Newly Dx with Positive HR2

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OceanSky
OceanSky Member Posts: 165
edited September 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

I was dx one week ago with IDC and got the path report today and it's HER2 positive.

Am confused to what all this means?

ER=100%

PR=95%

HER2=10+

ki-67=10%

Anyone who can help me figure this out...I would be very appreciative.  

I thought positive ER and PR were good things?  

Tried posting on the triple positive thread but they seem involved in their own discussion.

Thank you so much for helping someone new!

Light and love...

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  • Girlstrong
    Girlstrong Member Posts: 438
    edited September 2014

    hi ocean sky...it looks like you are technically "triple positive breast cancer" . This can actually be a good thing since there are many medications available. Some things you may want to ask your doctor is your tumor grade, lymph node involvement, size of tumor and stage. All of this will guide your MO in determining the need and type of chemo. Also ask if you will be a good candidate for neoadjuvant chemo ( chemo received before breast surgery). If you've already had breast surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy) then you my do adjuvant chemotherapy. The more you ask, the more you'll learn and we're here to help! Keep us posted my friend :) 

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  • OceanSky
    OceanSky Member Posts: 165
    edited February 2015

    Thank you Girlstrong,

    I just got my dx 6 days ago, and the final part of the path report today.

    Thanks for pointing out that I'm triple positive and not triple negative.  Honestly, this is all still head-spinning.

    I have two small tumors in my left breast.  Type IDC.  They are very close to the nipple.  One is 1.5cm x 1.2cm x 1.2cm. The other is 0.8cm x 0.8cm

    I had pain in my breast and the mass felt very hard.  I had a 3D mammogram and an ultrasound and an ultrasound guided core biopsy.

    No one explained anything to me.  I was able to pick up the path reports from the radiologists office but nothing was explained.  

    Have to smile in retrospect...A nurse called me with the first path report as I'd asked and said, "It's Invasive Ductal Carcinoma'.  I asked..What is that, meaning what exactly is that?  She said, 'It's cancer.'   Wanted to say, 'Yes, I get that but...

    Light and love to everyone here.  

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

    oceansky - I PM'ed you

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

    Here is some info from BCO on understanding your pathology report:

    http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/path_checklist

    As far as hormonal receptors (ER/PR) - this is a percentage calculated by looking at a slice of your biopsy sample under the microscope.  The cells are stained and 100 cells counted.  The percentage on the pathology report is the number of those hundred that contained ER receptors, or PR receptors respectively.  Here is some info from BCO on hormonal receptors:

    http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/hormone_status

     Her2 status can be tested several ways, here is a link to the testing processes and the result.  You express Her2 at either 0, 1, 2 or 3.  While 2 (or ++) is positive, usually only a 3 (or +++) is considered truly Her2 positive.   The other testing processes give you a positive or negative.  Your post indicates 10+ but I am not sure if that is a typo.

    http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/her2

    Positive hormonal receptors can be considered good because there is existing medication to help control the hormones that fuel your tumor in a more long-term fashion after your initial treatment.  If your hormonal receptors are negative there is not much available to treat you after surgery, and this type of breast cancer (triple negative) can be more aggressive.

    Here is some info on the Ki67 from BCO (sorry could not get the link to paste) - it is an indicator of the rate of cell growth - you are on the fence between low and intermediate at 10%.  Doctors are not consistent about the importance of Ki67 info.

    "Ki-67: Ki-67 is a protein in cells that increases as they prepare to divide into new cells. A staining process can measure the percentage of tumor cells that are positive for Ki-67. The more positive cells there are, the more quickly they are dividing and forming new cells. In breast cancer, a result of less than 10% is considered low, 10-20% borderline, and high if more than 20%."

    Did you receive any info about grade on your report?

     


     

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  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited September 2014

    ocean sky: wish I could be more help. Looks like you got great info above. I am only her2neu + so I have pretty much given up studying up one the hormonals. Best of luck as you learn more. Your oncologist will go over in detail all of this with you, but it will help that you have prepared. Take some one with you if possible to take notes.

    There are so many on this board like the above like above that are so smart who will help you!

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