survival stories

Hi

My cancer is also HER2 positive and was unaware that this was significantly worse than others. Do you know in what way it is worse? Perhaps I've not listened properly. I was told it was hormone receptive as if it was a positive thing. Confused now??

Regards

Maxine

Hi mikimiki, I'm a little confused also.  I actually always thought that being hormone receptive was more positive than hormone negative as at least it can be treated with hormone treatment that hormone negative patients can't be.

I am more than six years since diagnosis with no recurrence.  I do understand that there are always worries surrounding cancer and posssible recurrence or spread, but try to be positive if you can.

Best wishes, Christine xx

I am not a dietitian but I suggest you consult someone about your diet. A vegan diet is very restricted and whilst you may wish to follow this diet as an ethical choice, it may not be suitable for your health at the moment.

Good luck with your treatment,

KateG

Hi Girls

Firstly I'd like to point out I'm not a doctor and certainly no expert, but I have had HER2 positive, hormone negative breast cancer.  I just wanted to try to offer some clarification on what it actually means.  

Hormone positive BC is considered easier to treat than hormone negative, as hormone levels can be suppressed with drugs such as Tamoxifen, giving the cancer nothing to "feed" on.

HER2 is a protein occuring naturally in the body.  If you are HER2 positive your cancer shows overexpressed levels of this protein, and it can therefore cause the cancer cells to multiply.

If you're HER2 positive ONLY, ie, hormone negative, suppressing hormone levels would have no effect on your cancer.  However, treatment with Herceptin blocks the cell receptors that attract the HER2 protein to any cancer cells, thus preventing further growth.

Hope this makes sense to you.  I am now three years clear and am so very grateful for Herceptin.

Ah, one other thing, about the Vegan diet.  I agree with Kate - prior to diagnosis I ate loads of soya and drank soya milk.  My consultant suggested I switch to organic cows milk. I didn't really research the why's and wherefore's at the time but I believe soya can mimic oestrogen so probably not wise if you are hormone positive.  Again, I would check with your oncologist before making any drastic changes to your diet.

Love to all,

Jayne x

Hi Jayne, thank you for clarifying that.  I did wonder after I had written my reply if I had read the post properly. I then realised that mikimiki had mentioned she was HER2+ not hormone positive and did wonder if it was the same thing.

I was never told if I was HER2+. In fact, it wasn't until I saw a gynaecologist a couple of years later I found out my cancer was also progesterone positive. I was only told about the oestrogen.

Thanks for your reply.  Take care, Christine xx