Please chime in--for those with low bmi(weight) are you ER+ or ER-

[Lani]

We have previously commented on increasing bmi(weight) being inversely proportional to development of her2 positive breast cancer (ie more skinny people get her2 breast cancer). Here looking at ALL breast cancers they feel it is the ER- breast cancers which are NOT associated with increased bmi (weight). Of those who posted regarding their weight (or lack of it)--could you pipe in again regarding whether you were ER- or ER+. Her2 seems to be a different type of breast cancer altogether, but as they are lumping her2+ER+ in with other "luminal" subtype breast cancers, it would be interesting to see if in our small group of selected (talented, passionate, communicative participants on this board) her2 positive patients low bmi is associated with her2 even in the face of ER positivity.

Just a thought!

[Mgarr]

ER/PR- Her2+++

I was thin most of my life. Had extra weight for a couple of years so a year prior to my diagnosis started working w/ weights and lost about 20 lbs. Weight starting dropping quickly right before I found my lump -It was also a very stressful time in my life not sure if that was cause for weight loss.

Mary

[mom22girlz]

Just prior to my dx, I lost 25 lbs. I was not heavy, but started lifting weights and doing a more purposeful workout. I have been mostly thin my whole life, but had gained due to a terrible knee injury. I now consider myself regular slender!! Hope that helps. susan

Her+++ and ER +

[Lani]

you forgot to add your ER status!

[Julie2]

I am always thin my whole life, even during pregnancy. I am her2+++ and ER-, PR-.

Julie

[saleboat]

I was (am) on the low end of normal for my 'ideal' BMI, but not below it.

The tumor that I had was ER+ and PR+.

[Johanna Johannsdottir]

Lani, you are good in researching.

dx 2002 with er+ tumor, 25+lymphnodes. (tests for Her was not routine then but are now)
rec.2005 stage IV in bones and small tumor in liver, Her++, er+

Was very normal in youth, not fat nor thin. Like most other women found me to fat 30-40 y.o and on diet and a diet. Im thick over stomach, back and arms, but thighs and legs are thin. Always in good shape othervice.

regards Jóhanna

[callen03]

I was very thin until around 30-years-old. I gradually gained weight over the next 20 years. I lost 50 pounds, and a year later found the lump.

I am HER2+++, ER+/PR-.

[dberg]

Although I had a couple of heavy years in college (when I discovered beer), I have always been my ideal weight. I was 110lbs when I was dx. I am ER/PR +.

[StephN]

Don't recall if I answered your earlier poll.

I have never been overweight in my life and will be 57 this week. Overweight does not run in my family and neither does cancer.

Wore a size 6 when diagnosed in 2000 and am 5'5" or so. HER2+++.

Have "flabbed out" a bit with all the chemo that ran down my stamina so much and also loss of hormones. I do work out, but not more than 2 or 3 times a week (trying to hold the line) besides normal activity to keep up with a large house and yard. (I am ALWAYS behind on things - but cancer does that to us.)

[JackieC]

I've always been average to thin, but work out quite a bit as well. ER/PR- and HER+++

[SherriT]

I've been thin all my life (I am 37). I have gained about four pounds over the last five years, which I chalk up to changing jobs to a mostly desk job and from the birth of my son.

I am almost 5 feet 8 inches tall and usually weigh about 114 pounds. I am Her2+++ and ER/PR-

[panicked911]

low BMI entire life until reached 40 - put on 10 lbs and grew breasts and hips - still well within "normal weight limits for 5'3. Diagnosised at 43 er+ pr+ and Her2+ put on another 10 lbs since starting hormonal treatment (11/05) - lupron and arimidex. Still within the "normal" weight range - Onc suggested weight watchers even though still wearing a size 4 ( barely)- afraid I will be laughed out of there....

[Bev]

Hi, ER+, 5'7, 135#, slightly thinner than that in 20's and had spells where I'd weigh 5 or so more in my 40's, my winter, holiday weight. But I think the whole range was within normal. I'm having a hard time visualizing a size 4 needing weight watchers. What's your theory Lani? BB

[tricia keegan]

Hi Lani

I am er/pr positive and also her2 pos and am quite thin.I actually lost some more weight prior to my DX last jULY.
Tricia

[marymary]

I was always thin, 5' 8 1/2", weight at diagnosis around 120 - 124 lbs.
ER+; PR-; HER2 +++

I was always able to eat whatever I wanted without gaining weight; being on the tall side helped, I suppose. Wore a size 4. I was always, naturally, rather flat-chested and it was unimaginable that breast cancer could afflict me. I thought, I'm embarassed to confess, that breast cancer only struck those who actually had, well, big breasts.

Post everything I've been through I weigh 153. Size 8. Still taking Arimidex which makes me always hungry. Shrinking besides. Now I'm 5' 7 and a half. Thank goodness I was on the thin side to begin with, I guess I still look normal but when I look in the mirror I do see too much weight around my mid-section and in my face. Had reconstructive surgery, L latissimus dorsi since my stomach did not have enough weight to make a new breast. Now my chest matches the rest of me size-wize. Having a larger chest also makes me look a bit weightier.

But I digress. This morning I am happy to be alive and want to keep fighting to stay that way.

Mary

diagnosed: 4/2002 ER+ PR- HER2neu +++
3 rounds A/C
cancer grew on A/C
L modified radical mastectomy - 13 of 13 positive nodes
6 months of Taxotere
1 year of Herceptin
Radiation
Two small brain metastases discovered Spring '05
Gamma Knife 4/2005
Weekly Herceptin resumed
continue on Arimidex
Last week's brain MRI showed only 1 lesion which shrinks from scan to scan
Currently applying to University of Washington's Vaccine Trial

[Christine MH-UK]

I was very thin until I was 12 and from about 20-30. I was overweight when I was 13 and 14 and about right from 15-19 and 30-39 (when I was diagnosed). My cancer was ER-/PR-/Her2+++.

Take care,

Christine

[karenann]

Hi Lani,

I have always weighed about 114lbs and I am 5'5" tall. I am also, ER+ 95% and PR+ 10%.

Thanks ,
Karen

[Maggie C]

I was a size 6 until 2 years before I was diagnosed. At the time of my diagnosis 8/03 I was up to 162 lbs and size 14 - 5'4". ER-PR-. I am back down to size 4 at 125 lbs, at age 57. Started at stage III and now IV with liver and lung mets (to restart chemo in the next couple of weeks).

Maggie

[kristen]

Hi Lani,

I have always been in my ideal weight limit except when I got pregnant. .(and chemo, I climbed up to 155) I am 5'9" tall and weigh 135#. Have been putting the weight back on. Last summer was the lowest I had weighed for some reason, I couldn't put it on, I was even lower then when I was dx. and that was at 129#, last summer down to 124. Yikes. Feel much better with the wt. back on. er-/pr-. (I have heard you put on 10#'s with menopause, is that true?)

[Maggie C]

Now that would be a blessing : ) I also heard that weight loss can occur as a result of having liver mets. I cut out refined sugar, alcohol, soda drinks, etc. So I really can't say if my weight loss was a cancer thing, a chemo thing or just a better diet thing.

Maggie

[pattyz]

Well, I feel like a 'fatty', lol! age 56

ER+ (PR-)

5' 4-1/2" weight between 125-135 most of my life.

Post mets dx and initial tx in 2002: weight loss from a high of 140lbs to 113 and still holding. No 'reason' for this. It just 'happened'....

pattyz

[Ann]

Hi,

Her2+++, E/PR-
I weighed 132 lbs at dx, 5'7". I was 44 years old at the time (1997) and that was the most I weighed as an adult. My normal weight prior to dx was 120 lbs.
The theory of low BMI would hold true for me.

[chartermom02]

I've been called "skinny" my entire life; even at my highest weight - just a few months ago - 142# - people still called me skinny; all the weight's in my mid section but I guess I hide it well!! I use Tamoxifen, Arimidex, and my hysterectomy as excuses for my weight gain. I'm now down in weight again after the devastating loss of my son 3 weeks ago but still higher than my "normal" weight of 115 - 120#.
Gloria
Diagnosed 10/00 - 41 y.o. - ER+/PR+; Her2+++

[Maggie]

Hi,

Well, I guess I'm the oldest one here! I was just 63 years young and I don't think I look, feel and act it either. I'm 145, look slim and I'm 5' 8 3/4. I was about 15 pounds heavier though about a year before I was diaganosed. I have to really watch what I eat to keep the weight off. :( I lost a bit during chemo and radiation, and I'm back to normal, now.

HER/2 +++ ER/PR neg Diagnosed 7/04 A/C x 4 and radiation Started Herceptin in November when approved for early stage. No problems with herceptin except for the sometimes bloody nose and still the "crusties," sometimes worse than others but it's very tolerable! I'm not complaining. I use the Ayr Salline Gel that was talked about here last year.

[RobinP]

Yes, me too always thin, 107-125,5'7". Interestingly, it is the thin ones too that are more at risk using birth control pills with later bc development, according to some studies.

[Susan]

Yes, I"ve always been thin too. ER/PR+. I'm 48 and I've been the same weight all my life. I'm 5'8 and about 120 pounds.

[Rozebud]

5' 5.5" and 125-128#s, ER-/PR+ (What does that mean for me???)

[athena453]

Interesting! There do seem to be quite a few thin women here.

Current: 5'7" 135lbs.
Was 125-130 since adolescence before dx.
Have always been thin/muscular build and athletic.

[Val Pfeiffer]

5'7"
115 #
Her2 +++
ER-/PR-
Weight didn't change before or after diagnosis

[mekasan]

I was dx in 8/05 at 30 yeas old w/ a BMI of 22. I have fluxated a lot.

Throughout highschool my weight was steady and placed me around 19. College brought it up a bit probably as high as 23, and later back down to 21. Grad school brought a higher gain at first (25) and again back down to 22. After grad school I found time to get in fantastic shape bring my BMI down to 18, followed by a slow steady incline. By Law school (3 years later), I shot back up to about 24. Two years into school I lost a few pounds and at 22 BMI I was dx. As I am 5"2' we are talking about a 30 lb flux over the past 12 years.

I am ER-/PR-

[kat in the delta]

I have always been thin, but purposely so----now, I think it was a mistake to try and maintain my weight of 100 lbs when I am 5'-3". I also did not want to gain wt. during my chemo with BC, because {my sister had BC 6 yrs. ago,and her Onc told her the chemo for BC would make her GAIN lbs. She gained from 110lbs to 145 lbs. She was ER+PR+,but HER2-. She did not have her breast removed, but took A/C followed by Taxotere and Rad., then Tamoxifin, and now Aromasin. She is Still having a hard time trying to lose wt.,She got up to 150lbs, even dieting and exercising. Last week her doc. gave her some diet pills with a refill. You can see why I continued dieting thru chemo. Now, I'm TOO THIN and could stand to gain 10 lbs with exercise and toning. I am alittle on the anoxeric side from fear of becoming too fat.---Kat in the Delta

[Sheila]

Kristen, I have the 10 from menopause and then some,
I was always thin, wore a size 6 until I was diagnosed at 50, remained thin until the Herceptin and Menopause, now wish I could give the extra 22 pounds to someone, I have just conceded that the weight is my midlife crisis, menopause and Herceptin, and have dumped all the size 6's for 10's and some 12's.....OLD AGE IS NOT FOR SISSIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By the way, I was thin when diagnosed, Her2+++, ER PR -

[kat in the delta]

Lani,
I was told that I was "slightly"? positive ER, and PR negative. Kat