IHC Positive (2.1) FISH no over-amplification?????
Sorry if this is a duplicate. I am knew. My mother was diagnosed with well-differentiated infiltrating ductal carcinoma a few weeks ago. Surgery complete, 7mm tumor, clear margins and no lymph nodes. We were so excited! Then the path report came back . . . ER/PR+. IHC showed Her2+ (2.1)HOWEVER, FISH showed no signs of overamplification. We are so confused? The surgon said she was Her2+ but what I have read, if there is no over-amplification with FISH, she isn't Her2+. Anyone had this experience and if so, could you tell me whether this means she is or is not Her2+ and also what treatment she will likely receive. We go to the oncologist tomorrow and I am just trying to figure out what to expect to help prepare her for this. From what I have read (which is about everything I could find at this point!!), Herceptin does not work unless there is over-amplification and isnt' usually give to IHC 2+. Thanks for your help!!!
Comments
-
Her2 IHC 2+ is not positive, it is inderminate. Besides, IHC is subjective, and different pathologists may have different interpretations. Maybe you should have another place review the IHC slides. FISH is less subjective. A well-differentiated tumor would probably not ne HER2 amplified.
Sue -
That is what I gathered from what I read but the path report states "positive for her2 overexpression by IHC in that the average staining intensity of tumor cells was greater than or equal to 2.0. However, there is no evidence of gene over-amplification since the her2/neu gene to Chromose 17 ratio is less than 2.00 by FISH." So confused, and her surgon is not good at explaining ANYTHING - he said you're Her2 positve overxpressing but not overamplified which happens . . . chemo probably . . . sending you to the med oncologist - my mom immdiately burst into tears when he walked out. I am so glad I found this forum. I have spent the past 4 weeks reading 5 books and about every website out there. I am so much more educated on breast cancer. I wish there was more I could do . . . I had no idea how many people are affected by this until this happened to my mom. Thank you for all your help!
-
Hi lawlover2:
What a loving daughter you are! You've probably already figured this out, but second and third (maybe even fourth) opinions are in order here. You may want the path redone, and oncologists are much more informed than surgeons about whether chemo is useful or not. You're right -- something about what that surgeon is saying doesn't add up. You might even want to get an opinion from a big breast center, even if you have to travel, just to give you better info. Your mom has time to research and look around.
Good luck
L -
She is coming to St. Louis (I live here, she lives in central MO) to the St. Louis Breast Cancer Clinic, which from what I have heard and read, is very good. She refused to travel beyond that and certainly won't have treatment here. But, if I can atleast get her to speak with someone here, I will feel better. Thanks for your help!
-
Sounds good. I bet this will all get resolved soon.
Best
A
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team