HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Roll call for premenopausal Her+ and some hormonal positivity

Becky · 06-21-2008, 06:23 PM

Hi Janelle

I fit your description almost exactly although I got my ovaries removed so I am now postmenopausal (but I was premenopausal prior to and my menses returned). I am 50% ER and "less than 5% PR" which is considered negative.

With a negative PR, I worried that Tamoxifen just wouldn't work for me (especially since I am only moderately ER+). In 2004/2005, current research pointed to aromatase inhibitors as being better so I had my ovaries removed, went on Arimidex and continued Herceptin for a year from that point. Currently, I am doing well.

I didn't catch your age. I was 46 when I got my ovaries removed. I was at least starting to near the natural menopause age.

However, Tamoxifen while still on Herceptin is a very good therapy. I cannot comment on Tamoxifen alone but most research points to that it might not work well if you are not both ER and PR positive.

Contact me anytime. There aren't many of us ER+ PRneg gals out there.

Send your slide to a large cancer center for another opinion (I did) - somewhere like Sloan Kettering, Dana Farber, MD Anderson, Fox Chase, Johns Hopkins etc. They read so many slides that their opinion is objective versus subjective.

Hugs to you.

06-21-2008, 06:23 PM	#4
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Hi Janelle I fit your description almost exactly although I got my ovaries removed so I am now postmenopausal (but I was premenopausal prior to and my menses returned). I am 50% ER and "less than 5% PR" which is considered negative. With a negative PR, I worried that Tamoxifen just wouldn't work for me (especially since I am only moderately ER+). In 2004/2005, current research pointed to aromatase inhibitors as being better so I had my ovaries removed, went on Arimidex and continued Herceptin for a year from that point. Currently, I am doing well. I didn't catch your age. I was 46 when I got my ovaries removed. I was at least starting to near the natural menopause age. However, Tamoxifen while still on Herceptin is a very good therapy. I cannot comment on Tamoxifen alone but most research points to that it might not work well if you are not both ER and PR positive. Contact me anytime. There aren't many of us ER+ PRneg gals out there. Send your slide to a large cancer center for another opinion (I did) - somewhere like Sloan Kettering, Dana Farber, MD Anderson, Fox Chase, Johns Hopkins etc. They read so many slides that their opinion is objective versus subjective. Hugs to you. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"