ER/PR positive

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1

Hi

I recieved the letter today from my results. I understand it all as I have just read the publication from BCC but don’t understand what ER/PR positive means.

Also does anyone know what “metastases with minimal extra capsular spread means” or who I can ask? thanks. M

2

Hi applestreet

I am posting a link to the Hormone therapies BCC web page which may help:

breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-information/treating-breast-cancer/hormone-therapy

Please also feel free to contact our helpline team on 0808 800 6000 for more information, lines are open 9-5 weekdays and 9-2 Sat.

Best wishes
Lucy

3

Hi

ER/PR Positive means oestrogen receptive positive(ER)and Progesterone receptive positive (PR). Tamoxifen is usually given to ER/PR positive breast cancer patients.

Not too sure what your second paragraph means.

My diagnosis is

Diagnosed June 2009. Modfied Radical Mastectomy December 2009 with lymph node removal and immediate dorsi flap reconstruction. Mastecomy results: Grade 3 Tumour, ER 7/8, PR 7/8 and HER2 positive. Also 2 lymph nodes postive out of 21. Treatment Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Herceptin and Tamoxifen.

4

Hi

thanks. M

5

Hi! If you call the helpline they’ll be able to tell you straightaway.

I’m guessing it means that there is a small amount of lymphovascular invasion which means that the tumour has it’s own little blood supply. This happend in over 50% of breast tumours.

But I would check! Don’t take my word for it.

6

can i ask a quick question on behalf of a friend. she has not been offered tamoxifan infact she is on no hormone treatment at all and has told me that her cancer isnt ER positive but she doesnt know about the PR! does this sound like she is triple negative being as she is on no hormone treatment now. Her cancer was grade 3 with no lymph node involvement.

many thanks

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ER+ is estrogen receptive. PR+ is progesterone receptive which means hormone treatments will work. The other means some cancer has spread to the lymph nodes with minimal spread around them. This will likely be a stage 3 cancer. My friend has this exact diagnosis.

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Deed: probably because even if your are ER-, they’ll give you hormone treatment if your are PR+ only. Both negative, the hormones aren’t given BUT those kinds of cancer are very receptive to chemo.

9

Hi

thanks for the replies, they send me copies of the leters but forget to put them in english!!! I phoned the help line and they explained the terminology to me. Thanks again M