ER-, PR-, HER2/neu Strong +3

I am ER/PR-, HER2+ and am having chemo (6 treatments), then radiation (every day for six weeks), and Herceptin for a total of one year. She will most likely have chemo but I can't tell you which drugs her oncologist will recommend. I am getting Taxotere and Cytoxan every three weeks but meds/frequency varies according to doctor and diagnosis. With HER2+ she will probably get Herceptin no matter what else they give her. Got to www.herceptin.com for more information.

I don't know about treatment being standardized but I do know that many oncologists type the diagnosis, risk factors, pathology, etc. into some kind of computer program that makes treatment recommendations. It spits out statistics too. It is something that oncologists use, but I would think there is a certain amount of customization that has to be done by the doctors themselves. I did not go to MD Anderson for treatment but might go there for a second opinion. I would like to know if there is anything else that can be done besides what I'm doing to reduce recurrence. I researched my treatment and it seemed to me that mine is fairly standard for people with my type of cancer & pathology, but mine was only stage 1. MD Anderson is definitely a good place to go. I know that my oncologist meets with a board once a week to discuss their cases. The same treatments are available at various places, but the level of care and experience of the doctors might be different.

I would like to add that when my oncologist talked to me about treatment options, he said that ER/PR- cancers can't be treated with medicines standardedly used on cancer that has hormone receptors (no maintenance drugs after initial treatment). Since the HER2+ status makes it a more aggressive cancer with a greater chance of recurrence, he said that we needed to hit it with the big guns now while we have the chance. I am being treated at another hospital in the Houston Medical Center and not MD Anderson....there are cancer departments at Baylor, Methodist, and many other hospitals with good doctors that have had training at MD Anderson. You need to have confidence in your oncologist and their level of experience/training.

Bumping

ScaredHubby,

I have the some tumor diagnosis, ER-, ER- and Her2+, grade 3. I had four rounds of AC (Adrimycin and Cytoxene) and have two remaining Taxol treatments (4 total as well). My first two taxols included herceptin which I will receive every three weeks for a year. Herceptin is a huge benefit for us her2+ gals since we're not candidates for tamoxifin. As for the 5 year survival, I was told after my chemo and mastectomy, I had an 85% survival rate based on BC stage II. This is all based on grade, tumor status and stage. Before the mastetomy, I had a 50% chance of reoccurance. That too has been drastically reduced and since I may do rads, that rate will be reduced more so. Everyone's different so check with your oncologists. It very important that you love your doctors since you'll be with them for many years. Best of luck, and come here often. Great place for support and knowledge, not to mention friendships.

Roxi 

My tumor has the same biology.  I had 4 dd (dense dose) A/C and 12 weekly Taxol and Herceptin for 52 weeks.  I am currently doing taxol and herceptin.  Herceptin is key for us HER2+ gals.  I don't know what your onc. will go with but be careful with the Adriamycin and Herceptin.  They are both harmful to the heart.  If your wife is given Adriamycin and it damages her heart she may have to postpone herceptin treatments (and herceptin works better when given with a chemo such as taxol).  Luckily, my heart stood up to Adriamycin and I was able to go right into the herceptin.  Just want you to know that there are other alternatives to Adriamycin as far as the heart issues are concerned.  Take care and God Bless.

Yogi

On 4th Jan 2013, mum got operated and the lump size was 4X3X2.5.

It was invasive ductular carcinoma - Grade 3 - pT2 

Lymph Nodes clear.

Margins clear.

ER/PR +ve and Her +3 +ve

However, cos we are not financially sound, we decided to go to a Government Hospital here in India..best known for its cancer treatment.

They wanted to test for ER-PR-Her again. But surprisingly the reports came as ER/PR -ve and Her +3. The docs theri  say mum has to get operated once more to clear off the surrounding area....

M surprised bcos the report says that the margins are clear(except for a small focus of DCIS close to the margin)...Just for the small focus why do a surgery again.... I am wondering why they want to dig up the scars again..the wounds have already healed and now they are asking to do a mammo + surgery...it is going to be extremely painful....I dont understand why they simply dont go ahead with the chemo n radiotherapy...Its getting all the more confusing....We are upset about this whole thing. Pls help...Pls help....