Second time around! Help me with this path report please

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danix5
danix5 Member Posts: 755
edited January 2017 in Just Diagnosed

I have been diagnosed again and this is my report so far. Surgery Jan 25th. I believe I am stage 1 ILC and IDC. I need help with grades and understanding HER2 positive. Anyone out there choose not to do Herceptinimage

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  • GraceB1
    GraceB1 Member Posts: 213
    edited January 2017

    Herceptin and perjeta are big guns. They are game changers. Why would you not do it unless you have heart problems? Almost all women have very manageable side effects. It looks like they didn't get all the tumor (see progesterone report). I can't speak to the grades.

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited January 2017

    Agreed with Grace. Herceptin is very manageable, the side effects are minimal and it is saving lives. Before Herceptin, HER2+ meant a poorer prognosis, but not today. Even those who are stage IV are living life NED (no evidence of disease) for 10 or more years. Now the other chemos that go along with the Herceptin.....(I did taxotere and carboplatin).....not so pleasant...... So sorry you have to be here.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited January 2017

    Agree with Grace and debiann. Before targeted therapies, (Heceptin and Perjeta), HER2+ breast cancer patients often had the worst outcomes. Every day, I feel grateful that these therapies are available and that I was able to access them.

    It seems as though your tumor is small (6 mm). Your oncologist might recommend just Taxol and Herceptin for you. I found Taxol to be very doable. It gave me mild diarrhea, but I managed that with Imodium.

    Best wishes!

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  • danix5
    danix5 Member Posts: 755
    edited January 2017

    Thank you ladies for your replies. I am not going to not do anything they tell me to do. I was just wondering since an article said there were several test for HER2. I know all about how life saving herceptin is.... years ago I watched the movie LIVING PROOF. Powerful movie and such an odd feeling now that I am now one of those patients that will benefit. So my question was phrased wrong.... anyone not do herceptin without all the additional test to show you really need to do it.

    Thank you fir making me feel better about how relatively easy the side effects are on this medicine!

    As I did nine years ago, I appreciate you all and this site!



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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited January 2017

    I didn't do any additional tests except for standard scans. Still glad I made my decision for Hereceptin.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited January 2017

    Hi!

    Are you borderline for HER2+? If so, your doctors could order the FISH test to make sure. I was actually diagnosed HER2+ through the FISH because the IHC was equivocal.

    Best wishes!

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  • danix5
    danix5 Member Posts: 755
    edited January 2017

    I don't know if I am borderline. The above path is only fir the biopsy. The surgery is Wednesday the 25th.... one month after a great Christmas. Life as I knew it if course has changed in that month. Ready to get final path and treatments started so I can put this behind me again

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  • GraceB1
    GraceB1 Member Posts: 213
    edited January 2017

    It doesn't look like you're borderline with a 3+ score. The score goes from 0 to 3. I was negative on my first biopsy and only 1+ on the biopsy after the MX but I wanted to throw everything I could at it. I was also ER- on the first biopsy and 99% positive on the second. I don't think the first biopsy had good sample of the tumor. You could always ask for a FISH test to be done if you're unsure. On the FISH test 6 is the cut off for positive and negative scores. I was 6.2 and don't regret one minute of doing herceptin.

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  • danix5
    danix5 Member Posts: 755
    edited January 2017

    Thank you so much for your reply! I am on board with Herceptin! I agree throw everything at the beast

    😊

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  • danix5
    danix5 Member Posts: 755
    edited January 2017

    I had DCIS GRADE3 multiple areas 2008 bilateral mx, opp/hyster 2008. Fast forward Jan 2017 IDC AND ILC HER2 positive ER+ PR-

    Had two areas removed yesterday,and two sentinel nodes,one known cancer other we are waiting for path

    Breast surgeon stated that there was quite a bit of residual tissue ! My heart had powerful cardiac arrhythmia which put me in distress during first mx. I almost died on the table spent four days in the heart ward than two months had cardiac ablation. Heart is fine now

    This appears to be possibly a reason so much was left behind, I clearly am very angry they should've ablated my heart area and then take me back to finish the mx to clear tissue properly but I guess they felt they had done a good job. Which clearly they did not.

    I have a call into surgeon this morning to ask whether possibly opening both breasts and making sure all the tissue is removed properly this time or do I just wait do the radiation anti-estrogen and Herceptin?

    Has anyone else had this type of complication?

    Still waiting on final path

    Thank you

    Daniella

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