Her2+ and BRCA2+

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phoenixsmom
phoenixsmom Member Posts: 58
edited September 2015 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

Just wondering if anyone else has this combination.  I just found out the results of my genetic testing and have yet to meet anyone with the same.

Comments

  • LISAMG
    LISAMG Member Posts: 639
    edited October 2009

    BRCA 2 breast cancers are often HER2+, since this mutation has more er/pr positive tumors.  This is more common than you may think and with the BRCA1 gene, triple negative cancers occur more often. Hope you are being followed by breast surgical onc and gyn/onc as well. I encourage you to seek more support/info. with your positive status by visiting www.facingourrisk.org . We are the only organization devoted to both breast/ovarian hereditary cancers. There are messageboards, hotlines, local outreach programs all over the country, an annual 2 day conference, and newsletters as well. Where are you located? Happy to help you anyway I can . Best wishes.

    lisag@facingourrisk.org

  • phoenixsmom
    phoenixsmom Member Posts: 58
    edited October 2009

    Although I appreciate the support, I don't believe you are correct.  Her2+ has nothing to do with estrogen and progesterone receptors, it has to do with a protein.  I am PR+ by only 10% and ER-.  It is very uncommon to find Her2+ in a BRCA2 inherited breast cancer.  I was hoping to have a response from someone with the same diagnosis, but so far I have had none.  Please see these sources and others if you still disagree with me.  I discussed this in detail with the head of the genetics department at the cancer clinic in London, Ontario.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15933754

    http://www.termedia.pl/magazine.php?magazine_id=14&article_id=2560&magazine_subpage=ABSTRACT

    http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/full/20/9/2310 (under "discussion")

  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited October 2009

    PHX go back a ways on the Her2 thread, Lexislove started a thread on this some months ago and there were several ladies on there that were HER2 and braca2 positive.

    Look about 2=3 months ago.

  • phoenixsmom
    phoenixsmom Member Posts: 58
    edited October 2009

    Thanx.  I will look.

  • phoenixsmom
    phoenixsmom Member Posts: 58
    edited October 2009
    Okay so I looked.  Not very helpful that only one person so far as I can find has the her2 and brca2 thing.
  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited October 2009

    I think there was 2 or 3 if I recall.

    Elaine and Helena were both braca 2 and that is just the ladies that post on Her2 threads and we don't have that many. Try going over to HER2support.com and you will most likely find more.

  • phoenixsmom
    phoenixsmom Member Posts: 58
    edited October 2009

    I think that is still a very small # considering the many people on this forum (hundreds).  I think I am the only one at my hospital anyway.  I left a message to speak with my onc, especially now that my mom has been diagnosed too.

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited November 2009

    My oncologist says that the gene testing is NOT accurate and to wait 5 years before considering it.

  • lauramc
    lauramc Member Posts: 18
    edited November 2009

    I am Her2+ and BRCA2+ but my current breast cancer is ER-/PR-.  I got tested for the gene because of my young age.

  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited November 2009

    I had this conversation with my surgical oncologist just this week.  He told me that HER2 positive women were not as likely to have the genes as HER2 negative women.

  • phoenixsmom
    phoenixsmom Member Posts: 58
    edited November 2009

    Thank you for saying so Faith.  That is what I was told also.  My mom was also recently diagnosed with breast cancer and she has the BRCA II gene.  She won't know her Her2 status until she has her surgery in a couple of weeks.

  • shadow2356
    shadow2356 Member Posts: 393
    edited November 2009

    Hello! I am ER/PR- and Her2+. My doctor said it is very indicative of an inherited cancer. My mother and grandmother(maternal) had breast cancer. My first cousin on Mom's side had it too. All premenapausal I got tested for BRCA and was negative. They all said if I retest in 5 years when they learn to check for more mutations they would bet it will be positive.

    I think there is a lot they don't know

  • phoenixsmom
    phoenixsmom Member Posts: 58
    edited November 2009

    Hopefully in 5 years they will know so much more!  It definitely sounds like it runs in the family.  We are in the process of telling our family right now about the gene. 

  • belindagailes
    belindagailes Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2012

    I was diagnosed with IDC 2cm grade 3/3 and triple negative receptor also. BRCA2+ March 4,2011. Began chemotherapy April 1,2011 ...4× Taxotere...bilateral mastectomy and salpingo oophorectomy(removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes). 10 hour surgery. FOUR weeks later 4× cytoxan and epirubicin. Last chemo was Nov 4,2011. Two sentinodes tested both negative no others removed. Staged as. 1b. I know it was God who allowed everything to turn out as it did.I stayed positive. Nothing any different. My mother had cancer twice and passed 1/1/06.

    I did Alot of research on my type cancer. Be involved in your treatment and ask all the questions you need to. This is your life

  • Mayeve
    Mayeve Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2013

    Hi there



    I have just been given the confirmation that i have this combination too. I have double masectomy(preventative) and hoped i was over the worse. My initial labs said the tumor was slow and no her2 so the combination is overwelming. Looking for some insight and positivity if anyones has any.



    Thanks

  • Kgregorin
    Kgregorin Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2014

    Hi, I was diagnosed May 9, 2014. I am not sure how to enter all my information into my profile. Please help.I am brca2+. My mother had breast cancer when she was 53, she is now 86. She had a single mastectomy beck then. My daughter was diagnosed in 2010 at 32 yrs old, stage 4(her2-er+). That is when we were tested. My two daughters and I are positive, my son negative. Since the testing my other daughter and I are monitored with mammo sand MRI every six months. In sept. 2013 my mammo was clear. In April 2014 my MRI showed a small something. Ultrasound was inconclusive, so they did an MRI core biopsy. It was cancer, so on May 29th I had a double mastectomy with expanders For reconstruction. Pathology reports comes back her2+, progesterone+, the Nottingham histolgic score grade is 3, stage 1 and tumor size is 7mm. I meet with the oncologist on Monday. I'm assuming I will need chemo and herceptin a from what I have read. Will this delay my reconstruction. Also , will I need a port and can they place it in my chest since I have had a mastectomy. Sorry for all the questions, my head is just spinning. Thanks for your help.

  • Triple_Positive
    Triple_Positive Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2015

    Hi - your post is several years old - but hoping to share my story. I have ER+/PR+ breast cancer; HER2 results were 'borderline,' so they started HER2 treatment (assumed it was positive) as a part of my chemotherapy. Then I got gene tested and I have BRCA2 gene mutation. It doesn't seem like there are very many people out there who are ER+/PR+/HER2+/BRCA2 gene? If there is anyone else out there who has had the same 'borderline' HER2 test results, please let me know!

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