her2+

Diseases & Conditions Breast Cancer
1
hi ladies,
Can anyone explain to me what her2 positive means?
Thanx Michelle
2
Michelle, others will do a much better job than I can...but it has to do with a protein (I think?) that is overexpressed. It is on a scale up to 4 (4 being very positive). It can be an indicator of aggressiveness, but the good news, is herceptin. Herceptin can treat those that are her2+. In my day, they said only for stage IV, but that has changed, and many are taking it now for stage I or II. Mine was a 2+, I think, and the onc said only a 3 or 4 was considered positive. But other oncs may have different opinions on what is or is not positive.

Well, I really didn't explain what Her 2 is, but I just know a little of how it impacts treatment. Hopefully others will have better information...
Lori

3

Michelle-

Her2neu is a protein that is overexpressed in some cancers... mine was her2neu 3+++ (scale of 1 to 4) which was VERY highly positive.  It is an indicator of agressivesness, but yes the good news is you can have Herceptin, a mono-clonal antibody that is not like chemo.  It basically shuts down the overexpression of the her2neu protein. Your hair doesn't fall out,etc., but there are side effects like heart damage that have to be monitored closely (EKGs, etc.)  I had weekly infusions of Herceptin for one year.  My cancer was er-/pr-, Stage IIB, 4.5 cm tumor.  There is a wonderful support board called www.her2support.org specifically for those of us in this situation.  It's a great website.

hugs
Stefanie
 
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It's been worth everything I've been through,
 To do what I do"

                       To Do What I Do   -Alan Jackson, 2004