HER2 chemo done question

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jc35963
jc35963 Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

I am trying to piece together my mom in laws diagnosis when I live so far away from her and get all the info second hand! She was diagnosed with breast cancer that had spread to the lymph nodes under her arm. It was HER2 positve. She did about 4 months of chemo then had an mri of her breast. She said they told her the cancer had shrunk in size and was gone from the nodes. Friday she had a mastectomy. Today she got her path results and it said she still has cancer cells in three of the four nodes they checked in surgery. So what does this mean??? Did the chemo NOT work then after all? I fear she has not been honest with us about what is really going on!! And I really dont think she understands it all anyway. WHY would they do chemo before surgery?  Anyone with some info please respond!! I am lost in all of this!

Thanks!

Jenny

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited April 2010

    Hi there.

    You can see my stats below. I also did chemo before surgery. Lots of woman go this route. It is usually done on larger tumors so at surgery they can be sure to have removed it all. And, some woman go this route in order to have a lumpectomy VS mastectomy. Also, it is the best way to be able to tell how well a patient responds to treatment (chemo).

    As for you mother in law's path report after surgery....it is NOT uncommon to have residual cancer left. Especially, in the lymph nodes. For some reason, chemo doesn't respond to the nodes as well ast the actuall bulk tumor. I have read that it can be refered to as tumor load. There are a few woman who have had + nodes still after chemo and are many years out and doing well. There are a few of these woman on the stage 3 boards, I know for sure.

    Don't loose hope....your MIL will most likely be doing radiation that will help clean up any cells that may be hanging around. Also...remember, its the lymph nodes job to catch the cancer. Hoping that it hasn't left the nodes.

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited April 2010

    Oh ya...Herceptin is given to Her2+ woman. It is our miracle drug! Smile

    If your MIL's cancer is ER+ (estrogen +) she will be able to do anti hormones. Tamox or an A.I. these are meds to help prevent a recurrence, as well as developing a NEW breast cancer in the opposite breast.

    If she is ER-, anti hormones will not work.

    It's good news that she can receive Herceptin.

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