Herceprin for <1 cm cancers?

hollyberry
hollyberry Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Hi all...

Been lurking here for a while (great site!). Last October, I was diagnosed with Stage 1, grade 2 IDC, 0.95 cm, er+/pr+, node negative. Had lumpectomy Oct. 31. Initial Her2/Neu was borderline positive (2.1+), FISH analysis was equivicol. Oncologist has canceled my appointment twice already awaiting a final result for the Her2/Neu/FISH repeat analysis.

My question is will they give herceptin to node neg, <1 cm persons? I know some experts recomend herceptin for all cases but is that common now? This waiting over a month is awful. 

Thanks, Holly

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  • ERS2006
    ERS2006 Member Posts: 40
    edited December 2007

    I had a 1 cm node neg. stage 1 grade 3 and had to have chemo...at less than 1 cm I wouldn't have had to have the chemo...but I was Her2+ and it was a definite that I was getting Herceptin for 1 year...Cancers that are Her2+ tend to be more aggressive...In fact tomorrow is my last Herceptin treatment...It is a walk in the park compared to chemo...Good Luck

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  • Jenniferz
    Jenniferz Member Posts: 541
    edited December 2007

    I think I got the short end of the stick on this---my tumor was er/pr-, but Her2+.  It was < 3mm., and my onc. said "no" to chemo or Herceptin because I had a mastectomy. 

    So, I hope for the best.  And I wish the same to you! 

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  • hollyberry
    hollyberry Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2007

    Thanks for the replies... hopefully I will know where I am with all this tomorrow..... Holly

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  • malena007
    malena007 Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2007

    I don't understand...you mean you got a mastectomy and no chemo or herceptin?and you have her2+? I bmy tumor was 2.5 cm. I am her2+, I was getting herceptin, I also got chemo...but accidentally I missed a payment on my cobra insurance...I still nedd three more months of treatment and now I have no insurance or money, don' qualify for medicare untill 2009 I'm deseperate...don't know what to do

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  • Jenniferz
    Jenniferz Member Posts: 541
    edited December 2007

    Malena,

    You read right--no chemo, no herceptin.  I was told then that I didn't qualify because all of tumor was gone....no nodes---clear margin.  I go to a new onc. in Jan., and will be interested in her take.  OR I will be scared witless.

    Either way, what's done is done (or not done, in this case), and I have to look to the positive.  I'm still here!!

    Jennifer

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  • KathyL
    KathyL Member Posts: 534
    edited December 2007

    HI girls... and hi again Jennifer Z.!  I was initally told no to chemo and rads also like Jennifer Z.  My tumor was 4mm.  I had a mastectomy in Oct. '07 and was told I was cured since nodes were negative and all cancer was removed with the surgery.  BUT I went to UPenn for a second opinion in Nov. They also said no to chemo based on size of tumor.  However, they did an additional stain (non-standard) on my DCIS areas and found multifocal IDC in the original tumor site (removed in Aug.).  My 4mm original site now looks like it has a few "brothers" (or sisters???) of cancer that are 1-2mm size each.  So, now everyone recommends chemo for me based on this second look at the original site.  I feel I am so lucky to get this new info.  I start chemo in Jan. 2008, and will get a year of herceptin to boot-- my life insurance as I see it.  This could be my life-saver since I was never planning on doing chemo before this.  Herceptin is not done unless you do chemo-- I asked all over about this!

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  • mittmott
    mittmott Member Posts: 409
    edited December 2007

    Please help.. Does anyone understand my report.  I was also told no chemo.This is my second cancer in the same breast. It seems to me that my only path report in my hands doesn't tell me very much. My surgeon said this was not a recurrence, but a new cancer, yet the report says-- now with recurrence left breast.

    The diagnosis came back-- one focus of microinvasive ductal carcinoma in the form of microscopic clusters, measruing less than 1mm.

    Multifocal ductal carcinoma in situ , cribriform, micropapillary and flat types with high nuclear grade and necrosis

    the dcis is present in 5 out of 21 slides'

    dcis is located in the upper outer quadrant and central area

    no calcifications are identified in the dcis

    no vascular invasion

    no involvement of the surgical margins by dcis or microinvasive carcinoma is identified.

    the non neoplastic breast tissue shows flat epithelial atypia, ductal hyperplaia and calcifications.

    results of special stains will be reported as an addendum (I never got this)  Thanks to anyone who knows what this is all saying.

    The doctors have told me it's so tiny, and I don't need to follow up with anything, but, I'm scared. 2 idc cancers in 6 years, same breast.  I'm with Sloan Kettering, supposed to be the best,   but it's my life, not theirs,,, so...Randi

    PS  History idc very small er+ pr+ her-  lumpectomy , radiation

    new cancer, bilateral mast.

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  • lsassy40
    lsassy40 Member Posts: 19
    edited December 2007

    Maleena Have you checked into Medicaid, some states have programs that are for Breast Cancer only.  I don't know if you would qualify if you have already started treatment but it doesn't hurt to try.  Also, go see the social worker at your Cancer Center.  Most of the drug companies offer grants to pay for the drugs since they are so expensive.  You need to finish your treatments.

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  • AlaskaAngel
    AlaskaAngel Member Posts: 1,836
    edited December 2007

    Although it is not openly common practice, there ARE HER2's out there doing Herceptin without any chemotherapy. It may take a few opinions before you find an onc who is willing, but it can be done. And they probably tend to be more willing with someone who is ER+ and so can add in hormonal therapy somewhere.

    How did it go for you, Hollyberry?

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  • Jenniferz
    Jenniferz Member Posts: 541
    edited December 2007

    Hello ladies.

    Things have changed just a bit.  A new onc. is in the picture, however, since I am now 18 months into my journey, I feel I am no longer a candidate for herceptin.  My tumors were 1 IDC 0.3 cm., and 1 DCIS at 0.2 cm. Tiny, tiny things.  I got my hands on my path. report and am truly glad to be out of the clutches of this onc., and on to the new one.  This guy told me I was er/pr-.  I'm not.  I'm positive on both point according to the reports.  Fortunately, he had me on Femara as a preventative...so he wasn't to wrong there.  I'm thinking he had me mixed up with someone else. He also said that I had 11 nodes removed....the report says 13. 

    I am trying to take the stance that the tumors are gone---the cancer is gone---the breast is gone, and I'm going to be ok.  I am anxious to talk to the new onc., and just hope she's not scan happy. 

    Happy Holidays, everyone!!

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  • annme
    annme Member Posts: 117
    edited December 2007

    In January 2000, I had a .6 cm, high grade, er-/pr-, her3+ tumor surrounded by high grade DCIS removed and then had a mastectomy that February, sentinal node clear, and I have never been treated with any sort of chemo. I guess the good news is that I'm still here and NED almost 8 years later. :-) 

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  • Jenniferz
    Jenniferz Member Posts: 541
    edited December 2007

    Wow!!  Best news ever, Ann!  You made my year.

    Jennifer

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  • annme
    annme Member Posts: 117
    edited December 2007

    My oncologist explained to me, all those many years ago, that tumor size and node status are the two biggest indicators of metastatic disease, and that those determine the overall need for chemo, not tumor markers, no matter how bad the tumor markers are (though obviously tumor markers can indicate whether preventative treatments like Tamoxifen might help). It took me a while to come to terms with my tumor markers, to understand that chemo is not a guarantee, and to ultimately be grateful that I did not need chemo.

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  • Jenniferz
    Jenniferz Member Posts: 541
    edited December 2007

    Kathy, went back and read then re-read your post.  You had a dx in Oct. of this year, right? You're luck in that you will be receiving Herceptin.  Since I'm 18 months in, and no chemo, then I won't receive any Herceptin.  Good luck to you in January.  All will be fine.

    I have to move forward now, and try and adopt Annme's philosophy. Don't seem to have much of a choice here.  I can't look back, as I now know for certain that I did what was best for ME. I have to keep the faith in that I am doing all I can do to continue to dance with NED. I can't let one little nasty neuron ruin my life....it had it's chance, and almost won.  I have kicked cancer to the curb.  The next move is for it to be kicked down the road.  I will know if that is taking place when my mammo comes up in March.

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  • KathyL
    KathyL Member Posts: 534
    edited December 2007

    Jennifer Z:  I hope all goes well with your test in March.  Having to do chemo has not been a easy thing for me to come to terms with, especially after so many months of being told "no"; I was dx in Aug.  Maybe someday in the future they'll do just herceptin for us HER2 girls as the standard...without the nasty chemo:) 

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  • cath52
    cath52 Member Posts: 15
    edited January 2008

    Hello All,

     I was diagnosed in Feb of 06. I had Medullary carcinoma, 1.9x1.4 in size, Stage 1,Grade3,0/2nodes,ER-/PR-, Her2+. I had a lumpectomy.  I was told with 4 treatments of a/c and a year of Herceptin along with radiation that would give me a 25-30 percent chance of reaccurance. I just figured that was standard treatment for her2 type cancer. The Onco had me scared to death.

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