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Becky · 01-17-2008, 06:28 PM

Welcome to Jean's and my ER+/PR- club. There aren't many of us. Generally speaking, it is always best (regardless of Her2 status) to be ER+ and PR+ but at least being ER+ is good. You are on an AI and that is very good for this pathology because Tamoxifen resistance probably occurs more often if only ER+ (and Her2+). However, there was a study with Arimidex where they looked at its effectiveness in women who were ER+/PR+ vs women who were just ER+ and that study showed that Arimidex is more effective if just ER+. Also, the Arimidex/Herceptin combination (for the time you were on both together) is a great combination (when tested in metastatic women - test was this combo vs Arimidex alone).

And, you are already 2 years out - yeah! It is a small club and before the days of AIs and Herceptin - it wasn't the best of the Her2 club to be in (because Tamoxifen's effectiveness was questionable at best) but now it could be the best place to be because of molecular drug technology.

The few, the proud, the ER+/PR-!

01-17-2008, 06:28 PM	#5
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Welcome to Jean's and my ER+/PR- club. There aren't many of us. Generally speaking, it is always best (regardless of Her2 status) to be ER+ and PR+ but at least being ER+ is good. You are on an AI and that is very good for this pathology because Tamoxifen resistance probably occurs more often if only ER+ (and Her2+). However, there was a study with Arimidex where they looked at its effectiveness in women who were ER+/PR+ vs women who were just ER+ and that study showed that Arimidex is more effective if just ER+. Also, the Arimidex/Herceptin combination (for the time you were on both together) is a great combination (when tested in metastatic women - test was this combo vs Arimidex alone). And, you are already 2 years out - yeah! It is a small club and before the days of AIs and Herceptin - it wasn't the best of the Her2 club to be in (because Tamoxifen's effectiveness was questionable at best) but now it could be the best place to be because of molecular drug technology. The few, the proud, the ER+/PR-! __________________ 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"