Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

How do you define weakly positive, where is the borderline in general? My receptors were ER 15% and PR 15,5% and still didn't receive any antiestrogen treatment. As far as I know, existence of PR-receptors means good for the prognosis, but what is enough? No-one can predict. I had Stage IIIB but I'm still dancing with NED!

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

Ursula,

I cut and pasted this from another thread here:

A copy from another post of mine applies here too as a positive note:

These are quotes from the esteemed E. Perez, MD:

''Unlike ER-positive breast cancer, in which events are strung out over the course of 10 to 15 years, in HER2-positive breast cancer most of the events occur in the first five years and a lot of them occur in the first couple of years. That is part of the reason why, in each of these studies, we saw a dramatic benefit early on, even in the first year (Perez 2005b; Piccart-Gebhart 2005; Romond 2005)"

I guess Perez is basing her comments on retrospective studies which go back after the event and analyze data. According to Perez, survival after five years for her2+, er-, pr- is a milestone, not a guaranteed cure, but a certainly a positive milestone.

Of course, we'll get the full story , and perhaps a more accurate picture, of natural history from prospective studies like the HERA where data is analyzed as it is made.


Dianne

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

DianneS

I am in Toronto, Ontario and I got my ER/PR in % - ER 90%, PR 50%. This was 4 years ago.

all the best
caya

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

astrid...which resort did u take your photo in? It looks like a good place for me to fantasize about going to, the day after I finish all my treatment!
nora

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

Hi All, I think I can answer Nancy L's question about how you can be originally diagnosed at Stage 1 and later be diagnosed at Stage 3. Based on three biopsies I was originally diagnosed as Stage 1mic. However, after lumpectomy was diagnosed as Stage III with 5 out of 6 lymph nodes positive (done via sentinel node biopsy). Currently doing chemo first, then bi-lateral masectomy, followed by radiation.

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

Hi Astrid, sorry I didn't see the ER-/PR-. I voted, but I am triple positive -- maybe you can remove my vote? I selected the 5th option, diagnosed at stage 4.

Rachael

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

Hi. Though I metastasized 2-4 yrs after orig dx -- actually 3 yrs -- I think it's important to add that I did not have benefit of Herceptin in 1995 (H being in clinical trials and not even testing for the HER2 gene was done then).

In August of 1998, I asked to be tested (H still in clinical trials) BUT -- fast tracked by the FDA September 28 of 1998 -- for metastatic bc. I FINALLY LUCKED OUT...

Love and Light,
Andi

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

Hi, I am new here
I am now stage 4 ER-/PR- HER2+ and was originally diagnosed at a lower stage

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

Nancy L, I was originally Stage 1 (& 0). A year later I had a local recurrence and was classified as Stage 3. Originally no lymph node involvement. Because of the number of positive nodes I am 3C. No distant mets at this time. The fact the recurrence was local and not distant allowed for the Stage 3 classification instead of Stage 4.

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

ER-/PR- HER2+. Original diagnosis stage IIB. Local recurrence in 2010. Currently NED. On Herceptin since recurrence.

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

Hi Elaine M, my oncologist gave a talk recently in which she said she had done a study (BCRC 107) Does BC cell change when it recurs as a metastasess, looking at ER+/-, PgR+/-, and HER2+/- factors in the primary tumor compared with metasates. Theyfound there is concordance in 99% of cancers. She said there is some confusion in that people with HER2+ were sometimes originally told they were HER2postive on a score of 1 or 2, or that they were ER+ when they were too low to really be positive. And then new primaries or concurrent primaries may be different cancers and may have diff ER+/-, PgR+/-, and HER2+/- . So this should not be such a big issue overall.
Cheers
Jessica

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

I had a local recurrence to my chest wall in 2010 and was treated with Herceptin surgery and radiation. I was originally Stage IIb and my recurrence didn't affect that original staging.

This link might be helpful: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/Me...roduction.html

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

Hi Debbie, was the recurrence detected by a mammogram or by another type of scan?

Just curious.

Thanks! Laura

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

The recurrence was diagnosed during a CT scan which I was having every 6 months. I had no symptoms and my bloodwork was normal.

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

Hello. So glad for this site. I need to see what others are feeling and dealing with. I was diagnosed in March of this year. I have her2 positive, in 1 lymph node stage 3 bc of my tumor size. It has spread to my lower back as well. I'm on herceptin every 3 weeks, on arimidex daily, xgeva every 4 weeks, along with calcium tabs 2x a day. My blood work is now in normal range. It was better the 2nd time around than the 1st. My tumor has shrank in 6 months from 8cm to 2x2 cm. My oncologist sees no need for any surgery. He plans in keeping up what we're doing now since its working so well. I'd appreciate any input. Thanks. God bless you all.

Re: ER-/PR- HER2 staging poll
 

No, I was diagnosed with this same thing in December 2018