Does anyone know how long it takes for them to test whether you are HER2. I have recently been told it takes three months for the results to come back. Presumably of the FISH test? Do they just do the FISH test if you are borderline or do they do it anyway?
I was told I was HER2 after my first op - for mastectomy that is after 10 days from op. Would they have been able to tell after such a short time the actual status?
Would really welcome the benefit of others advice & experience.
Starfish
I can’t remember which test is which, but the first one they do gives the result of yes, no, or maybe. Only if you are a maybe do they do the second test. I remember the whole process took several weeks. I can’t remember exactly how many, as this was last year (April/May time) when I was going through chemo.
I was told that the second test would give a definite answer, but mine didn’t - I was still borderline. Eventually my onc decided to give me herceptin anyway, as a belt & braces job.
It was 4 months post op that I learnt Her 2 status [neg] no hint at all before that and I kept asking.
I was told before I had my second chemo that I was Her 2+, so that was about 6 weeks after surgery to take my lymph nodes out.
I was told about 3 weeks post op that I was HER2 negative.
I was told three weeks after my biopsy my HER status
I got told roughly 1 -2 weeks after my mastectomy, but am “lucky” (and I use the term loosely) that I am at a One-Stop Breast clinic, so I think it’s bec everything they need is to hand.
K
i was told 2 weeks after biopsy that i was pr - er + her2+++. so i guess they can tell straight away.
maria
Hi Starfish,
If you go on Cancerbackups site and go to HER2 testing it tells you all about it.
Alli x
Hi all
I was told when i was given the news i had cancer which was 7 days after biopsy , i was also told that it was good news as i would be given Herceptin !!! they did not tell me that the reason that i was being given Herceptin was that being Her 2 positive means that the type of cancer is more aggressive !!
Much love to everyone have had four herceptin now
Kate
This HER2 stuff is turning into a bit of a battle for me.
I had widespread high grade DCIS with 1.1cm grade 3 invasive lump, 4/14 nodes affected. Tumour Er neg Pr neg Her2 ++, so borderline.
FISH took about 8 weeks to come back and has done so borderline on the tumour at 1.9 - needs to be 2 for treatment with Herceptin. Now waiting for another FISH on the micrometastasis in lymphs and ‘hoping’ for a positive result because to be honest, it feels like there’s no where else to go, and of course I want to do the best I can to keep this at bay.
My main problem has been that some medics just don’t seem to have a clue - the ‘onc’ (sure he was just a SHO) last week said 'it’s good news, you are HER" neg on FISH - ’ NOT TRUE as its NOT good to be triple neg and I’m not neg anyway I’m borderline. If I wasn’t so clued up and arsey that may have been that. However, My Onc is fantastic and agrees with me hence the further tests - he still has to link up with Ian Smith in London to discuss it before Herceptin is sanctioned for me…
ARGHHHHHHH!!
Td xxxx