Thread: Weak Positive
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Old 06-26-2006, 09:42 PM   #2
chrisy
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Join Date: Sep 2005
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Hi Pam,
The weak/strong Her2/neu status refers to how much the Her2 factor is overexpressed in the tumor - in effect, how many copies of the receptor are on each cell. Her2 is a growth factor, which causes cells to divide and grow rapidly, which is why historically Her2 positive cancer has been associated with poor prognosis. The more Her2, the faster the cancer grows and the more likely it will recur. Strong Her2 positive cancer is more likely to respond to Herceptin because it has more of the targeted factor.
Having weak Her2 positivity doesn't necessarily mean you would not benefit from Herceptin, but it is true that you might not get as much benefit as someone with strong positivity.
On the other hand, weak Her2 positivity also means less rapid growth, possibly less aggressive disease which is a good thing!
It sounds like you're getting as much information as you can - keep it up, knowledge is power. Trust yourself that you will make the right decisions for you.
I wish you good luck in your journey- you'll find you are stronger than you think!
Chris
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