Do Highly ER positive cancers respond well to Herceptin

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LA1986
LA1986 Member Posts: 5
edited September 2017 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Good morning, I've run across information (among my days of frantic searching, relates to the HERA study?) that perhaps Triple Positive cancers may be over treated with chemo and herceptin when hormonal therapy more be more appropriate for people with high ER expression? I was diagnosed as Equivocal initially for HER and a FISH test confirmed with a ratio of 2.7 but I can find nothing that indicates if that ratio is a low or high level of HER over expression? I was wondering if anyone is familiar with this controversy and can provide some insight? I am scheduled for 6x TCH beginning in about a month and Herceptin for an additional 17 infusions and an AI. (I am over 55 and post menopausal). I also wonder if a second MO opinion would be worthwhile and if anyone might have a recommendation in Los Angeles for a doc outside of UCLA. (nothing bad to say about UCLA, but want someone independent that has some knowledge) Thank you, I am so exhausted at this point nothing is very clear so any suggestions are appreciated. My DCIS in 2001 with micro invasion was classified as HER- but no one seems to know what that means as it was so early and standards have changed.

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  • Lita19901
    Lita19901 Member Posts: 211
    edited September 2017

    LA, I'm new to all this, but I've been on the same page as you regarding questioning what treatment is necessary with early stage HER2+ BC.

    The HER2+ ratio begins at 2.0 which is actually what mine is. Yours is also a low ratio. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to matter as far as treatment goes, at least for now. There just hasn't been enough research yet to verify what some studies seem to be pointing to.

    The standard of care is Herceptin plus chemo, followed by anti-hormonal therapy for Triple Positives and so that is what is offered.

    There is a Triple Positive thread in this forum that you might want to take a look at - lots of good information there!

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited September 2017

    Hi!

    My cancer was 95%ER+/95%PR+, and it responded well to chemo + Herceptin + Perjeta. After chemo, I had no active cancer left in my breast or compromised node. However, I also had a high level of HER2+ expression.

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  • LA1986
    LA1986 Member Posts: 5
    edited September 2017

    Thank you Lita and Elaine, as much as I would like to run and hide under a rock I am going to bring this up with my MO. It looks like better to err on the sign of safety; ironic how well I was feeling until this showed up. I guess we're all on the same boat and I greatly appreciate your kind comments.


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