Hormonal therapy for ER-/PR+/HER2-?

Cutie

I have done chemo and surgery with different DX from most people as ER-/PR+/HER2-. My MO said that she will give me Al drug which will be Estrogen blocker. I had ER0% and PR90% from my original pathology results. Being estrogen zero, I am worried about making my estrogen too low. I have some bone density issues. Is there anyone who has the same DX as me and taking any hormonal therapy?

Meow13

bumping for Cutie, I know in the past there have been er- pr+ her2- negative BCO members. It is even more rare that er+ pr- cancers.

lemonee

I’m Er-/PR+/HER2- also. I don’t think there are many of us out there! My ER was 0% and PR 45%. My MO wants me on an aromatase inhibitor for 10 years, currently exemestane. I had a BMX, chemo, radiation, and hysterectomy/BSO. I’m Brca1+. I’m struggling with that decision too

Cutie

Meow13, thank you for your response. I was trying to look for any thread related to this topic but unsuccessful.

Lemonee,

I had BMX and PCR. Haven't had radiation yet. I want to have only Axillary node location and radiation oncologist wants to do chest wall and pectoral nodes and axillary nodes. I m waiting to see second doctor for advice. I am also thinking no to do radiation if they don't do axillary only. My MO said same thing that you are told for aromatse inhibitor for 5 years. I thought those are for estrogen blockers. I have 0% ER and 90%PR. I will try to look more. Please let me know if you find any info.

Thanks 😀 Cutie

Alicethecat2

Hello Cutie

Have a look at this:

http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2011/06/24/a-tale-of-two-hormone-receptors/

Alice

Cutie

Thank you. I wonder if androgen is linked to Progesterone. Because in BC, it's concerned about ER and PR only.

Alicethecat2

Hello Cutie

According to this study:

From oestrogen to androgen

Women's bodies are awash with female hormones – namely oestrogen and progesterone – but they also produce a small amount of testosterone, more commonly thought of as a male hormone.

These hormones act by entering cells and attaching to receptors – the oestrogen, progesterone and androgen (testosterone) receptors, respectively – which then switch on specific genes causing the cell to do certain things (for example, grow and divide).

I am wondering if this research received enough attention when it came out.

Alice

Jujibean

Hi Cutie, a test result of ER 0%, PR 90% ought to mean your cancer cells will not respond to estrogen inhibitor treatments. It isn't an indicator of how much estrogen is in your system. I am ER100% PR 10%, meaning the hormone therapy works for me to remove estrogen will discourage further growth of cancer cells. Perhaps ask your MO why hormone therapy will work for you??

Cutie

Hi Jujibean,

Thanks for your input. My ER is 0%and PR is 90% with HER2-(FISH). I asked my MO why I should take estrogen blockerr Al drugs, with ER0% as tumor had no ER. She said PR is related to ER, I doubt. I don't want to get additional burden on my system if the hormonal therapy drug does not benefit to me. But there are no drugs that Target to Progesterone. She said if any receptor is positive, they give these drugs. I tried to look for research papers and seems the medical industry is not 100% sure yet.

By the way, do you do radiation? I did bilateral mastectomy and pathology report found no residuals after chemo in 3 removed nodes and no tumor in breast. So, I am wondering no to do radiation. I don't want to get any side effects. Radiation doctor wants to radiate all locations but I was asking only for armpit. She said they don't do only armpit.

Thank you so much.

Cutie

Meow13

Cutie, I think the problem is that there are so few cases of er- pr+ cancers. Not many studies showing any clear statistical outcomes from using tamoxifen or AI drugs.

Cutie

Thank you 😀😀

katej128

I’m also ER-/PR+/HER2- my PR is only 3%. So frustrating to not have many cases or research to reference. I’ve had a lumpectomy with clear lymph nodes and margins, almost done with chemo and then will have radiation for 4 weeks. My MO is also suggesting hormone therapy but I’m struggling to understand it’s necessity. There must be a margin of error on these percentages and with my PR being so low, should I have my tumor retested by a different pathology lab that may use different criteria?

Cutie

Sorry for late response as I have been dealing with invisible insects, mites?at home. I suppose to avoid chemicals but had to deal with it. My body is sensitive to chemicals after chemo. Your PR 3% seems low side and probably ER is majority. We're you able to test it again?

Stay safe.

Cutie