No longer ER+--now Her2 +!!!!

CypressCynthia
CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
in Breast Cancer #1

My liver mets is a different animal.  ER and PR negative now.  3+ Her2 positive.  Waiting to hear from onc now.  I predict a big change in treatment...Lol.  Kind of makes sense because bones and lung are in complete remission.  Cancer is so darn sneaky!

Comments

  • aysemari
    aysemari Member Posts: 1,596 Member
    #2

    CC, what does that mean for you? I didn't know it can change from ER to Her2..

    But I like the word remission.

     

    Hugs,

    Ayse

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #3
    aysemari said:

    CC, what does that mean for you? I didn't know it can change from ER to Her2..

    But I like the word remission.

     

    Hugs,

    Ayse

    Ayse, About 1/3 of breast

    Ayse, About 1/3 of breast cancers can change their hormone status with a recurrence and abou 15% will change from Her2 neg to Her2 pos.  At MD Anderson, I was told that breast cancer can morph back and forth and that is why it is crucial to get a biopsy with every new mets.

    I am not sure what it means in terms of my treatment and survival.  I have a call into my onc.  He will probably want to discuss this at length in person.  I suspect it means that I will receive traztuzumab (herceptin) and chemo, but I don't know yet.  Her2 + is more aggressive but there are many targeted new treatments for it and patients are living longer than ever before.

    http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/20120620 

    I think he will keep me on aromasin because the other tumors are in remission, but I am just guessing. Wink

  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #4
    Sending prayers!

    I like the word remission too! Very glad those are gone. I am sorry about the new development. Please let us know what the Dr. says. In the meantime, I'll be adding you to my prayers list. Hugs.

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #5
    CypressCynthia said:

    Ayse, About 1/3 of breast

    Ayse, About 1/3 of breast cancers can change their hormone status with a recurrence and abou 15% will change from Her2 neg to Her2 pos.  At MD Anderson, I was told that breast cancer can morph back and forth and that is why it is crucial to get a biopsy with every new mets.

    I am not sure what it means in terms of my treatment and survival.  I have a call into my onc.  He will probably want to discuss this at length in person.  I suspect it means that I will receive traztuzumab (herceptin) and chemo, but I don't know yet.  Her2 + is more aggressive but there are many targeted new treatments for it and patients are living longer than ever before.

    http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/20120620 

    I think he will keep me on aromasin because the other tumors are in remission, but I am just guessing. Wink

    I think that is pretty exciting

    or at least from my standpoint it is.  Most of the newest treatments for resistant bc are for her2+, which is the new chemo that they were going to put me on.  They have been doing a lot of research on the advanced her2 metastatic.  The only way I can receive those treatments is if I have a biopsy of either my liver or the connective tissue. 

    But my onco feels that a surgery to do a biopsy is too invasive for me at this point, but everything has pointed to her2 + with the metastatic but the bone biopsy came back undetermined.  We discussed soing a biopsy on Thursday but he feels it may be too invasive at this point (with another infection), but from the time I started on herceptin w/chemo, the tumors in my liver and connective tissue have been stable. 

    He was telling me about some new strudies that are being done using herceptin on her2 - also, and so far they are getting good results..... 

    I am so happy that the tumors in your bones are in remission.

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #6
    camul said:

    I think that is pretty exciting

    or at least from my standpoint it is.  Most of the newest treatments for resistant bc are for her2+, which is the new chemo that they were going to put me on.  They have been doing a lot of research on the advanced her2 metastatic.  The only way I can receive those treatments is if I have a biopsy of either my liver or the connective tissue. 

    But my onco feels that a surgery to do a biopsy is too invasive for me at this point, but everything has pointed to her2 + with the metastatic but the bone biopsy came back undetermined.  We discussed soing a biopsy on Thursday but he feels it may be too invasive at this point (with another infection), but from the time I started on herceptin w/chemo, the tumors in my liver and connective tissue have been stable. 

    He was telling me about some new strudies that are being done using herceptin on her2 - also, and so far they are getting good results..... 

    I am so happy that the tumors in your bones are in remission.

    If you get to where you can

    If you get to where you can have it, it really was very easy. It didn't hurt at all and interventional radiologist just deadened area and then took tiny samples using needle like instrument. It is all fuzzy now... Lol, but it doesn't hurt at all. 

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #7
    camul said:

    I think that is pretty exciting

    or at least from my standpoint it is.  Most of the newest treatments for resistant bc are for her2+, which is the new chemo that they were going to put me on.  They have been doing a lot of research on the advanced her2 metastatic.  The only way I can receive those treatments is if I have a biopsy of either my liver or the connective tissue. 

    But my onco feels that a surgery to do a biopsy is too invasive for me at this point, but everything has pointed to her2 + with the metastatic but the bone biopsy came back undetermined.  We discussed soing a biopsy on Thursday but he feels it may be too invasive at this point (with another infection), but from the time I started on herceptin w/chemo, the tumors in my liver and connective tissue have been stable. 

    He was telling me about some new strudies that are being done using herceptin on her2 - also, and so far they are getting good results..... 

    I am so happy that the tumors in your bones are in remission.

    If you get to where you can

    If you get to where you can have it, it really was very easy. It didn't hurt at all and interventional radiologist just deadened area and then took tiny samples using needle like instrument. It is all fuzzy now... Lol, but it doesn't hurt at all. 

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #8
    HER2 - Good, good, good.

    Dear CC,

    Your 100% correct on treatment changes.  I am happy if ER+ is no more than you are HER2 which as Carol said has lots of promises.

    My best friend online went from ER+ to ER- and HER2+.  We were diangosed in 1994 and of course back then, they was no such test for HER2.  I am glad that you are, feeling like jumping if I could do such a thing.  I am only sorry that it is cancer.  I was hoping that they made a ghastly mistake though that would be awful to put someone through such an experience over an error.

    Anyway, I think you will deserve the PINK BUS when you go for your first Herceptin.  

    Best,

     

    Doris

     

  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #9
    SIROD said:

    HER2 - Good, good, good.

    Dear CC,

    Your 100% correct on treatment changes.  I am happy if ER+ is no more than you are HER2 which as Carol said has lots of promises.

    My best friend online went from ER+ to ER- and HER2+.  We were diangosed in 1994 and of course back then, they was no such test for HER2.  I am glad that you are, feeling like jumping if I could do such a thing.  I am only sorry that it is cancer.  I was hoping that they made a ghastly mistake though that would be awful to put someone through such an experience over an error.

    Anyway, I think you will deserve the PINK BUS when you go for your first Herceptin.  

    Best,

     

    Doris

     

    Cancer is certainly sneaky

    Cancer is certainly sneaky but you will get the best of it. CC youare such an inspiration. I am thinking that the beast can be attacked with a new arsenal.

  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #10
    Ahhh, crap...

    Some good news, some not so good. Bones & lung = good. Liver mets... (ahhh, crap!)... You are, unfortunately, so very correct, CC. Cancer is a damned sneaky, evil beast.

    I know you'll throw everything you've got, all that's possible, at this. And I'll be ever hopeful that the treatment will be of maximum effectiveness.

    Kind regards, Susan 

  • Josie21
    Josie21 Member Posts: 382 Member
    #11
    Hi CC,

    HI CC,

    I am so sorry to hear about the new cancer, but so happy that your bones and lung mets are in remission.  I know it sounds crazy, but knowing that you will have access to so many great Her+ drugs makes me feel that you are going to kick this new cancer's butt just as you have the other for all this time.  Cancer may be sneaky, but it has met its match in you. You are amazing!!

    Hugs,

    Ginny

  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #12
    Josie21 said:

    Hi CC,

    HI CC,

    I am so sorry to hear about the new cancer, but so happy that your bones and lung mets are in remission.  I know it sounds crazy, but knowing that you will have access to so many great Her+ drugs makes me feel that you are going to kick this new cancer's butt just as you have the other for all this time.  Cancer may be sneaky, but it has met its match in you. You are amazing!!

    Hugs,

    Ginny

    Wow--that is crazy

    I didn't know that the breast cancer mets can change form.  I did have a bone biopsy at T-12 and the cancer was exactly the same as the breast was.  My onc. did explain to me that all areas suspected must be biopsied to make sure it's a breast met, but I didn't know that it could go from ER+ to ER- or from HER2- to HER2+.  Stupid, sneaky cancer.

    Hugs and good luck with the new treatment.  I've heard some pretty darn good things about the effectiveness of Herceptin.

    Renee

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #13
    missrenee said:

    Wow--that is crazy

    I didn't know that the breast cancer mets can change form.  I did have a bone biopsy at T-12 and the cancer was exactly the same as the breast was.  My onc. did explain to me that all areas suspected must be biopsied to make sure it's a breast met, but I didn't know that it could go from ER+ to ER- or from HER2- to HER2+.  Stupid, sneaky cancer.

    Hugs and good luck with the new treatment.  I've heard some pretty darn good things about the effectiveness of Herceptin.

    Renee

    I was shocked too because my

    I was shocked too because my earlier bone mets was still ER+ (but no longer PR+).  I never thought it would morph from both ER + to and change from Her2neu negative to positive. Scary how sneaky cancer can be!  

    The liver mets has behaved differently in that it appears more aggressive and is not responding to hormone therapy while the bones and lung mets did. 

     

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #14
    CypressCynthia said:

    I was shocked too because my

    I was shocked too because my earlier bone mets was still ER+ (but no longer PR+).  I never thought it would morph from both ER + to and change from Her2neu negative to positive. Scary how sneaky cancer can be!  

    The liver mets has behaved differently in that it appears more aggressive and is not responding to hormone therapy while the bones and lung mets did. 

     

    Interesting and encouraging

    It must have been a puzzle to those oncs when they saw that some of the mets were responding yet the new stuff wasn't.  Makes perfect sense that it would be different in some way.  This feels rather encouraging, especially in light of the new HER2+ treatment options.  So now what?  Do they continue with the ER+ treatments for the ER+ cells, and ADD something for HER2+, or switch?  Inquiring minds . . . .

    Suzanne

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