my sister

sister6
sister6 Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed

My sister was just diagnosed with her2+1 . 3cm. But now the chemo dr is questioning. Wants to do more test. Has anyone had this happen? Not sure what to think!

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited June 2014

    Hi sister6 - so sorry about your sister's dx. I'm sorry I can't help with that, but hopefully other ladies will be along soon. Here is a link the the her2 positive forum. You might consider also posting this there. Take care!

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80

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  • Holeinone
    Holeinone Member Posts: 2,478
    edited June 2014

    sister, 

    Impossible to "guess" what is truly happening, but the oncologists might be wanting more tests to see if chemo is not necessary. I would assume that she would get herceptin for one year, since she is her+. 

    A lot depends on whether the cancer has made it to the lymph nodes. 

    I really do not think I would be too concerned about that, as long as things progress & a treatment plan is discussed soon. 

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  • mjm1
    mjm1 Member Posts: 139
    edited June 2014

    Hi Sister6,

    Sorry to hear about your sisters diagnosis. I haven't heard specifically about the chemo docs sending off for more tests, but it could be a good thing - it's always easier to treat a cancer when they are very clear on what they are dealing with and what are the best treatments, so there can be lots of tests done around the time of diagnosis. My Mum has Her2+. If that's what your sister has they have some great targeted drugs (e.g. herceptin) that have really improved the outlook for her2+ ladies.

    Best wishes to you both.

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  • mjm1
    mjm1 Member Posts: 139
    edited June 2014

    Of course people have the right to choose alternative methods if they feel strongly that way inclined, but personally I wouldn't mess around with HER2+ - it's usually a high grade, aggressive cancer, and if you throw everything at it early, prognosis can be reasonably good. Not sure I'd want to miss that window of opportunity to hit it hard the first time round - after a recurrence things get a lot tougher.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2014

    While someone seems to be on many threads trying to promote something called GNM ( German New Medicine) I suggest anyone looking into that also read about the founder:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryke_Geerd_Hamer

    The alternative thread in which the same poster was putting messages has been locked.  Maybe that's why HE is doing it here.


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  • mjm1
    mjm1 Member Posts: 139
    edited June 2014

    Yes, it seems a little irresponsible. I have nothing against people sharing a wide array of opinions and views, but having read the article Ronald/Alice shared, and then the main article (the Swedish one published in the Lancet) where the figures are being drawn from, the Lancet authors make it quite clear that they are NOT referring to HER2+, or medium, large, or palpable cancers. 

    They are simply saying that some tiny, non-palpable, ER+ cancers might be able to be safely treated with slightly less invasive methods (instead using tamoxifen and monitoring extremely closely, proceeding to surgery for the many cancers that continue to grow). While it's good to have minimally invasive options for appropriate candidates a) most women I know who get diagnosed just want it OUT and treated, and it would completely do my head in leaving a cancer in there growing, albeit maybe if it was tiny and low grade would help slightly, b) tiny low grade cancers are less likely to require chemo even if they are surgically removed so it wouldn't necessarily affect things much and c) this straight out doesn't apply to the original post - HER2+ is a whole different kettle of fish, and the research is finding increasingly that treatment including chemo+Herceptin DOES reduce recurrences and save lives even in small, node negative her2+ cancers. 

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