Re: Conflicting Her2 Status -- please advise
I would contact a large research cancer center. I don't know where you are located to help you and I would get a second pathology opinion. FISH is very reliable and as Rich said, I did not think Oncotype DX diagnosed anything but a recurrence score - it really doesn't have a "pathology" indicator for Her2 (or ER or PR for that matter). When you contact the other cancer center, ensure they redo the Her2, ER and PR as that is what you are most interested in. Some examples of research cancer centers are Sloan Kettering, Fox Chase, MD Anderson, UCLA, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, University of Indiana Cancer Center, Dana Farber.
The new pathology department will tell you what to do to get slides sent, then you contact where the surgery and initial pathology was done and give them the info. Have a credit card handy as they will probably charge you a fee to get them sent on dry ice (mine was $40.00 in 2004) but it could be well worth it.
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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"
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