HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

bejuce · 11-27-2009, 05:33 PM

Hi Dianne,

Please know that you are not alone. I'm weakly ER+ as well (5%) and having my original biopsy retested to confirm my status. I'm premenopausal (39 years old) and my period stopped during chemo in April and returned in October during radiation. My oncologist put me on Tamoxifen, and so far no period yet. I'm doing fine on it, with no apparent side effects besides the likely interruption in my period.

As for recurrence, I'd love to hear some numbers out there. I had what I call a gigantic tumor that appeared during breastfeeding my 3rd, and I'm high risk. After my surgery, my oncologist ran the Adjuvant online program but she said that with Herceptin, I have a. 70% chance of making it to 5 years. But since I also took Tykerb, I'm trying to hope for the best and a very long cancer free life to raise my children alongside my hubby. I think the numbers vary for everyone. I'm curious though - are the weakly ER+ patients at a disadvantage? What have you learned about this group so far?

Thanks and let's keep the communication going, I love this group!

Marcia (bejuce)

11-27-2009, 05:33 PM	#2
bejuce Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 510	Re: The weakly er+ group Hi Dianne, Please know that you are not alone. I'm weakly ER+ as well (5%) and having my original biopsy retested to confirm my status. I'm premenopausal (39 years old) and my period stopped during chemo in April and returned in October during radiation. My oncologist put me on Tamoxifen, and so far no period yet. I'm doing fine on it, with no apparent side effects besides the likely interruption in my period. As for recurrence, I'd love to hear some numbers out there. I had what I call a gigantic tumor that appeared during breastfeeding my 3rd, and I'm high risk. After my surgery, my oncologist ran the Adjuvant online program but she said that with Herceptin, I have a. 70% chance of making it to 5 years. But since I also took Tykerb, I'm trying to hope for the best and a very long cancer free life to raise my children alongside my hubby. I think the numbers vary for everyone. I'm curious though - are the weakly ER+ patients at a disadvantage? What have you learned about this group so far? Thanks and let's keep the communication going, I love this group! Marcia (bejuce) __________________ ER+ (30%)/PR-/HER-2+, stage 3 Diagnosed on 02/18/09 at 38 with a huge 12x10 cm tumor, after a 6 month delay. Told I was too young and had no risk factors. Found swollen node during breastfeeding. March-August 09: neo-adjuvant chemo, part of a trial at Stanford (4 DD A/C, 4 Taxotere with daily Tykerb), loading dose of Herceptin 08/12/09 - bye bye boobies (bilateral mastectomy) 08/24/09 - path report shows 100 % success in breast tissue (no cancer there, yay!), 98 % success in lymphatic invasion, and even though 11/13 nodes were still positive, > 95 % of the tumor in them was killed. Hoping for the best! September-October 09: rads with daily Xeloda 02/25/10 - Cholecystectomy 05/27/10 - Bone scan clear 06/14/10 - CT scan clear, ovarian cyst found 07/27/10 - Done with Herceptin! 02/15/11 - MVA-BN HER-2 vaccine trial 03/15/11 - First CA 15-3: 12.7 and normal, yay! 10/01/11 - Bone scan and CT scan clear, fatty liver found now on Tamoxifen and Aspirin