Just how aggressive is HER2+ Breast Cancer & why does it have a higher risk of recurrence

Hello,
I posted this on another thread but think this thread is probably more appropriate.
I have posted on here a few times since my mum’s diagnosis back in June. Mum’s BC is grade 3 and HER2 +. Luckily all her scans have come back clear. Mum is almost half way through her chemo and seems to be coping well.
I have been doing lots of reading about Mum’s type of cancer as I have to know what we are dealing with and everything I have read about HER2+ cancer is pretty scary. When they say it is aggressive what do they mean? Is the aggressiveness different to that in ER/PR+ BC even at the same grade? Also why does HER2+ BC has a higher risk of recurrence? does the higher risk also apply to secondary BC. I know Herceptin will play a major role in helping mum beat the disease and she will be getting her first dose in a few weeks but I am so worried for her and the future.

Hi Kat77

It sounds like you have  a lot of questions you would like to talk through.  May I suggest you give the BCC  helpline a call on 0808 800 6000.  Here you can share any concerns or questions you have with someone who will be able to offer you a listening ear as well as emotional support and practical information. The lines are open Monday to Friday 9 to 5pm and Saturday 10 to 2pm.

Best wishes Sam, BCC Facilitator 

My layperson’s understanding is that the type of cancer (Hormone positive or negative, HER2 positive or negative) affects the prognosis and risk of recurrance/metastasis  in a separate way to grade.  

 

Before Herceptin, HER positive cancer had a worse prognosis than HER negative  cancer, but this is much less true now that we get Herceptin.  Try not to worry - but I know it is much easier to say than do.

Hi Kat,

 

What have you been reading? Have you checked the dates on the articles you have read, and are they from reliable sources? I had a grade 3 HER2 positive tumour. I have been through 6 cycles of chemo with Herceptin, and am now just on Herceptin. I’ve had 9 doses so far, and am currently having radiotherapy.  My prognosis is exactly the same as it would be were it HER2 negative, and the reason for this is the Herceptin. It hasn’t been licenced for primary breast cancer for very long, so any articles or statistics  written prior to Herceptin are out of date and should be ignored.  Herceptin brings HER2 positive primary BC patients in line with HER2 negative primary BC patients, all other things being equal.  xxx