Recently Diagnosed

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alison0415
alison0415 Member Posts: 35
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
Recently Diagnosed
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  • alison0415
    alison0415 Member Posts: 35
    edited January 2011

    IDC with BRS score 7/9; ER/PR negative; HER2 positive 3+; size of mass 1.4cm.

    I am 46 years old, play tennis 3x/week, ran two half marathons in the last year, no history of cancer in my family.

    Planning a lumpectomy this week pending results of MRI.  Does HER2 results automatically mean chemo is necessary?  Scared but trying to stay positive.

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  • coss
    coss Member Posts: 48
    edited January 2011

    Her2+ tumors benefit greatly from the drug Herceptin which at this time is generally given with chemo, yes.  Looks like your tumor is hormone receptor negative and grade 3, traits that also make it likely to respond to chemo.  I was in your shoes almost 3 years ago now.  Chemo was not a walk in the park but it wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting.  You'll make it.  Best of luck.  

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  • o2bhealthy
    o2bhealthy Member Posts: 2,101
    edited January 2011

    Alison - I knew when I found out I was HER2+++ that chemo was in my future.  Herceptin has only been available for early stage cancers since 2005 and is typically only given with chemo.  Chemo is not fun but it is doable.  Like coss, I found chemo was not as bad as I expected.  Thankfully I found this site and was able to to research the side effects of my cocktail. There is a wealth of information on this site.

    Best wishes! 

    edited for spelling...

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  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 1,151
    edited January 2011

    Hi Alison - Sorry you have to be here, but you'll find the various Her2+ threads here are a great source of information. I'm also ER-/PR- Her2+, (bigger tumor though) and I did six treatments of Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin and then Herceptin every 3 weeks for a year. I agree with Michelle and coss - chemo was easier than I had ever thought. You'll probably even be able to keep up with your tennis and running (with some time off during chemo week).

    Herceptin is an amazing targeted therapy - I'm wishing you all the best.

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  • dragonfly1
    dragonfly1 Member Posts: 766
    edited January 2011

    Alison: It does seem that HER2+ almost always = chemo...I've been doing extensive research on this because I'm triple positive (ER+/PR+/HER2+) and I'm waiting to find out what my treatment will be as well. I just had the lumpectomy/SNB on 1/7. At first I was terrified at the idea of chemo, Herceptin ,etc but the more I read the more I realize that we are so fortunate to have access to targeted treatments because they didn't approve these treatments for early stage HER2 breast cancer until 2006 and they are the best insurance we have against a recurrence. So, although it won't be easy, it will be worth it!

    By the way there is a thread with a very active group of everyone who is currently receiving the treatment for HER2+ It's a good place to ask any questions you have about the specific combination that is used. I've been following the thread for the past month just so I can anticipate what my treatment will likely be-check it out:

     taxotere,carboplatin and herceptin 

    Good luck with your lumpectomy! 

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