HER2 - OR + WHAT ARE YOU????
it was stated on there, but, I can't find it. Or, is this a separate test? Is this the test
you do to see if it is hereditary? Thanks!
Comments
-
Her 2 is not a heredityjgridley said:test results
I entered into a clinical study, and they broke mine down. mine is herditary runs in my family. is there someone you can call and speak with and ask them to break it down for you.
do you know what stage you are?
Julie
Her 2 is not a heredity test. THe BRAC is and I am sure there are more. I am HER2 positive and I believe it was in my results. You will know if you are because they treat you for it. I am on Herceptin for one year due to it.
Hope this helps
Kim0 -
Mine says I am HER2CR1954 said:Hi Kylez........
It should say on your final path report.
It will say whether you are ER/PR positive or negative and also whether you are HER-2 positive.
It is not the genetic test for bc.
CR
Mine says I am HER2 negative. That is ok, right?0 -
The way I understand it isjnl said:Mine says I am HER2
Mine says I am HER2 negative. That is ok, right?
The way I understand it is that if you are positive it means that hormones grow the cancer and as my doc said, "bought me a year of Hepceptin". I don't know if it is better or worse, just different. I know the drug Herceptin is less than ten years old and I am happy it exists for those of us who need it and sad for those who just missed the chance to take it.0 -
Ok, I guess since negativeconfused123 said:The way I understand it is
The way I understand it is that if you are positive it means that hormones grow the cancer and as my doc said, "bought me a year of Hepceptin". I don't know if it is better or worse, just different. I know the drug Herceptin is less than ten years old and I am happy it exists for those of us who need it and sad for those who just missed the chance to take it.
Ok, I guess since negative doesn't take the Herceptin, it means it doesn't promote cancer growth???0 -
Hope this help explains it - I am HER2+jnl said:Ok, I guess since negative
Ok, I guess since negative doesn't take the Herceptin, it means it doesn't promote cancer growth???
What is HER2?
Breast Cancer Patients - 25% HER2+ tumors
HER2+ Breast Cancer
Studies show that approximately 25% of breast cancer patients have tumors that are HER2+. HER2 stands for Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2. It is very important to find out your cancer's HER2 status. This is because HER2+ tumors tend to grow and spread more quickly than tumors that are not HER2+. In addition, the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer is different than the treatment of breast cancer that is not HER2+. Women who are uncertain of their cancer's HER2 status should talk to their doctor.
HER2+ breast cancer is aggressive, so it is important to find out your cancer's HER2 status. This can help your doctor choose which treatments may be right for you.
How is HER2 positive breast cancer different?
HER2 stands for Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2. Each normal breast cell contains copies of the HER2 gene, which helps normal cells grow. The HER2 gene is found in the DNA of a cell, and this gene contains the information for making the HER2 protein. 4
The HER2 protein, also called the HER2 receptor, is found on the surface of some normal cells in the body. In normal cells, HER2 proteins help send growth signals from outside the cell to the inside of the cell. These signals tell the cell to grow and divide. 4
In HER2+ breast cancer, the cancer cells have an abnormally high number of HER2 genes per cell. When this happens, too much HER2 protein appears on the surface of these cancer cells. This is called HER2 protein overexpression. Too much HER2 protein is thought to cause cancer cells to grow and divide more quickly. This is why HER2+ breast cancer is considered aggressive. 1-3
HER2+ breast cancer is aggressive, so it is important to find out your cancer's HER2 status. This can help your doctor choose which treatments may be right for you.
Higher risk of breast cancer returning (recurrence)
* Women with HER2+ breast cancer:
* May be less likely to respond to certain breast cancer treatments
* May be more likely to have a recurrence (return) of their cancer
Women who are uncertain of their cancer's HER2 status should talk to their doctor.
Inheriting the HER2 gene
Your tumor's HER2 status is not hereditary. This means that HER2 status is not passed down from your parents, and you can't pass it on to your children. However, there is a relationship between the genes in a person's DNA and breast cancer in general. Ask your doctor for more information about the relationship between genes and breast cancer. 4
HER2/neu-positive, HER2-overexpressing, and HER2+ breast cancer
HER2/neu is another name for HER2, which stands for Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2. HER2-overexpressing means there is too much HER2 protein/receptor on the surface of the cancer cells. HER2/neu-positive breast cancer and HER2-overexpressing breast cancer are exactly the same as HER2+ breast cancer. 4
Margo0 -
HER2+tommaseena said:Hope this help explains it - I am HER2+
What is HER2?
Breast Cancer Patients - 25% HER2+ tumors
HER2+ Breast Cancer
Studies show that approximately 25% of breast cancer patients have tumors that are HER2+. HER2 stands for Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2. It is very important to find out your cancer's HER2 status. This is because HER2+ tumors tend to grow and spread more quickly than tumors that are not HER2+. In addition, the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer is different than the treatment of breast cancer that is not HER2+. Women who are uncertain of their cancer's HER2 status should talk to their doctor.
HER2+ breast cancer is aggressive, so it is important to find out your cancer's HER2 status. This can help your doctor choose which treatments may be right for you.
How is HER2 positive breast cancer different?
HER2 stands for Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2. Each normal breast cell contains copies of the HER2 gene, which helps normal cells grow. The HER2 gene is found in the DNA of a cell, and this gene contains the information for making the HER2 protein. 4
The HER2 protein, also called the HER2 receptor, is found on the surface of some normal cells in the body. In normal cells, HER2 proteins help send growth signals from outside the cell to the inside of the cell. These signals tell the cell to grow and divide. 4
In HER2+ breast cancer, the cancer cells have an abnormally high number of HER2 genes per cell. When this happens, too much HER2 protein appears on the surface of these cancer cells. This is called HER2 protein overexpression. Too much HER2 protein is thought to cause cancer cells to grow and divide more quickly. This is why HER2+ breast cancer is considered aggressive. 1-3
HER2+ breast cancer is aggressive, so it is important to find out your cancer's HER2 status. This can help your doctor choose which treatments may be right for you.
Higher risk of breast cancer returning (recurrence)
* Women with HER2+ breast cancer:
* May be less likely to respond to certain breast cancer treatments
* May be more likely to have a recurrence (return) of their cancer
Women who are uncertain of their cancer's HER2 status should talk to their doctor.
Inheriting the HER2 gene
Your tumor's HER2 status is not hereditary. This means that HER2 status is not passed down from your parents, and you can't pass it on to your children. However, there is a relationship between the genes in a person's DNA and breast cancer in general. Ask your doctor for more information about the relationship between genes and breast cancer. 4
HER2/neu-positive, HER2-overexpressing, and HER2+ breast cancer
HER2/neu is another name for HER2, which stands for Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2. HER2-overexpressing means there is too much HER2 protein/receptor on the surface of the cancer cells. HER2/neu-positive breast cancer and HER2-overexpressing breast cancer are exactly the same as HER2+ breast cancer. 4
Margo
Just to add a bit more on HER2+ ... and herceptin.
It is a fairly new drug. I have a friend who was part of the research study using herceptin ... (at Indiana Univesity Medical Center) ... and it seems that the study wasn't even complete when they realized that the results were so good with the drug ... that they "released" it early.
Not sure if that's exactly how it happened ... but it is my understanding that for those of use who are HER2+ ... herceptin is considered to be a VERY good drug! I haven't heard of any side-effects.
hugs.
teena0 -
Thanks for all thattgf said:HER2+
Just to add a bit more on HER2+ ... and herceptin.
It is a fairly new drug. I have a friend who was part of the research study using herceptin ... (at Indiana Univesity Medical Center) ... and it seems that the study wasn't even complete when they realized that the results were so good with the drug ... that they "released" it early.
Not sure if that's exactly how it happened ... but it is my understanding that for those of use who are HER2+ ... herceptin is considered to be a VERY good drug! I haven't heard of any side-effects.
hugs.
teena
Thanks for all that information that I now understand. I am her2 pos and now I get it.0 -
Thank you Margo fortommaseena said:Hope this help explains it - I am HER2+
What is HER2?
Breast Cancer Patients - 25% HER2+ tumors
HER2+ Breast Cancer
Studies show that approximately 25% of breast cancer patients have tumors that are HER2+. HER2 stands for Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2. It is very important to find out your cancer's HER2 status. This is because HER2+ tumors tend to grow and spread more quickly than tumors that are not HER2+. In addition, the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer is different than the treatment of breast cancer that is not HER2+. Women who are uncertain of their cancer's HER2 status should talk to their doctor.
HER2+ breast cancer is aggressive, so it is important to find out your cancer's HER2 status. This can help your doctor choose which treatments may be right for you.
How is HER2 positive breast cancer different?
HER2 stands for Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2. Each normal breast cell contains copies of the HER2 gene, which helps normal cells grow. The HER2 gene is found in the DNA of a cell, and this gene contains the information for making the HER2 protein. 4
The HER2 protein, also called the HER2 receptor, is found on the surface of some normal cells in the body. In normal cells, HER2 proteins help send growth signals from outside the cell to the inside of the cell. These signals tell the cell to grow and divide. 4
In HER2+ breast cancer, the cancer cells have an abnormally high number of HER2 genes per cell. When this happens, too much HER2 protein appears on the surface of these cancer cells. This is called HER2 protein overexpression. Too much HER2 protein is thought to cause cancer cells to grow and divide more quickly. This is why HER2+ breast cancer is considered aggressive. 1-3
HER2+ breast cancer is aggressive, so it is important to find out your cancer's HER2 status. This can help your doctor choose which treatments may be right for you.
Higher risk of breast cancer returning (recurrence)
* Women with HER2+ breast cancer:
* May be less likely to respond to certain breast cancer treatments
* May be more likely to have a recurrence (return) of their cancer
Women who are uncertain of their cancer's HER2 status should talk to their doctor.
Inheriting the HER2 gene
Your tumor's HER2 status is not hereditary. This means that HER2 status is not passed down from your parents, and you can't pass it on to your children. However, there is a relationship between the genes in a person's DNA and breast cancer in general. Ask your doctor for more information about the relationship between genes and breast cancer. 4
HER2/neu-positive, HER2-overexpressing, and HER2+ breast cancer
HER2/neu is another name for HER2, which stands for Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2. HER2-overexpressing means there is too much HER2 protein/receptor on the surface of the cancer cells. HER2/neu-positive breast cancer and HER2-overexpressing breast cancer are exactly the same as HER2+ breast cancer. 4
Margo
Thank you Margo for explaining that. You did better than my oncologist! I am HER2
negative. My oncologist said that was better than being positive. I didn't know exactly
what he meant until now, with your explanation. This cancer is confusing! Thanks again
Margo!0 -
Yes, it does Cindy. Thanks!CR1954 said:Hi Kylez........
It should say on your final path report.
It will say whether you are ER/PR positive or negative and also whether you are HER-2 positive.
It is not the genetic test for bc.
CR
Yes, it does Cindy. Thanks! I am ER and PR positive and HER2 negative.0 -
Hi Kylez,
I was Her2/neu
Hi Kylez,
I was Her2/neu positive. Very strongly so. (I was hormone negative) At the time of my dx, in early '01, Herceptin was only being offered in trials and only to those whose cancer had metastasized byeond the breast. One renowned cancer center where I had a 2nd opinon consult, did offer to put me into their trial and the Herceptin would have been preceeded by A/C chemo. My other two doctors, surgeon and oncologist, (4 docs total) strongly disagreed with that. I did not meet the criteria to be in the trial, in their opinions (as well as my own), and I opted not to do Herceptin. A bright spot for Her2/neu positives, is that it's known to be particularly susceptible to and has good treatment results with Adriamycin and that was enough encouragement for me to nay-say the Herceptin at the time. I just wanted to get the A/C behind me. I was well aware that my tumor was a very aggressive little beastie, but Herceptin was not yet proven and I wasn't interested in complicating things by being a guinea pig for a drug, which, at the time, had no real track record aside from some smallish trials.
Several years after I'd completed chemo and radiation tx, Herceptin underwent a much larger, new trial and as a result of that trial, is now considered part of the gold standard for Her2/neu positive BC.
I'm happy to report that I have remained NED since completing treatment, sans Herceptin. Her2/neu is not a new phenomenon. My doctors and I have kicked this around more than a few times and they all assert that women with BC, many years ago, before there was even a test to detect the Her2/neu protein, were actually Her2 positive...had to be, they reason...but there was no test for it and of course, no Herceptin. Many of those women have lived long and productive lives with no recurrences, mets or new cancers.
RE side effects of Herceptin: The drug is known to be associated with cardiac issues in a small percentage of patients. (You should discuss this with your doctor who should have the
details and stats available for you if you're a candidate for Herceptin tx) It can lower the ejection fraction fo the heart; the strength with which the heart pumps oxygenated blood out into the body. Some women I know had to stop treatment for a month or so and take medications to treat this complication and were then able to resume treatments. A few others had to stop Herceptin permanently. When you're receiving Herceptin, your onc will order MUGA Scans to monitor your heart for this potential issue, throughout treatment.
Just when we thought cancer was confusing beyond belief, we find that the plot thickens. It's a constantly changing orb/web of things to learn and understand. We warriors just keep rollin and I think that makes us all just a little bit special...
Love, light & laughter,
Ink0 -
Myselfinkblot said:Hi Kylez,
I was Her2/neu
Hi Kylez,
I was Her2/neu positive. Very strongly so. (I was hormone negative) At the time of my dx, in early '01, Herceptin was only being offered in trials and only to those whose cancer had metastasized byeond the breast. One renowned cancer center where I had a 2nd opinon consult, did offer to put me into their trial and the Herceptin would have been preceeded by A/C chemo. My other two doctors, surgeon and oncologist, (4 docs total) strongly disagreed with that. I did not meet the criteria to be in the trial, in their opinions (as well as my own), and I opted not to do Herceptin. A bright spot for Her2/neu positives, is that it's known to be particularly susceptible to and has good treatment results with Adriamycin and that was enough encouragement for me to nay-say the Herceptin at the time. I just wanted to get the A/C behind me. I was well aware that my tumor was a very aggressive little beastie, but Herceptin was not yet proven and I wasn't interested in complicating things by being a guinea pig for a drug, which, at the time, had no real track record aside from some smallish trials.
Several years after I'd completed chemo and radiation tx, Herceptin underwent a much larger, new trial and as a result of that trial, is now considered part of the gold standard for Her2/neu positive BC.
I'm happy to report that I have remained NED since completing treatment, sans Herceptin. Her2/neu is not a new phenomenon. My doctors and I have kicked this around more than a few times and they all assert that women with BC, many years ago, before there was even a test to detect the Her2/neu protein, were actually Her2 positive...had to be, they reason...but there was no test for it and of course, no Herceptin. Many of those women have lived long and productive lives with no recurrences, mets or new cancers.
RE side effects of Herceptin: The drug is known to be associated with cardiac issues in a small percentage of patients. (You should discuss this with your doctor who should have the
details and stats available for you if you're a candidate for Herceptin tx) It can lower the ejection fraction fo the heart; the strength with which the heart pumps oxygenated blood out into the body. Some women I know had to stop treatment for a month or so and take medications to treat this complication and were then able to resume treatments. A few others had to stop Herceptin permanently. When you're receiving Herceptin, your onc will order MUGA Scans to monitor your heart for this potential issue, throughout treatment.
Just when we thought cancer was confusing beyond belief, we find that the plot thickens. It's a constantly changing orb/web of things to learn and understand. We warriors just keep rollin and I think that makes us all just a little bit special...
Love, light & laughter,
Ink
I am HER2+ ES/PR negative. I had 4 treatments of A/C(every other week for 4 treatments) and then having 12 treatments of Taxol w/Herceptin(once a week for 12 weeks) and then will be on Herceptin alone(once every 3 weeks for one year). My oncologist ordered an Echo before I started chemo and then ordered another one before I started Taxol w/Herceptin and will continue to have one every three months while on treatment.
Herceptin is NOT a chemo drug it targets to after the protein that is on the gene(17th chromosome) that causes the aggressive type breast cancer.
Cancer is very confusing and it is very hard to keep on top of everything.
Margo0 -
I am.........
Yes, I am ER/PR neg. I am HER-2+.
I had 4 rounds of A/C and then 4 rounds of Abraxane and Herceptin. Now I will have Herceptin every 3 weeks until late Fall.
I have no problems at all on the Herceptin. Although, I sometimes am wired a bit and can't sleep for the rest of the day after an infusion. But I don't know if that's the drug or just me...lol.
CR0 -
i am her 2confused123 said:Her 2 is not a heredity
Her 2 is not a heredity test. THe BRAC is and I am sure there are more. I am HER2 positive and I believe it was in my results. You will know if you are because they treat you for it. I am on Herceptin for one year due to it.
Hope this helps
Kim
i was on herceptin for a year. thank god for herceptin0 -
i am her 2confused123 said:Her 2 is not a heredity
Her 2 is not a heredity test. THe BRAC is and I am sure there are more. I am HER2 positive and I believe it was in my results. You will know if you are because they treat you for it. I am on Herceptin for one year due to it.
Hope this helps
Kim
i was on herceptin for a year. thank god for herceptin0 -
Thanks all!CR1954 said:I am.........
Yes, I am ER/PR neg. I am HER-2+.
I had 4 rounds of A/C and then 4 rounds of Abraxane and Herceptin. Now I will have Herceptin every 3 weeks until late Fall.
I have no problems at all on the Herceptin. Although, I sometimes am wired a bit and can't sleep for the rest of the day after an infusion. But I don't know if that's the drug or just me...lol.
CR
I just want to thank all of you for this information! I am HER2 negative and haven't really
fully understood the difference between + and - myself. But, all of you explained it so
well! So, thanks! Have a great day girls! Hugs, Kristin0 -
Thanks for this info! I amtgf said:HER2+
Just to add a bit more on HER2+ ... and herceptin.
It is a fairly new drug. I have a friend who was part of the research study using herceptin ... (at Indiana Univesity Medical Center) ... and it seems that the study wasn't even complete when they realized that the results were so good with the drug ... that they "released" it early.
Not sure if that's exactly how it happened ... but it is my understanding that for those of use who are HER2+ ... herceptin is considered to be a VERY good drug! I haven't heard of any side-effects.
hugs.
teena
Thanks for this info! I am HER2 - so, no herceptin, thank goodness! But, ER and PR
positive, so, considering tamoxifen, but, maybe not. Not sure. Good luck all!0 -
While We're On the SubjectKristin N said:Thanks all!
I just want to thank all of you for this information! I am HER2 negative and haven't really
fully understood the difference between + and - myself. But, all of you explained it so
well! So, thanks! Have a great day girls! Hugs, Kristin
Received pathology report.
Here it is:
Estrogen receptor positive (stains 80% of tumor cel nuclei)
Progresterine receptor positive (Stains 70% of tumor cell in nuclei
Low prolifera capacity (5% of tumor cell nuclei)
Lack of HER-wNUE gene amplification (Her-2NEU stain shows 0 our of 3+ staining)
Come on experts, give me some advice. Doctor said this was all good.
Maryann0
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