Biopsy result showed a 2+=borderline

jengordon729

I was just diagnosed last week. I have 2 tumors not too close together. Doctor recommended mastectomy. I was good with the idea of just doing the one breast. But my last result of the biopsy came back (Her 2 was 2+=borderline). So that is not quite a negative or positive. So now I am tying to figure out if I should get them both done. I am only 44 and I really do not want to have to go through another surgery like this down the road. I would love to hear others opinions and experiences. Most everyone I talk to in my family says to get the double. I am still on the fence. I just want to make the right decision and I don't know what that is yet.

KathyL624

If your HER2 is borderline then they should be doing further testing to determine positive or negative. That might help you make a decision

SummerAngel

Kathy is correct. Both of my tumors were 2+ so they were both sent for a FISH test.

jengordon729

Do you know if they automatically do this with the tissue they already have? Or will I need another biopsy

debiann

I don’t think being HER2+ makes it any more likely to get a contra lateral cancer in your other breast. If you were comfortable with a uni before finding out your HER2 status this new information doesn't mean you should reconsider your decision. Some types of bc are more likely to appear in both breasts, but I forget which ones.

MaineRottweilers

I wanted to have them both done at the same time but my surgeon declined stating we didn't want to do ANYTHING which might delay my chemo and there can be a greater risk of infection and delayed healing when doing bilateral surgery. I stayed uni for just over a year and decided that I wanted symmetry so went ahead and had the other done. Mastectomy surgery (single) was very easy for me. I had surgery on Tuesday morning and was back at unrestricted work (as a veterinary technician) on Monday morning after my drain was pulled. The first mastectomy, of course was a little more painful than the second because I also had lymph nodes removed. The second surgery didn't require even Tylenol after the first night in the hospital. I do have a decent pain threshold, coupled with an excellent surgeon, it went well for me.

stephincanada

Hi Jengordon,

I have decided to have a double mastectomy after having been diagnosed with a HER2 positive (IHC) ER/PR negative tumour. Are you ER/PR negative? If so, there is a study that may be helpful to you. It found that:

1. women treated for hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer were more than 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with a new cancer (either hormone-receptor-positive or -negative) in the other breast compared to women treated for hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer; and

2. the risk of being diagnosed with a second hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer is almost 10 times greater in women with an initial diagnosis of hormone-receptor-negative cancer compared to women with an initial diagnosis of hormone-receptor-positive cancer.

See link to the article here:

http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/20090710

So, the way I read this, because I had one hormone negative cancer, I am more likely to develop a second primary breast cancer, which is 10 times more likely to be hormone negative. YIKES. I "got lucky" that my tumour was HER2 positive and can be treated with Herceptin. According to the study, if I develop a second primary B.C., there is increased risk that it will be triple negative (and more difficult to treat).

Like MaineRottweilers, my doctors did not want me to do the mastectomy before chemo. There is a risk of infection/complication that could delay chemo. So I had a lumpectomy, did chemo, and will have the mastectomy four weeks after chemo is done. Radiation will follow chemo, and reconstruction will be done one year later.

Wishing you all the best with your decision.

Stephanie

jengordon729

I am ER+/PR+, I am just worried that the Her2 will be positive since it is borderline. I thought that it was better for the Her2 to be negative? I am just still trying to learn all about this.