origional dx er,pr+/mets er,pr,- and her2+

[lu Ann]

My origional dx 13 years ago was stage 1 er, pr + and the mets I was dx with 5 months ago is er, pr, - and Her2+. I had a biopsy of a 4cm cyst removed from the other breast that was benign and there are no other sypmtom of a new primary. Is it possible for the tumor to change it's hormone status? Has this happened to anyone else? If Her2 is so aggressive, why did it take 13 years for me to have physical symtoms.(I have a compression fracture in my spine) The last CEA test I had was January 1998, which was normal. I had kidney stones November 2001 which can be a symptom of bone mets, which I have.

[Lisa]

Yes, hormonal factors CAN change. Mind did. In 1999, they were ER/PR+. With 2003 recurrence, they were ER/PR-.

As for the HER2 aggressiveness, I don't know whether anybody has that answer. But I AM thankful that you were symptom-free for so long. I, too, have bone (and liver) mets. I also have a herniated disk, but they don't believe it's cancer-related. I just got off 9 months of Navelbine/Herceptin/Zometa. Well, actually just the Navelbine. Will probably be on Herceptin and Zometa for the bones indefinitely.

Love and healing light,

Lisa

[lu ann]

Dear Lisa,
How was the navelbine treatment? I'm on taxol, carboplatin, herceptin, weekly(3on/1off) and zometa monthly.
Thanks, Lu ann

[Christine]

Lu ann,
Lisa, is one who had a tumor with different er/pr levels. It has been known to happen for many years. New tumors can be very different and can have a different hormone receptor and biopsy analysis.

[Jan Solomon]

Hi! I got a new primary a few months ago after 13 years too!My new one is HER+++ and they didn't do that test then. Doc says new tumor can be totaly different. Mine seems somewhat similar although I went from stage 1 to stage 2. I had the exact same question about the aggressiveness of HER+! What took so long? They don't have the answer because it depends on what other oncogenes your tumor has in combination. Just remember HER+ is not a death sentence - it's just one factor. You beat it once - you can do it again! I'll be thinking of you. Just write with any questions. Jan