Worried Possible HER2+

Options
CarolynT
CarolynT Member Posts: 13
edited November 2016 in Just Diagnosed

Hi

I'm really very worried. My sister had a biopsy for a 2.5 cm tumor. They took out half of the tumor during the biopsy. She was supposed to have a lumpectomy this week to remove the rest.

The results of the biopsy came in last week. The doctor said that her cancer is IDC
ER/+ and PR/+ Grade 2. Now she just received a call yesterday that the tumor might also be
HER+. She has a IHC score of 2+ which they say is borderline. They are retesting with the FISH test. They said if the results come back negative they will go ahead with surgery, if positive they want to start treatment right away.

Why don't they still take the tumor out even if it's HER2+? Why do they just want to leave it there?

I'm so worried it seems like this is getting worse. Everything I've been reading about HER2+ does not seem good.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2016

    Often surgery will follow chemo because chemo shrinks the tumor, making sure that it can be taken out completely with clean borders. And often docs want to see if she will respond to chemo first--it's a good thing to know. They must feel it isn't growing quickly enough to warrant surgery right away, but your sister can sure get a second opinion and find out if she can have surgery first, if that will make her feel better about treatment.

    I know it's maddening to think something threatening is inside our bodies, but there are reasons why they don't jump right into surgery. Have her ask lots of questions of her docs and surgeons, and write down the answers.

    I hope others will weigh in. I had my lumpectomy first, and then found out it was little c, so I never got a chance to do chemo, then surgery.

    Claire in AZ

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited November 2016

    It is standard to retest for Her2 status when your first result is equivocal, or borderline. This is not unusual, but it is important to have a clear result, so a different testing platform is used rather than repeating using the same type of test. One of the reasons to do chemo first in the event of Her2+ disease is so that the drug Perjeta may be added, if applicable. It is currently only FDA approved to be given prior to surgery, and I am guessing this is the reason for needing to determine the Her2 status prior to making treatment decisions. Neither Perjeta or Herceptin are chemo agents themselves, but rather are targeted therapies which are added to chemo for Her2+ patients, and have been game-changers in the treatment and survivability of this subtype. Here is some info from BCO, linked below. Do not Google about Her2+ - you are likely to get outdated info.

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

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CarolynT
    CarolynT Member Posts: 13
    edited November 2016

    Thank you for the information

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CarolynT
    CarolynT Member Posts: 13
    edited November 2016

    Thank you for the information

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited November 2016

    It has been SOP for years with those of us who are IBC to do neoadjuvant (pre- surgery chemo) and is be omeing more common with other types. The point is to get it to form a 'lump' with IBC as it forms as a 'nest' or 'bands' with no cleat/clean margin so that it can be gotten out. It attacks the cancer in other types to get it to shrink, get good margins for better surgical prognosis. In some cases, a complete response may occur, meaning that all signs of the cancer no longer are present. In some though there won't be a complete response but will have gotten 'it' to a point where surgery will have a better outcome, be less invasive than it would have been if no neoadjuvant Chemo had been done. Some times for some there may be 2 different neoadjuvant cbemos done but for some of us we will do 1 type of Chemo and 1 adjuvant (post surgery).

    There are so many variables - so no 'One Size Fits All' TX plans.

    I'm HER2-, so have no knowledge about it other than what I've read others have said.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories