Hi Catherine, and a late welcome to the group  I'm er/pr-, her2+++, and also from Oregon!
If a cancer is er/pr positive, it means estrogen and progesterone help the cancer cells to grow. Therapys for these cancers involve blocking the effects of the hormones.
Her2-neu is a protein, and being Her2+ means our cancer cells use the her2-neu protein to grow, and that's where Herceptin and Tykerb come in, helping to block the growth effects of Her2.
Sounds so simple, wish it were as simple to treat!
<3 Lolly
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Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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