 |
|
03-03-2007, 10:21 AM
|
#21
|
|
Guest
|
Response to Melinda
Melinda--
Here is post from Kate to the same question on another thread:
"There are two tests for HER-2:
IHC test (IHC stands for ImmunoHistoChemistry) The IHC test shows if there is too much HER-2 receptor protein in the cancer cells. The results of the IHC test can be 0 (negative), 1+ (negative), 2+ (borderline), or 3+
FISH test (FISH stands for Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization) The FISH test shows if there are too many copies of the HER-2 gene in the cancer cells. The results of the FISH test can be "positive" (extra copies) or "negative" (normal number of copies).
Find out which test for HER-2 you had. This is important. Only cancers that test IHC "3+" or FISH "positive" will respond well to therapy that works against HER-2. An IHC 2+ test result is called borderline. If you have a 2+ result, you can and should ask to have the tissue tested with the FISH test." End of Kate's post.
On that same thread, I noticed a response from another member stating that her doctor also said FISH is either "positive or negative; the actual numbers don't count." Her doctor recommended, instead, that she get the Oncogene test to see how aggressive the cancer might be. I was surprised by that, as my understanding has been that the Oncogene test is run only if a woman is ER or PR positive, and that it is not run for those, like so many of us, who are ER and PR negative and HER2 positive.
One other non-scientific response from me. I suspect that doctors say the FISH numbers don't count simply because they don't know if they do or they don't. Obviously, it counts if you have more than two copies of the gene, so it would seem intuitive that if you have many more copies it must mean something. I say this, knowing that I have more than double the normal, at 4.7.
|
|
|
|
|
03-04-2007, 10:27 AM
|
#22
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Central North Carolina, USA
Posts: 112
|
IHC 2+ ; FISH 3.4; getting Herceptin every three weeks for a year June 06 to June 07
__________________
DX 11/14/05, Stage 1C, Her2+ 3.4, ER+, PR+, K167 23%, Node Negative, MX0, Grade 3, 1.8CM, Lumpectomy 12/7/05; 6 rounds dense dose Taxol bi-weekly, 35 radiation, 1 year Herceptin, & Tamoxifen ongoing.
|
|
|
|
03-04-2007, 10:42 AM
|
#23
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 758
|
I am Her2+++. Fish was not done.
Marlys
|
|
|
|
|
03-04-2007, 09:56 PM
|
#24
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
|
IHC 3+, Fish+. Being FISH+ was no surprise to anyone. Doc doesn't believe in worrying us with the minutiae of the actual score On one hand I think I would like all the info, but on the other I would have flipped if I closely tracked my MUGA dropping.
Grace, I think oncotype is geared to early stage, node negative. Almost all HER2+ yield high onco score with ER/PR- not helping.
Looking forward to the day thet have all the answers. Bev
|
|
|
|
|
03-04-2007, 10:46 PM
|
#25
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 143
|
I was only tested by FISH and -- 9.6. Also very high ki67, myotic rate, the whole ball of wax. My path report was a column of "unfavorables." The tumor grew VERY fast.
Almost at two years and NED.
Linda.
|
|
|
|
|
03-06-2007, 09:00 PM
|
#26
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Media (Wawa to be exact), PA
Posts: 104
|
Grace... thanks , you gave me motivation to research
Grace
I just came across an interesting article that may explain the differences in FISH testing by different labs. http://www.nccn.org/patients/fact_sheet.asp. I will however ask my ONC what my ratio is. I found it curious that he just said 'positive"
Melinda |
|
|
|
|
03-06-2007, 09:28 PM
|
#27
|
|
Guest
|
It's a very good site.
Thanks Melinda. Jill's husband posted the same site today on another thread and I found it excellent, the best explanation I've read to date of HER2 and the various ways of testing for over-expression and amplification.
|
|
|
|
|
03-09-2007, 07:57 PM
|
#28
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
|
My numbers
I don't know what IHC is, but my FISH score for HER2 was 4.7 and I am currently undergoing herceptin, taxotere and carboplatin.
harrie
|
|
|
|
|
04-23-2007, 08:45 AM
|
#29
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 82
|
Hi, Michele.
My FISH results:
Amplified
Her-2/cen 17 ratio = 10.5
Average Her-2/neu copies per cell: 20.0
Average cen 17 copies per cell: 1.9
I don't see any IHC numbers on my path report.
__________________
IDC Stage IIIA
Diagnosed Nov 2006 (routine mammogram), age 51
Lumpectomy, lymph node dissection Dec 2006
3 cm tumor, 8 cancerous lymph nodes
Grade 3, ER/PR -, HER-2/neu +++ (by FISH, average 20 copies per cell)
A/C x 4, Taxol x 12, Herceptin x 47 weeks
35 radiation treatments
Completed treatment on April 3, 2008
Chest port removed October 2009
11 years since diagnosis NED
|
|
|
|
|
04-23-2007, 09:58 AM
|
#30
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Bartonville, IL
Posts: 70
|
My Fish Test Was 7.4. I've Also Wondered About The Scores. My Oncologist Said It Didn't Make A Difference What The Score Was. (since Have Change Oncologist And Will Ask Her At My Next Visit.)
My Signature Is My Journey.
__________________
Karla
8/05 NORMAL MAMMO
11/05 DX AFTER FINDING LUMP AGE 47
STAGE 1 HIGH RISK
1.1 CM/NODE NEG
ER-/PR- HER 2 +++ GRADE 3
12/05 PARTIAL MASTECTOMY
1/06 CHEMO AC DD X 6
5/06 RADS X 30
10/06 STARTED HERCEPTIN AFTER 3RD OPINION
3/07 GENETIC TESTING-GENE VARIANT FOR BRCA 1 AND 2
3/07 STOPPED HERCPTIN DUE TO LOW EF
BSO 8/08 (P53 SIGNATURE--PRECANCEROUS CELLS)
11/08---IN A STUDY/MRI EVERY 6 MONTHS/MAMMO EVERY YEAR
|
|
|
|
|
04-23-2007, 08:57 PM
|
#31
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 144
|
IHC2 and FSH 8.3 (original tumor) - took Herceptin
IHC2 and FSH 9.1 (recurrence) - will take Herceptin
- Anna
__________________
- Anna
Stage I - DX 9/2005 ER/PR-, HER2+, grade 3, DCIS, IDC multi-focal (1.05cm)
DD 4 A/C finished Jan 31, 2006
Herceptin weekly finished Jan 31, 2007
recurrence to chest wall on last month of Herceptin
Stage 3B - 3/15/07 - 2 carcinomas in dermal lymphatic
Rads finished 6/5/07
12x TH finished 9/10/07
12/07 - Clear scan!
3/08 - 4 month Melatonin trial
1/09 - osteoperosis - start Alendronate
2/09 - 4-month Simivastin trial
3/13 - take drug holiday after 5 years of Alendronate
|
|
|
|
|
04-23-2007, 09:28 PM
|
#32
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
|
Hi Michele!
IHC 3+, FISH 4.9
__________________
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.
|
|
|
|
|
04-23-2007, 09:33 PM
|
#33
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 14
|
Hi! My IHC was considered "borderline" 2+ and my FISH is 2.1 and I was given AC x4 and Taxotere x4 with weekly herceptin and now 9 more months of herceptin by itself. I too have been trying to find out what the prognosis differences are if you are a low level her2+ versus a higher number FISH score. If anyone out there knows any info on this I would really appreciate it. Thanks to all of you for all your knowledge. Melissa
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:45 AM.
|
Linear Mode
