Accuracy of testing for HER2

[AlaskaAngel]

Since Herceptin has become more commonly used for HER2 we tend to think of the importance of confirmation of HER2 status mostly in terms of whether someone is going to get Herceptin -- especially since most chemo given for bc now includes an anthracycline anyway. But patients and doctors make a lot of other decisions about treatment based partly on whether or not they believe the patient is or isn't HER2 positive.... more scanning, more anxiety, more expense...

One onc I saw said she would not test me for FISH unless I was definitely going to do Herceptin. While I understand that point of view because FISH is more expensive in the short-term, I think there are other very good reasons to let people know for sure if they genuinely are HER2 -- or not.

AlaskaAngel