HER2 +/- Advs/Disadvs
HER2 +/- Advs/Disadvs Saw the posts on the other thread re the HER2 outcome and wasn’t entirely clear what’s wrong with being HER2+.
I’m ER-/PR- and awaiting the result of the HER2 test. So at this stage, I’m either ER-/PR-/HER2+ or triple neg, both of which I understand are aggressive types with greater chances of recurring… (unless I’m wrong on that?)
I understand that Herceptin will be appropriate if I do turn out to be HER2+ but that is quite effective and improves the chances of not recurring, whereas if triple neg that makes one less available treatment option (and they obviously find it difficult to find treatments for conditions people *haven’t* got).
So at this time, I’m a bit unclear about what would be the better result for someone like me who’s ER-/PR- so far. Statistically, it seems I’m more than twice as likely to be HER2+ as HER2- but won’t find out for sure until next week.
I’m thinking maybe I’d prefer to be HER2+.
mousy
hi again
I don’t think anybody can say what is the ‘better’ or ‘worse’ type to have.
You never know which side of the stats you will fall into even if you know which type you have so although you can look at statistical risks of reoccurence, it really depends so much on how your particular cancer reacts to chemo or herceptin. It feels like it is the luck of the draw!!!
I don’t think at present you should worry about this until you get the result - easier said than done I know but you can’t change the outcome of the result so I would tuck away that worry until you find out.
There are women who post here who statistically have a poor outcome who are perfectly well and then there are those whose cancer was not considered that aggressive but still went onto to develop secondaries very quickly.
I would say don’t even look at the stats/outcomes of being her2+ or negative - bc is so unpredictable.
Right have waffled on enough - hope you are feeling Ok. was wondering how you were doing?
Kate
I was having some insomnia problems which they said weren’t chemo related… yeah, right… (how does one stay unstressed when one has cancer *and* is being tormented by Balamory songs in the night???)
Night before last I got to sleep about 4am I think, so yesterday was a bit of a blur… But fortunately last night I slept straight through and today felt like a completely normal day… except for the infernal itching, that is…
Feeling like you’ve got insects crawling all over you or things tickling all the time is a bit disconcerting.
Got a couple of bruises in the groin area from the rubbing too.
Other than that, tickety boo…
mousy, who couldn’t ask better really
I totally agree with Kate’s comments above, none of us can predict where we are gonna fall or land on the stats side of things. In younger women like us, cancer can sometimes be aggressive, regardless of the different prognostic factors. Try not to worry too much about it, but hey, I know that is easier said than done - whatever you turn out to be, your Onc is going to give you the best treatment available.
Have you tried some sleeping tabs, Mousy - like Zopiclone or something, they may be able to help you get over the rough patches. I have foxes wailing/screaming outside my bedroom window all night, but I think I would take that over Balamory songs any day of the week !!! 
There probably isn’t much in it. On the plus side of her2+ herceptin seems to even things out. On the negative side, a year’s worth of herceptin is an extra year’s worth of hospital treatment. If you recur after being on herceptin, there might be lapatinib as an extra non-toxic treatment, but all in all there isn’t that much difference.
Happily I’ve slept just fine the past couple of nights. Just have to work on tearing myself away from my PC and getting there sooner…
mousy