Her-2 hereditary?

[luvmy3sons]

Hi everyone! This is my first time visiting the forum so I hope this is the right place to ask my questions. My name is Amy. I am a 29 year old mother of 3 boys and also an only child. My mother and best friend just lost her third battle with bc on October 3, 2006. I miss her terribly! She was the most Godly, beautiful, vibrant, unselfish and giving person I have ever known. My question concerns her third bout with bc. In 1995 she was first diagnosed. She had radiation and the lump removed. She was clear until 2003 when the same bc cells developed in a lymphnode in her throat. She took a pill (I can't remember the name) for treatment and was clear again until Feb. 2006. She was then diagnosed with metastatic tumors in her liver, lymphnode, and the c2 vertebrae. She received radiation and some other treatments but the cancer was spreading very quickly. Her numbers on her tests were doubling and tripling each time she had them done. Throughout this third battle she learned about the Her-2 gene and that she was Her-2+ I guess. I'm assuming this is the reason the cancer spread so quickly. I don't know very much about the gene but I am trying to learn. My ob/gyn said I have a 50/50 chance of having the Her-2 gene issue. Is there a way to be tested before being diagnosed with cancer? I would be interested if there is. Also, since I am just learning about this...is there a reason why mom didn't have a problem with the Her-2 gene the first 2 times but that is was so aggressive the 3rd time? Like I said, I am just starting to learn...so any help and info. is appreciated. Thank you all so much and have a blessed day!

[tousled1]

I'm sorry about you mother. You can be tested for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 at anytime. It will show if you have an inherited gene that increases your chance of breast cancer. As for the HER2, it is not usually an inherited gene. I have a very strong history of ovarian and breast cancer on both sides of my family. I was tested and was negative. With your mother having breast cancer it automatically increases your risk, at least that's what my doctors told me. I have 2 daughters so I was very worried and that's why I had the genetic testing done. Even though I tested negative my daughters were told they should have their first mammogram at age 30 for a baseline. Good luck to you.

[rinaina]

I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. I lost my mom 5 years ago and I still miss her terribly. She possessed all the same characteristics as your mom. As far as I know, her2+ is not hereditary. As Tousled said though, you are at increase risk for bc and can always be tested to see if you are Brca I or II positive. A lot of people don't test because it isn't always covered by insurance and also, if it comes back positive are you prepared to do something such as prophylactic mastectomies...if not why do the test then. As for the aggressiveness of your mom's cancer later on...yes, the her2+ factor is what makes this type of bc so aggressive. Perhaps back when she was first diagnosed they didn't test her for her2 positivity. I don't know if you can first have bc and then get her2+ later. I don't see why not but I would wonder if she really did have it to begin with and didn't know.

I share your same birthday..8/21

[MJo]

All my sympathy on the loss of your mother. How wonderful that you could call your mom your best friend. That priceless gift will be with you forever. I lost my dad to bladder cancer in 2002. My 82 year old mom, thankfully, is still very healthy. I'm the one who got the BC. Go figure. Like other women on this board, I've read a lot about the disease. Never read that Her2 is hereditary. Take care.

[MGordon]

Lisa, and I am sure the other wonderful ladies on this site, all found out there HER2 status (along with a long list of other genetic markers) from the biopsies of their tumors. To my knowledge there are no "proactive" tests to check HER2 stayus, however; this may be an idea for the Bayer-Serum test.

The Bayer-Serum test is used with b/c patients to measure changes in HER2 status (it is possible to change from HER2 neg to HER2 pos, etc) This blood test looks for "ECD's" shed from tumors and measures HER2 status in these molecules. I have absolutely no idea if this could be used as a method to verify a non-diagnosed "patient" but maybe a visit to the BAYER website would help.

Love and Light
Mel