details, and maybe add to your profile.

If it is between Mastectomy vs. Lumpectomy, this reading could be helpful. Share a bit more about yourself so we can better support you.

Hang in there!