IDC for the 3rd time

If her PET scan was clear, she should not need a brain MRI unless she is having specific symptoms. She needs to know ER, PR, HER2 status. Depending how those home back, she will either need chemo and/or hormonal therapy. If she is ER+ and HER2-, she may have oncotype again to help determine need for chemo. Depending on tumor size and node status, she may need radiation. If she is ER+, she will also need a different hormone therapy. Most certainly, she may want a wide panel genetic test. Several genes such as CHEK2 are associated with bilateral breast cancer.

Sorry she is dealing with this

I agree that she should have genetic testing if possible. It may not change her treatment but it could help you and any siblings . You can have genetic tests done even if she doesn't. Most insurance companies will cover some of it with a first relative history. I have had idc twice, age 38 and 48. First time I was tested for brca and was negative, this time was tested for a few others and came back positive for chek2. now my kids can be tested and start cancer screenings earlier.Your mother is lucky to have you!

PET scans are the most sensitive; even more so than bone scans.

If you want a cheap option for other family members for genetic testing, look into a test from Color genomics. I had this done. It was $249 and I did not need a doctor's order, etc. I was pleased with the process.

Mine was ER+, PR+ the first time. The second time, both of my tumors that came back (on the same breast) were ER+, PR-. I had one doctor tell me that the PR did not matter at all, but another told me that it was indicitive of a more aggressive tumor. My oncotype went from 16 the first time to 40 the second time. I did hours and hours (and days and days) of research on PR loss in recurrent tumors. There is not much info on it, but the few studies I did find also indicated that it represented a more aggressive tumor, but one that responds well to chemo.

Perjeta used to be just for metastatic cancer. It has been used the last 2 years in the treatment of Stages i-iii as well... with great succuess. It sounds like the MO is up to date on the latest treatments, and is treating it aggressivrely.

Perjeta is not instead of Herceptin, but in addition to. If she is early stage, sometimes insurance will not allow it.... It varies from plan to plan which rots. Either way, Herceptin is the most important. Is she getting chemo with it for the first few treatments? That usually is done, but MOs take a lot of things into consideration when developing a plan. They have to balance the risks and benefits