Any other stage iii er pr positives?

[Jackie07]

The abstract below talks about new prognostic factors recommended (used) by the medical field:

Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2011 Jul;31(181):5-8.
[The practical value of breast cancer molecular classification].

[Article in Polish]
Duda-Szymańska J, Sporny S.
Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common female cancer in the Western World and the leading cause of cancer death among women. It is a clinically heterogeneous clinical entity. Histologically similar tumors may have different prognosis and may respond to therapy differently. It is believed that these divergences in clinical behavior are due to molecular differences between microscopically similarneoplasmas.

Breast cancer is a complex disease of genetic background characterized by accumulation of molecular alterations resulting in an important clinical heterogeneity. Current prognostic factors (including lymph node status, tumor size, histological grade, hormone receptor status, ERBB2 expression and patient age) are insufficient to predict accurately the clinical outcome. Microarray expression profiling classifies breast cancer into five (or six) molecular subtypes: luminal A, luminal B, basal-like, HER2 and normal breast-like (sometime luminal C, too).

The different molecular classes of breast cancer not only have different prognoses but also show distinct sensitivities to preoperative chemotherapy. They have specific clinical profiles, as well (reproductive factors, age and race). It means that new, modified prevention strategy for breast cancer is necessary.

[Cathya]

Hi;

I am actually not really sure of my stage as I was never told but I guessed 3c....however, it's been six years for me NED (yahoo and touch wood a thousand times). I am her2++ not strongly and would love to have more genetic information on my tumors. I just went off arimidex and actonel this past month (I've never been so hot) and am now seen by my oncologist every six months.....as he still considers me high risk. I keep my eye on all the new research, am grateful tykerb is around now as I agree with Jackie about the genetic complexities of breast cancer and treatments required. Have hope as there are others of us around for long periods of time. Being er/pr+ is a positive in my view as it allows an additional avenue of treatment.

All the best,

Cathy