HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - ER+, HER2+

Becky · 10-14-2008, 07:34 AM

How ER+/PR+ is your friend? I think that also contributes to late recurrence rates as well as initial aggressiveness of the original tumor.

One reason (my opinion only) that highly hormone positive bc recurs later (especially if her2 negative) is that it is not so aggressive and is slow growing. In certain women, their immune systems just don't get rid of the micromets or solitary cells (and tamoxifen or an AI just keep those cells in limbo until they are off the drugs a couple of yrs). Also, one gets older as time marches on and the immune system naturally ages and gets less efficient too.

Being only ER+ and under 70%, more and more research is pointing that my tumor most likely is acting more like a hormone negative one.

I think some questions I asked of your friend's tumor can help point to how diligent she needs to be on continuing anti hormonals or not. I am just thinking out loud here. Sometimes its actually easier to do here than to say these things to your friend.

10-14-2008, 07:34 AM	#2
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	How ER+/PR+ is your friend? I think that also contributes to late recurrence rates as well as initial aggressiveness of the original tumor. One reason (my opinion only) that highly hormone positive bc recurs later (especially if her2 negative) is that it is not so aggressive and is slow growing. In certain women, their immune systems just don't get rid of the micromets or solitary cells (and tamoxifen or an AI just keep those cells in limbo until they are off the drugs a couple of yrs). Also, one gets older as time marches on and the immune system naturally ages and gets less efficient too. Being only ER+ and under 70%, more and more research is pointing that my tumor most likely is acting more like a hormone negative one. I think some questions I asked of your friend's tumor can help point to how diligent she needs to be on continuing anti hormonals or not. I am just thinking out loud here. Sometimes its actually easier to do here than to say these things to your friend. __________________ 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"