familial her2 breast cancer--comments?
 

I know of no bc in my mother's side of the family; my dad's is more of a mystery, as I do not know what my grandmother died of. One of his sisters (my aunt) developed bc when past the age of 80; I do not know the pathology, and the oncs I talked to told me that "didn't count" because of her advanced age (I guess it is assumed that everyone will develop some kind of cancer if they live long enough). That being the case, this article perked me up quite a bit, and I thank you.

Hopeful

My mother had breast cancer initially 20 years ago. She had a modified radical mastectomy with no chemo or radiation. 6 years later she had a recurrence in the tissue from the same breast - this time surgery, chemo and radiation. She has now been NED for 14 years now.


At least one great aunt on my fathers side of the family died of breast cancer and perhaps one of my second cousins, but I'm not sure.

Donna

My mother and 2 of her sisters had bc. My paternal grandmother had ovarian cancer. All were older than me (+25 yrs) when diagnosed. Maybe I got nabbed younger by having something on both sides of the family (although I tested negative for BRCA 1 & 2).

Common sense....
 

I think it might make some sense for care providers to at least ask and put their notes not only the family history of bc, but what kind of bc when each mammogram is done. Even if we have mixed genetics on both sides, if the breast cancer happens to be only on one side, or if the type of breast cancer is the same on both sides, it would give them a leg up when it comes to the cancers that are harder to detect.... any one know of any research on such a simple idea?

AlaskaAngel

I only have one sister (now 49) and she was dxed with ILC (stage 2b) ER+/PR+/HER2- a year ago. She tested negative for BRCA-1 and BRCA-2.

I (age 46) was dxed with IDC (right now, stage 1) ER+/PR+/HER2+ (via IHC - will be getting FISH done soon, I hope). I haven't been tested for BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 (yet).

My maternal grandmother had metastatic uterine cancer and then breast cancer - do not know what type as this was the 1950s. She was about 54 when dx with the breast cancer. She lived for about 15 years with the metastatic uterine cancer amazingly enough. She had a huge amount of abdominal surgery including a colostomy and removal of ileo-bladder but she lived long enough to see my sister and I born and through our single digits years. Her sister also had and died of uterine cancer. Their brother also died of cancer - but not sure what type but he died at a much more advance age.

My paternal grandmother died of uterine cancer, as well, but that was at age 95. YES, 95! She was dxed just after her 95th birthday and it was aggressive. They estimated it was there maybe 6 months. She was gone 12 weeks after dx.

My father had prostate cancer and is doing well and also has had multiple basal cell carcinoma.

My father's only brother had a kidney removed due to cancer. Later he had cancer with metastacized to liver, lungs and bones and died from it. Do not know if it was kidney cancer or something else.

As my sister's GP says, "You were dealt sucky genes".

(In addition to cancers... we have coronary artery disease, diabetes and strokes (my mother) My mother never had a mammogram or pap test. She died of strokes at 72).

Do I have to register?
 

Hi Lani,

Do I have to register with MEDSCAPE to read this link? I know this is probably a dumb question, but when I click on the link it brings me to a registration page. If I have to, I will. Just wondering.

Thank you.

Liz J.

I think so, but I think Joe has put a link with a
 

registration name and password for Medscape somewhere on this site

Anyone who can help??

My Mom was Her2- (BRCA- also) path after her second tumour was found. 1st tumor was in 1990 and Her2 testing wasn't done at that time (at least in her case).She was ER/PR + both times . She passed from metastatic BC in July 05. Three of her sisters have had BC (dont know their Her2 status), one passed from Osteosarcoma. 2 cousins w/BC. Brother w/colon, brother w/lung (deceased),nephew w/melanoma...
Wish we could "connect the dots " in my family...
Marcia