Why does my friends doctor have her on Herceptin when she is triple neg?

Jennifer1961
Jennifer1961 Member Posts: 137
in Breast Cancer #1

HI everyone.  I just got a xmas letter from a friend and she is saying that she is triple neg, but the doc has her doing Herceptin to "try to kill as many cancer cells as possible".  WTH?  Has anyone every heard of this?  Why go through Herceptin treatment when triple neg?  I'm worried this doc might be a quack of some sort.  Want to get some feed back before I say something to her.

 

thanks!

Comments

  • sgamtd
    sgamtd Member Posts: 124
    #2
    Hi Jennifer
    I think the

    Hi Jennifer

    I think the Herceptin is because one is HER2 positive, I may be wrong, but please don't say anything to your friend until you know for sure.

    TN is not treated with Als or Tamoxifen, as they work on the er positive cancer, so her doc. is right on that one.

    Wishing you and your friend the best

    sgamtd

  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
    #3
    Unfortunately, I don't think

    Unfortunately, I don't think we can answer your question. You need to discuss this with your friend, have her ask her oncologist why he has her on Herceptin if she is triple negative.

    I agree, that this doesn't make any sense.

     

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #4
    I read somewhere
    where they are actually doing trials to see if herceptin works on her2-, and from what I read they were getting some positive results. I know from experience, if there is not a good reason, most.insurancesnwill not pay for herceptin without a good reason, or without her being positive.
  • Jennifer1961
    Jennifer1961 Member Posts: 137
    #5
    camul said:

    I read somewhere
    where they are actually doing trials to see if herceptin works on her2-, and from what I read they were getting some positive results. I know from experience, if there is not a good reason, most.insurancesnwill not pay for herceptin without a good reason, or without her being positive.

    Thanks for the info.  I'm

    Thanks for the info.  I'm just so worried because she is not a young woman and Im worried about her heart.

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #6
    camul said:

    I read somewhere
    where they are actually doing trials to see if herceptin works on her2-, and from what I read they were getting some positive results. I know from experience, if there is not a good reason, most.insurancesnwill not pay for herceptin without a good reason, or without her being positive.

    Herceptin Trial

    http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/featured/trials/NSABP-B-47

    Trastuzumab for Women with HER2-Low Breast Cancer

    Name of the Trial

    Phase III Randomized Study of Adjuvant Chemotherapy with versus without Trastuzumab in Women with Node-Positive or High-Risk Node-Negative HER2-Low Invasive Breast Cancer (NSABP-B-47). See the protocol summary.

    Principal Investigator

    Dr. Louis Fehrenbacher, National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP).

     

    I didn't know this Carol.  Thanks for posting.  I believe that I am still to low if this is ever tried in a trial for women with mets whose tumor was Her2-.

     

    Doris

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #7
    Interesting Jennifer because,

    Interesting Jennifer because, after 26 years, I was just told my mets was Her2 +.  My onc thinks it may have been Her2+ all along, but, back in 1987, they didn't test for it.  When I had my bone biopsy in 2009, it came back Her2 neg.  He said it is not unusual for bone to test Her2 neg when the tumor is really positive.

    Frankly, I don't know what to believe as each biopsy has given me different results: 1st one ER+, PR +, Her2 unknown; 2nd ER+, PR neg, Her2 neg; 3rd ER neg PR neg Her2 +.  Crazy, huh?  Her2 is usually aggressive without treatment, so I am not sure I truly buy the tumor being Her2 + all along.  I think my tumor has morphed, but who knows?

    Maybe it will turn out worthwhile to throw herceptin in the mix?

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