What does is mean to be ER + 70%?

Scaredmama35
Scaredmama35 Member Posts: 11
edited July 2014 in Just Diagnosed

Hi all, newly diagnosed last Monday. I am 35 and have stage 1 grade 1. I just go the results that I am ER + (70%) and HR -....my dr said that is a good thing. Is it HR or is it HER? I am confused...I feel I have seen both. My question is that my Dr. said he would of wanted me to be 100% + but that he felt 70% was still really good. Has anyone else dealt with this? If so where did that leave you treatment wise?

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited July 2014

    Very basically, it means that your BC 'feeds' off of estrogen, so after other TXs, you will be given an estrogen blocker (there are several different ones) to prevent estrongen from being used by any cancer cell that might develope.  Even after menopause (natural or surgical),  our bodies still produce some estrogen and it is in many things we consume.

    I can't be sure but I think your Dr probably mentioned PR (progesterone).  This what is usually associated with ER in the test.  Often when ER+, we will also be PR+ but not always.  I'm ER+PR-.   As far as I know HER 2 is not referred to as HR  but I am not an expert by any means.

    You might want to call your Dr for clarification.  You should have had a better explaination of how it will be TXd and how it will (or won't) effect your other TX plan.

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  • SaturnRing
    SaturnRing Member Posts: 36
    edited July 2014

    Her- indicates the tumor is not overly aggressive (in most cases) and ER + (70%) means a tumor which is strongly fed by ER, so treatment that targets to suppress ER will work great in your case.

    ER + and HER - are both in your favor.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited July 2014

    You should have a designation for ER, one for PR and one for Her2 status.  Your percentage of ER represents what the pathologist sees under the microscope when staining 100 cells - for you, 70 out of 100 of those cells stained positive for estrogen receptors.  You should have a number for PR also - same system, and then Her2 status is either positive or negative.  Doctors often regard ER positivity as beneficial since there is post-surgical medication that can be taken to control whether any errant breast cells are fueled by estrogen.  There are differing medications for pre-menopausal and post-menopausal patients.

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  • lintrollerderby
    lintrollerderby Member Posts: 483
    edited July 2014

    if you read the medical literature, you may see an occasional reference to HR + or - and that just is shorthand for Hormone Receptor (BOTH ER AND PR COMBINED). It's not a common distinction, but the one you were looking for is HER2.

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