HER2+ (Score 3+)

soniamego

Hi to everybody, I'm new to this site and will try to do my story short. I am 45 years old, pre menospausal, married with 2 boys (11 and 14) 3 or more years ago I found a lump on my left breast, they did mammo, ultrasound and biopsy and turned out it was negative. 2 years ago I found another lump on my right breast and they did mammo and ultrasound and all look normal, last March I was auto-examining myself and found a lump under my right axilla, they did biopsy on Mid April and it came positive, early July I had lumpectomy and axillary node disection on the right side, the results were: ER + 90% strong, PGR+ 1% strong HER2+ Score 3+. Dr decided to do another biopsy to the lump on my left one and just came positive, my lumpectomy is schedule for next Wednesday and he is going to take lymph node samples (sentinel). I wanted from the beginning mastectomy and immediate reconstruction but dr said no cuz I will need chemo and radiation, I don't want none of them and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to change my mind. This time he suggested mastectomy but again he is insisting on chemo ignoring my decision. I have so many questions that I don't know where to start, I'm so overwhelmed.

I did a lot of research and talked to people that decided to have and not have chemo/radiation and I got to the conclusion all bodies are and react different, some may get benefits from chemo and some not. I want just to take a chance to try to heal my body eating healthy and taking natural stuff against cancer (antioxidants) and to balance my hormones. I have no history of family cancer and inside me I am pretty sure all started 3 years ago when I had really serious problems with my marriage (all the bad things u can imagine) and I started to drink "socially" but a lot, I was depressed, stressed and not eating or sleeping normally.

If dr said my cancer is aggressive and I will have 50% chances itan come back, if I do a mastectomy does it will lower the chances? Do any of you had the same type of cancer and decided not to go to chemo and still are cancer free?

Thank you for your help

ElaineTherese

Hi!

HER2+ is an aggressive form of breast cancer. Before the discovery of targeted therapies (Herceptin and Perjeta), women with this kind of cancer had the worst outcomes. Targeted therapies are NOT chemo, but they are initially given with chemo. There are some doctors who will give Herceptin alone, but not many.

I don't know if your doctor is right about the 50% figure, but I -- personally -- chose to do chemo, targeted therapy, radiation and hormonal therapy. I feel that these treatments give me the best chance of avoiding recurrence and worse, metastases. You can choose to forego chemo and radiation, but I would consider that choice to be risky.

Mastectomy might help you reduce your recurrence rate slightly, but it will nothing about the cancer cells that are already circulating in your bloodstream and lymph system, looking for a new home. In terms of survival rates, lumpectomy + radiation is the same as mastectomy.

Best wishes! You and your doctor don't seem to be on the same page, but he is right that HER2+ cancer is aggressive.