Curious question - am I really TN?

Options
NancyHB
NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

After my biopsy I was told I was ER+/PR+ and HER2 equivocal; FISH test revealed HER2-.

Got my Onctotype test back last week, which indicates PR-.  It also indicates I am ER+, but just barely - the cut-off is 6.5, and I am at 6.6.

My tumor grew exceptionally fast over two months, and my Oncotype score is 42.  It's making me wonder if, perhaps, I'm just on the cusp of being TN, which would acount for the aggressive nature of whatever this is.

Thoughts?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • TifJ
    TifJ Member Posts: 1,568
    edited December 2011

    Hi Nancy- I am 3% ER+, but considered TN. My MO says anything under 5% is TN. I imagine you will receive Tamoxifen since you are over 5%. Also, most TNs are grade 3

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • riley702
    riley702 Member Posts: 1,600
    edited December 2011

    Nancy, I'm considered ER+ with 8%, but I was treated as a TN, but then also got put on Tamoxifen and then Aromasin. I've decided to take a few months off the Aromasin; I can't take the SEs. Everyone is different, tho, so if your doc thinks you should take it, at least give it a try.

    Interestingly, my biopsy also initially came back ER+/PR+, but that was the 'fast' result, and the 'slower' result came back TN. I did chemo first, then mastectomy, and the final pathology from surgery came back 8% ER+/PR-/HER2-

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • christina1961
    christina1961 Member Posts: 736
    edited December 2011

    Hi Nancy, I had neo chemo with core biopsy that showed ER<1% PR-HER2-.  After chemo, the residual tumor was retested and showed 5-10% ER+ with intermediate staining (as opposed to low or high staining), Pr-HER2-.  I went to Vanderbilt for 2nd opinion - doc was so so about tamoxifen - said if side effects were too much I could get off it - but 3rd opinion at UNC Lineberger onc said I am low estrogen positive and strongly encourages the tamoxifen. I am having more chemo now due to my limited response to the neo chemo but will start tamoxifen in March. I am hoping it will not be too bad. I also wish they could give me a set point for my ER rather than a range but I've had two, maybe three pathology readings with same result.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories