Her2 Positive Questions for Newbie

[KirstenP]

Hello!
My name is Kirsten and I am an almost 4 year survivor, who now finds myself with my mom diagnosed in February, fortunately she is now finished with her treatment! AND now 2 of my dearest best friends have been diagnosed in the past 2 months and are going through/struggling through treatment currently.

I have been unable to find a lot of good information about HER 2 Positive and what does it really mean anyway? I was not involved with this during my time with "it". I want to be supportive to them and be reassuring but I am not sure what this all entails.

I have read what I can find, but it seems so very technical. Would any of you be willing to share, in layman's terms the following:

1. What does it mean?
2. Is the prognosis of recurrence higher? *sorry, no gentle way to ask that
3. Does it tend to indicate a higher than usual possibility of other cancers occuring? *again, sorry, no gentle way to ask
3. I see a number of drugs being discussed concering the treatment, mainly herceptin. Is this a stop gap, cure, ????? Is this mainly used after the regular chemo and radiation?

I thank you all for your help. I will continue to keep all of us in my prayers.
Kirsten