CancerCompass message board discussion started by pmvjsw on 4/4/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22690,0.htm Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I just got my path report 2 days ago from the surgeon. Primary 1.3 cm tumour in right breast with 3 positive nodes. ER/PR+ and her2/neu+. The surgeon was happy it was HR+ and only had 3 nodes, as the sbr score was 9. He didn't even mention the her2 status or what it meant. I went home and researched and found out the her2+ means the cancer will probably be resistant to hormone therapy and recurrence higher and survival rates are alot lower. I'm really feeling scared. Every bit of info I get about this cancer is worse than the last. CT scan and bone scans clear. So far.But for how long?Pauline pmvjsw Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi! My name is Donna and I was diagnosed with breast cancer that was also Her2nue +. I was diagnosed in Sept. of 2005 and I started my chemo in Dec. of 2005. Has your doctor mentioned Herceptin. After chemo, I had these treatments for a year. The Herceptin treatments were not bad at all. My doctor told me that before Herceptin that I would have had a bad prognosis, but the Herceptin stops reoccurance in about 50% of pts. I am doing well now and hope that everything turns out well for you. Keep you spirits up (I know it can be hard). donnalynn Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi Donna: Thanks for writing back.The nurse I talked to at the breast assessment centre says recurrence rates are 30%, even after treatment. That seems frighteningly high. I meet with the oncologist April 17 to set a date for chemo to start. I also feel really afraid of the chemo. I'm also ER and PR pos, and I read that the her2+ discounts the positive effect of tamoxifen, but another study says that hormone pos. her2/neu patients had and advantage and longer disease-free time then hormone neg. The fear is taking up all the space in my life right now. Pauline pmvjsw Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi Pauline - I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer with one node positive in 2003.  I had a recurrence in 2006 and a small spot was in my lung (which they removed).  I was diagnosed ER/PR+ and HER2+ the second time around.  I took Taxotere for four rounds and a year of Herceptin.  My doctor said Herceptin has made a HUGE difference in treating HER2+ cancers.  I had no side effects from Herceptin (it is not a chemo, but it helps protect the cells).  I ended my year of Herceptin in October of this year.  I was also put on Arimidex last year.  Other than a few side effects from the Arimidex, I feel great!  I read breast cancer medical journals on the internet and on a daily basis there are new treatments coming up all the time.  HER2+ cancers are more aggressive, but because of Herceptin, it really makes a difference.  It is truly a revolutionary treatment. Good luck to you - I do everything today that I have always done - so you should be encouraged that your life will go on! Marcia marcia63 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  Run, don't walk, to another onco.  If you are her2neu+ and estrogen receptor positive and your doctor hasn't advised you about immediate treatments for both, confront him at once or find yourself another onco fast.  For her2neu:  only about 15% of female breast cancer patients are her2neu+  There are 2 targeted therapies for it: Herceptin, and Tykerb. Information for both is available online.  Just type in the individual words and do a search.  I have it.  I use it.  Have cancer since 1996.  Additionally, it is a genetic marker which means you've inherited it through your mother or father.  It can be passed by males.  Does someone on either side have/had cancer?  Many targeted therapies are available for ER+ too, so don't be so down!  This stuff is highly treatable.  But since it is a genetic marker, your sisters or daughters should be screend as early as possible, and though it may not be covered by insurance, $150 for a mammo is well worth it.  National Cancer Institute also has lots of info; National Institutes of Health, etc.  Tykerb is made by GlaxoSmithKline; go there. ER+, Arimidex, made by AstraZeneca.  Herceptin is made by Genentech Bio-oncology.  Visit them too.  Ask the onco for a PET scan to rule out metastases.  Chest x-ray too.  BE WELL-INFORMED AND PROACTIVE ON YOUR OWN BEHALF!  All the best to you. Kbcns7 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Deasr Pauline,I know all of this can be overwhelming and scary. We are all afraid of the unknown. What type of chemo are they talking about putting you on.  I had Adriamycin and Cytoxin every three weeks for 4 cycles and then Taxol every week for twelve weeks. The Adriamycin and Cytoxin were harder on me than the Taxol. I did lose all of my hair, including my eyelashes and eyebrows, but they do come back. The medicines that they make for the nausea are very good now. You will feel very tired, but your energy will eventually return. Like I said before. I feel good these days except for some muscle and bone pain that is brought on by the Arimidex that I now take for 5 years. But, this is manageable and if I have to do all of this again I would. I had a port put in for my chemo infusions and this was helpful. If you have any questions about what you are going through or just need someone to vent to feel free to write me here or email me directly. Stay positive and everything will work out. donnalynn Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/4/2008 pmvjsw wrote:I just got my path report 2 days ago from the surgeon. Primary 1.3 cm tumour in right breast with 3 positive nodes. ER/PR+ and her2/neu+. The surgeon was happy it was HR+ and only had 3 nodes, as the sbr score was 9. He didn't even mention the her2 status or what it meant. I went home and researched and found out the her2+ means the cancer will probably be resistant to hormone therapy and recurrence higher and survival rates are alot lower. I'm really feeling scared. Every bit of info I get about this cancer is worse than the last. CT scan and bone scans clear. So far.But for how long?PaulineHi, last fall I was diagonised with stage 3 breast cancer, I also was hormone positive and Her2 positive,  it was in early mestatsis to the lymph nodes, also.  Her2 postitive is very agressive, my tumors were 2-3 cm and I had 2 in the one side,  after many tests,  treatment was started I had adramycin and cytotoxin every 2 weeks, (which is called dose densing,) for 4 cycles, then taxal every 2 weeks for 4 cycles. half way thru the taxal I was also started on herceptin, and when the taxal was finished I went on arimedix. herceptin and arimidex are called hormone therapy  and very effective for her2 . I could be taking arimidex 5 years or more. this inhibits the production of estrogen, which is feeding your tumors, that's why they call it hormone positive.  Following the chemo I had a repeat cat scan and the lymph nodes in question no longer showed up.    I would gather all the information from the ACS, and your doctors office, because there's so much information out there and not all accurate,  You will see many doctors, including an onnocologist, radiation onnocologist and surgeon, and maybe a family doctor to take care of things that they don't do.  I was never sick from the chemo, because they have such great drugs to stop that, but I did loose my hair, and all of it to be sure, and it effected nails, I had  some numbness in my fingers and feet, that should go away within a year, if it doesn't it can mean permanent nerve damage,  if you have a breast center or maybe the place where you got your mamogram, they should have information on breast cancers. I will have a mastectomy tomorrow, only one side will be done the chances of me getting on the other side is 5% or less then after a month or so radiation will start, my chances for survival is 50 to 60& with treatment.  Your doctor will start setting you up with these other doctors,  and don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion, you will be told so much information its hard to take it all in, have someone go with you because they can remember what you don't. and ask your doc.questions and make sure you understand what they are saying. Turn you fear into power, by educating your self, and beleive me it will be more information than you ever bargined for.  Cancer is what it is, you don't have to have it in your family, a genes or anything it just happens, and we learn how to deal with it, but don't ever give up, regardless of any news that isn't good, because things change all the time. you need to know at what stage you're at that so you can get a better grip on things.  and your onnocologist will tell you that. so good luck to you and I will pray for you, obnurse Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/17/2008 obnurse wrote: On 4/4/2008 pmvjsw wrote:I just got my path report 2 days ago from the surgeon. Primary 1.3 cm tumour in right breast with 3 positive nodes. ER/PR+ and her2/neu+. The surgeon was happy it was HR+ and only had 3 nodes, as the sbr score was 9. He didn't even mention the her2 status or what it meant. I went home and researched and found out the her2+ means the cancer will probably be resistant to hormone therapy and recurrence higher and survival rates are alot lower. I'm really feeling scared. Every bit of info I get about this cancer is worse than the last. CT scan and bone scans clear. So far.But for how long?PaulineHi, last fall I was diagonised with stage 3 breast cancer, I also was hormone positive and Her2 positive,  it was in early mestatsis to the lymph nodes, also.  Her2 postitive is very agressive, my tumors were 2-3 cm and I had 2 in the one side,  after many tests,  treatment was started I had adramycin and cytotoxin every 2 weeks, (which is called dose densing,) for 4 cycles, then taxal every 2 weeks for 4 cycles. half way thru the taxal I was also started on herceptin, and when the taxal was finished I went on arimedix. herceptin and arimidex are called hormone therapy  and very effective for her2 . I could be taking arimidex 5 years or more. this inhibits the production of estrogen, which is feeding your tumors, that's why they call it hormone positive.  Following the chemo I had a repeat cat scan and the lymph nodes in question no longer showed up.    I would gather all the information from the ACS, and your doctors office, because there's so much information out there and not all accurate,  You will see many doctors, including an onnocologist, radiation onnocologist and surgeon, and maybe a family doctor to take care of things that they don't do.  I was never sick from the chemo, because they have such great drugs to stop that, but I did loose my hair, and all of it to be sure, and it effected nails, I had  some numbness in my fingers and feet, that should go away within a year, if it doesn't it can mean permanent nerve damage,  if you have a breast center or maybe the place where you got your mamogram, they should have information on breast cancers. I will have a mastectomy tomorrow, only one side will be done the chances of me getting on the other side is 5% or less then after a month or so radiation will start, my chances for survival is 50 to 60& with treatment.  Your doctor will start setting you up with these other doctors,  and don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion, you will be told so much information its hard to take it all in, have someone go with you because they can remember what you don't. and ask your doc.questions and make sure you understand what they are saying. Turn you fear into power, by educating your self, and beleive me it will be more information than you ever bargined for.  Cancer is what it is, you don't have to have it in your family, a genes or anything it just happens, and we learn how to deal with it, but don't ever give up, regardless of any news that isn't good, because things change all the time. you need to know at what stage you're at that so you can get a better grip on things.  and your onnocologist will tell you that. so good luck to you and I will pray for you,You are so right.  New studies are being done all of the time and it's no longer a death sentence.  I know many women in my group who are living with meta. cancer.  It is what it is and once you know what your treatment will be you can adjust to your new LIFE.  Keep reaching out because there are a lot of us out there that have gone through and are still goiing through it.  It really does make you a stronger person. 2ndChance Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT