Her2+ diagnosis

suemed8749 Thank you for sharing. I have chosen to not have Perjeta (pertuzumab) but only TCH with my ER+ and HER2* diagnosis. I do not have node or met invasion and I was fearful of the toxic effects from all the medication causing my WBC to drop and causing a second cancer from the medications. I had not heard of any 5 year or greater success for HER2 until you posted. Can you tell me how you were monitored for 7 years post chemo and surgery?. I also have to take Herceptin for a year after my chemo is completed.

Hi Mary Anne,

I'm also HER+ Stage 3a, er- pr-, (but 4 nodes Gr. 3) and find GREAT hope seeing that you are NED for so long. Have one more month of Herceptin, then just hope and pray, I guess. Think of it every day, but getting on with my life well, after the initial shock a year ago. Keeping busy with things I love...but do have my moments, especially since I have read the grim, scary statistics (50% chance of surviving 2-5 years for this type) LOVE LOVE seeing success stories like yours...keep posting and encouraging us! AND wish more would with the same DX! Really admire the courageous Stage 4 BC gals who post often on their thread. Hope I can be that brave if I'm ever there...God forbid. Thank you, Mary Anne..BTW, do you watch your diet? Have a glass of wine?

Cyber Hugs,

Stephanie (real name)

mamabexar - virtually all Mammaprint with Her2+ will come back with high risk, mine did as well.  Don't want to answer for Mary Ann but Mammaprint was not FDA approved for use until 2007, so after her diagnosis.

MamaBexar. Where were these doctors who did not think you needed chemo? They are very uninformed.

My ki67 was lowish (10) and I am 71. My tumor was .8 cm ICD with .15 DIC.

I am in the ATEMPT trial at Johns Hopkins. My oncologist said that they are obligated to treat Her2+ even if only 1 test is positive.

With Her2 a consult at an academic center is important.

The doctors that are treating me are in San Antonio. They are a part of a large Cancer Care system here in Texas. My tumor was very tiny. It was found because of micro calcifications on routine mammogram. The surgeon commented that he cleaned up what was left from the hollow needle biopsy. As I said, 9 of 10 oncologist in the cancer center here had recommended herceptine but 3 of those didn't think chemo would add much. Chemo goes after fast growing cells and my Ki67 is only 3%. The one MO that didn't think I needed herceptine said " Ki67 trumps Mammaprint every time". My main MO just keeps saying that my cancer doesn't fit into any box they have seen before. But after the mammoprint report came back, she ordered a port to be placed the next day and chemo to start the day after that. She also said the same thing you said about the synergistics of herceptine and chemo.

Again thank to all of you for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Yay, lkc! I hope I can say the same in 10 years. Congrats on remaining NED!