Her2 - 3+ Overexpressed

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austin2k3
austin2k3 Member Posts: 65
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
Her2 - 3+ Overexpressed
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  • austin2k3
    austin2k3 Member Posts: 65
    edited March 2008

    What the &*&^  does this mean? I was diagnosed w/dcis last May, had partial mast w/radiation then. Mammo last month showed a "changed" area in the other breast, steriotactic biopsy, benign. Surgeon said "given my history" I had no option but to have a lumpectomy. So, like an idiot, I sat there and nodded. I've decided I DO have options. I asked for a copy of path rept. from Feb. biopsy and was sent the one from a year ago by mistake. This rept. had a note saying "information has ben added to this rept which may be pertenent to the physician for the direct care of this patient". The only thing added is the ER- PR- HER2:3+ Overexpressed.  Please someone explain what that means. Thank you so much and God Bless all you wonderful women.

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  • CindyB
    CindyB Member Posts: 43
    edited March 2008

    Austin,

    Her2 is a protein in/on the cell that tends to make growth more aggressive.  You're either negative (1+), 2+ (equivocal), or 3+ (overexpressed).  My understanding is that is you have Her overexpressed, it means there are more copies of that gene than normal.  Fortunately, they have a medication, Herceptin, that sounds like it has done wonders for many of us who are Her2 positive.  My oncologist said that the speculation by researchers it that women in the past (before herceptin) who had recurrences were likely to be Her2+.  I'm just grateful that there is something to counteract it.

    Good for you!  Be your own best advocate!

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  • Annaanne
    Annaanne Member Posts: 190
    edited March 2008

    Isn't there something about all DCIS being her+ and that not really being an important factor unless the cancer is invasive?  Help me here, friends. 

    You might check Susan Love's breast book.  I'm not totally sure about this, I just remember reading it and it would make sense with your history. 

    See if you can get more info.

    A 

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  • austin2k3
    austin2k3 Member Posts: 65
    edited March 2008

    Thanks ladies. So if I had not seen the report sent to me by mistake I wouldn't have known about the HER2-3+. To this day no-one has mentioned it and after all I'm seeing about Herceptin, is it something I should mention to someone or am I over-reacting to something that was just a surprise. I don't find "stage" on my path rept. only "grade". I didn't realize I had to be my own doctor. Hmmmm, I wonder if my insurance will pay me!?!?

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  • Annaanne
    Annaanne Member Posts: 190
    edited March 2008

    Hi Austin. Me again.  You should put all these questions to your surgeon and onc (if you have one)  If you don't, take your path report and consult with a few oncologists.  Just talking to docs, getting consults, is informative and enpowering...and possibly life saving.  And yes, we all need to be our own docs.

    Good luck

    A 

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  • nagem
    nagem Member Posts: 353
    edited March 2008

    Hi Austin, My understanding is that DCIS is considered by definition stage 0, since the staging has to do with the size and degree of metastasis (local, regional, distant) of an invasive tumor, and your very early cancer is not invasive, i.e., has not broken through cell walls. Good luck, Megan

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  • KathyL
    KathyL Member Posts: 534
    edited March 2008

    Hi Austin.  Saw your post today.  I was dx with DCIS/IDC last August.  DCIS is non-invasive, so they will most likely just remove it surgically and that wil be your treatment.  If you had invasive portions (IDC), then you'd be a candidate for herceptin.  I had a lumpectomy, mastectomy, and currently am having chemo+herceptin now.  I am stage 1. The FDA just approved herceptin as a single therapy for early stage BC, so those behind me with stage 1 cancers won't need to have chemo neessarily to get the herceptin.  If you have more questions, please feel free to PM me as I've been doing this BC thing for several months now.

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  • mimi1030
    mimi1030 Member Posts: 700
    edited March 2008

    My mom is Her2 3+....she had DCIS with less than 1cm of IDC, stage 1, grade 1, clear margins and nodes.  She had a mastectomy and chemo, they decided to do chemo because of her Her2 status.  Herceptin was not approved for early stage cancer 4 years ago so she never got it, just chemo.  Unfortunately, she was dx again last year with mets to liver and bones....she is on herceptin now, and it is doing an excellent job along with the chemo, we hope for her to be NED soon.

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  • KathyL
    KathyL Member Posts: 534
    edited March 2008

    Mimi1030:  So sorry about your mom's mets.  I'm curious as to what type of chemo she received 4 years ago.  Herceptin seems to be doing great things for her2+ patients-- your mom is in my prayers to be of them.

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  • mimi1030
    mimi1030 Member Posts: 700
    edited March 2008

    Hello Kathy,

    My mom was given Adriamycin/Cytoxin.....it made her so sick...she didn't react to that chemo well at all....she did 4 rounds (of 3 week doses) but because she ended up in the hositpal with no WBC, the doctor decided not to give her the final dose as he said it would not give her any more additional benefit than what she had already gotten with the first 3.  He said her body reacted so badly to that chemo that the risks outweighed the benefits for her so called "small" cancer.....so she didn't get the last dose.  Now she is on weekly Taxol/Herceptin and monthly Zometa....she is doing great.  She was dx with widespread and extensive mets to liver and bones last Sept.  Today she has 2 tiny spots left on the liver and then she will be NED...so I am very greatful for Herceptin....I just wish it was available to her back when she was Stage 1.  Thank you for keeping my mom in your prayers....we will do the same for you.

    Michelle :0)

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