Good news today--my tumor is ER+/PR+

Hi Swg,

It's great you're starting to get more answers, and as you do, you're plan for treatment will start to come to light. To read up on what your hormone receptor status means for you, check out the main Breastcancer.org site's section on Hormone Receptor Status. There's also additional info on the Your Diagnosis section which will help explain the rest of your pathology report pieces.

We hope this helps!

--The Mods

Swg,

Your hormone receptor staus is a good news for sure.

About ovary removal, there is huge disadvantage which is medically induced premature menopause. Unless you are like me 100% ER+ and mom had ovarian and breast cancer, I would not.

Well damned if you do damned if you don't. There are advantages of ovary removal. If you keep ovaries and need hormone blockers, you need periodic hormone suppression shots w hormone blocker likely Tamoxifen. Tamox tends to be less taxing than other hormone blockers (less side effects) but it is known to thicken uterine lining.And some say Tamox increases likelihood of uterine cancer. And I believe periodic transvaginal ultrasound is recommended while you are on it. Lupron, hormone suppression shots do have side effects.

Many BC sisters like non removal route first to see how their bodies react to hormone shots likely Lupron and Tamoxifen based on what I have read on this website. There are lot of That is after you finish all mission critical treatments.

Mimi

Definitely speak with your Oncologists about the pros and cons of removing your ovaries. I was going to have to be on ovarian suppression meds for up to 2 years, and I decided to have mine removed. Best decision for me. I feel really great, take 50,000 units of Vitamin D per week, walk almost everyday. Prior to ovarian removal, my iron was low, vitamin d was low, had to have iron infusions. Now my iron is perfect and no more cycles. Also, no more risk of reproductive cancers, or minimal risk.

I didn't think being diagnosed with Breast cancer was good News at all regardless of your er pr status. But I guess you have to look at every silver lining.

Hi SWG, I'm 51 and my MO seemed pleased that my ER/PR was 95-100% + and HER2 - so I choose to take that as good news too. He mentioned Tamoxifen but nothing definite yet. I have my MRI on Monday and should have my Mammoprint back by then. Then onto surgery recommendations. I was going to ask then about my ovaries and if having them removed would be beneficial or not.So much waiting.

Just curious, if any of you with HR+/HER2- where told your Ki67. Mine is high, therefore - chemo. I'm going to get Mammaprint score too, as part of the clinical trial I'm participating, but my oncologist was pretty sure it would come back high risk. With that she offered me neoadjuvant chemo. 

Meshell, I like your thinking - you need all the info you need. My oncologist was a little skeptical about the grade, too. My Ki67 is 40% (40-50 according to another pathologist review), and grade is 2. She said that Ki67 is more objective than grade. I read here that a lot of oncologists think otherwise. She explained, that 1/3 of the grade is determined by mitosis, and it is very subjective measurement. For Ki67 they stain the tissue, so it is more accurate somehow.

Anyway, she said regardless of my node status (mine are not showing as affected on imaging, which doesn't mean they are clear, of course), based on the tumor size (2.8cm based on MRI), age (40) and Ki67, she would recommend chemo. My Mammaprint should be back tomorrow. I'd love her to be wrong, but sadly, I don't think she will be.