Triple positive but NODE-NEG! stage I

I was told that her2+ always get chemo offered.  

I asked my onc about oncotype testing and she no for patients that are her+.  Also I read my post and I said i was on Taxol.. it was taxotere..i get mixed up all the time. I go for a diagnostic mammo on my right breast in a few months and  my next muga scan.  Hoping that heart is fine for continuation of herceptin and that right mammo is clear. 

 That vaccine that was mentioned today is that for those who never had chemo and herceptin? does anyone know?  

I am a triple postivie, and was diagnosed In April, 2006, and had left mrm.  It was my choice.  Since my tumors were so tiny, at THAT time, I was told that I didn't qualify for chemo, didn't need rads because of the mastectomy and clear margins, clear nodes,  and no herceptin. For many reasons, 18 months later, I went to a new oncologist, and she told me that I probably wouldn't have been given anything more than what I am taking now, which is Femara.  And she hesitates with Femara. So, I really am the odd duck out. I don't know now, since they are paying a little more attention to early bc-ers, if I would be given chemo and Herceptin or not.  Perhaps if I had just gone the lumpectomy route, maybe I would have been given more.  There is no way of second guessing since I'm just not the knowledgeable, and there is no looking back.  Only forward.  Together, the tumors measured < than 1 cm.  Two years ago, that was a factor.  OOPS, just looked back, didn't I?  :-)

I don't know if the vaccine in the works is for those who haven't had chemo or not.  I am taking the article to my onc. and will know the middle of July at my appointment. It is now entering Phase II of the trial, so maybe more answers will be learned with this. Maybe Tender or Angel can answer that one.

 Jennifer

I just paid attention to my signature, and noticed that the size of the tumors are not on there.  Yours was bigger than mine, and that may have contributed to your treatment plan, and age does figure in also, I think. My tumors were 0.3mm, and0.2 mmm.  0.2mm tumor was IDC, with 95% of that still contained.  So, my tumors together were less than a milimeter. I was told by surgeon, pcp, and oncologists that mine was the earliest of the early. SOOOOOOOO, taking all this into consideration, and remembering that this was two years ago, it all added up to all of those concerned that I didn't get anything but what I did.  Oh, the 0.3mm tumor was idc.

Jennifer

Hi Ladies,

My dx is similar to many here.  I have met with two oncs, one local and the other at the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center.  Both recommended regimen of TCH (Taxotere/Cytoxan/Herceptin) due to the high grade tumor and the HER2+ dx.  Local onc said TCH 4x and Clinic onc said 6x.  I am going with the 4x as my local onc said that with smaller size of my tumor and no node involvement, she feels 6x is too much. 

My first tx was last Thursday 7/10 and doing well so far.  Of course, I don't feel 'normal', but am functional.  SEs are nausea, some fatigue, eye dryness and sore throat...

Best wishes ladies.. I will check back to see how everyone is doing on their tx decisions...

Michelle

doctor pls

i would like to know further management and prognosis of 66yrs old female diagnosed as Lt invasive breast cancer ( 1.5 cm) but no lymph node involvement and no more metastasis .( biopsy report grade 1 invasive ca breast) and ( T1N0M0)  now surgical mastectomy    was done and axillary lymphnode clearance also completely. my oncologist decieded to give systemic chemotherapy with ( EC and taxol) while waiting ER PR and CerB2 result.now first cycle chemo was given with EC last 1week ago. i got ER,PR and CerB2 result yesterday and were as follow

ER- positive in 50% of tumor cell

PR- positive in 50% of tumor cell

CerB2- 3+

so, i 'm not understanding well on  triple positive ca breast and want to know disease process and prognosis and further management. i would be very thanks for your expert opinion.

I have this exact type and even tumor size. Well to moderately differentiated. Since I am alone I have to stay functional with as few side effects as possible. At the time I was to start chemo (2/15) a new study had come out of Eric Winer's lab at Dana Farber that showed weekly Taxol + Herceptin x 12 weeks showed no evidence of disease 3 to 4 years out, I opted for it. Weekly doses are smaller as opposed to every 3 weeks which is a triple dose. Herceptin continues for a total of 1  year. So far no evidence of disease and negligible side effects.

i had a lot of high grade DCIS, and only 1.5mm of IDC. I was diagnosed at 40, with two small kids. I chose taxol and herceptin. I am also on Lupron for ovarian suppression, and tamoxifen. My onc thinks it it super important to keep my estrogen levels down. I found treatment tolerable. I worked throughout. I have two more herceptin treatments to go. I consulted with 5 MOs. 2 said do it, 2 said don't do it, 1 said there was no way to tell. But I knew for me, I would never forgive myself if I recurred and didn't do the treatment.

Good luck with your decision.