HER2 3+ Pos, ER-, PR- What does this mean?

Courtney - Yes, you are Her2neu+ - Her 2 is an oncogene (fancy word for cancer causing gene) that overexpresses Her2 - and about 25% of us BC women are Her2 neu+. There has been amazing results from the drug called Herceptin, basically after 4 years early stage BC patients (I am not a dr., but it sounds like you are stage 2a - which is considered early)there is about an 87% survival rate. The studies are only 4 years old because Herceptin was previously only given to Stage IV patients. My onc. told me that Herceptin has basically changed the whole outlook for Her2 neu+ cancer patients, from a "poorer prognosis" to a much better one.
So if you start looking up articles on the internet about Her2neu+ and Herceptin, make sure the articles are recent- 2005 and later. We are the pioneers of Herceptin, rewriting the stats everyday. Also node negative is huge - a very favourable prognostic factor.
all the best,
caya

Quote:

---

Courtney - Yes, you are Her2neu+ - Her 2 is an oncogene (fancy word for cancer causing gene) that overexpresses Her2 - and about 25% of us BC women are Her2 neu+. There has been amazing results from the drug called Herceptin, basically after 4 years early stage BC patients (I am not a dr., but it sounds like you are stage 2a - which is considered early)there is about an 87% survival rate. The studies are only 4 years old because Herceptin was previously only given to Stage IV patients. My onc. told me that Herceptin has basically changed the whole outlook for Her2 neu+ cancer patients, from a "poorer prognosis" to a much better one.
So if you start looking up articles on the internet about Her2neu+ and Herceptin, make sure the articles are recent- 2005 and later. We are the pioneers of Herceptin, rewriting the stats everyday. Also node negative is huge - a very favourable prognostic factor.
all the best,
caya

---

Hi Caya,
I thought I would jump in here and say that your post contained some of the most encouraging news and stats that I have ever seen on HER2 positive BC! I just noticed that you are in Canada, but do these stats apply to the United States also? I am so confused, because I have read where Stage 1 has about a 96 percent survival rate, but is that percentage lowered greatly by the presence of HER2 positive BC, even at Stage 1? If you could shed some more light on this for me, I would certainly appreciate it!

Thanks and best wishes,
Mary Jo

Quote:

---

Hi Mary Jo,

Due to my Her2+++, my oncologist dropped the survival probability from 97% to 94%. These percentages were based on me taking an estrogen inhibitor for 5 years. The survival rate was then reduced by another 6% if I declined the Femara, putting it at 88%. ( Dx was Stage 1a so a little lower than your Stage 1 )
All of the above info came from consultation with 2 oncologists. Makes one's head spin, doesn't it?!

Sounds to me like you are heading in the right direction with your treatment plan. Chemo was not "in the cards" for me so unfortunately I wasn't able to have Herceptin.

Am so glad to see you receiving great response to your questions. This forum is a wonderful place to pour your heart out -- a safe haven during the storm. :>)

Take care,

Stephanie

---

Hi Stephanie and thanks so much for your information! Yes, all the stats are mind-boggling! But, those stats are still pretty darn great! As long as we have hope, then we can beat this thing! It has certainly taught me to enjoy each and every day and to worry about the things that count and forget the ones that don't.

Yes, I have received awesome support here - and to think I hesitated signing up at first. Again, thanks for all your help and my best to you!

Mary Jo

Hi Courtney,

I was recently diagnosed with IDC High Grade, Her 2 (3+) Er & Pr -. I am scheduled to have a bilateral mastectomy. Do you or did you have to have Chemo and Herceptin. I haven't heard of very many woman with Her 2 + er, pr-. I want to prepare myself for chemo if I need it. This whole ordeal is so nerve racking.

Deb

Hi Courtney,

I've deleted two replys to you because I am just as confused as you are. I know that everyone is different and your oncologist will look at everything about your case, including your age, size or tumor, grade, etc.. etc... I am going through a similar situation. I am scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy. I can't meet with my oncologist after the results come back for this next surgery. I've had two surgeries already.  My nodes were clear, but the margins weren't and they found more cancer. I didn't have a lump that anyone could feel. I went in for my routine mammogram. It started out as DCIS and when I had surgery it came back IDC, Her2 3+, Er- Pr-. I find this all so mind boggling. I recommend the Susan Love Breast Cancer Book. It is very informative, and can be able to guide through the process.

Hang in there,

Deb

I just wanted to say that I was also Her2pos +3, ER-, PR-, stage 3 at presentation, and I am now 5 years out and still cancer free, thanks to Herceptin. I hope this may help you.

BCIRG 006 tested to types of chemo with Herceoptin. TCH (Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin) and AC-TH (Adriamycin, Cytoxan followed by Taxotere and Herceptin. There were a bit over 300 node negative women in each arm of the study so a pretty large group. They don't give statistics on the tumor size distribution for the node negative cases, but I think that they were only taking node negative >2cm (which would be Stage II)

5 year Disease Free Survival for the node negative was 90% (TCH) and 93% (AC-TH). So less than 10% had recurrences in the first 5 years and since HER2+ tumors are aggressive, recurrence tends to happen sooner if it is going to recur so longer term numbers probably don't change much. 

5-year overall survival was 96% and 97%. 

Based on that, survival should be a lot better than the 87% that Caya mentioned for Stage 2a. I'd expect something well above 90% with modern chemo and Herceptin.

Stephanie, did you have chemo and Herceptin? Since you are Stage 1a, I'm guessing that you didn't and your oncologists numbers only take hormone therapy into account.

Courtney,

I've just been diagnosed and agree it's mind numbing. I see the specialist in 2 days. I'm also a RN who happens to work as a hospice director so I typically see the bad days. That seems to be making this even harder for me. I am HER2 3+, ER-, PR-. I have not been given a stage as of yet just the stereotyptic biopsy which I'm not sure is accurate enough to give me node involvement. Original tumor size 4mm which is small. My KI67 was "high" 49%. Anyone know what that means???

my results shoe HER2 +3 POS ER neg AND PR neg, I am now aware that this is more aggressive, does diet help reduce this aggression ive changed my diet completely to more healthy eating eg cutting out sugar more whole grains fruits and vegies no red meat?

HER-2 positive cancer is recognized only when both hormone receptors are absent and HER-2 protein is overexpressed. It's particularly aggresive subtype of invasive breast cancer, however anti-HER-2 drugs far improved the prognosis. Luminal B (HER-2 positive) and HER-2 positive are two completely different subtypes with different gene alterations and clinical course. The most common histologic types which correspond with molecular HER-2 enriched subtype are ductal NOS and apocrine (include pleomorphic lobular cancer).