Her2 negative with oestrogen

Hi Caroline,

Sorry to read your friend has also had a BC diagnosis :(

If she is HER2- negative although she won't be offered Herceptin she may still be offered chemotherapy.

This all depends on the type of breast cancer and final grade they give her when the post surgery pathology results come through, lymph node involvement also plays a part in this assuming she will have a sentinel node biopsy carried out at the same time as her mastectomy to check this.

If she is grade 2 they may give her the choice of having chemo or advise it, no doubt they will refer her for some radiotherapy sessions whether she has chemo or not.

Being ER+ your friend will be placed on 5 possibly 10 years of hormone inhibitor tablets. Which type depends on if she is pre or post menopause.

Is there anything specific you would like information about ? Preparing for surgery and post op exercises for instance.

G n' J

Thank you so much for coming back so quickly. We can't believe what bad luck we have both had...you wouldn't think that only a few years ago we were running half marathons together!! Maybe being active isn't good for you :D

Anyway she is going to have the lymph node biopsy at the same time as her mastectomy. She has been told that it will become grade 5 if she doesn't have the operation.

She is pre-menopause (unlike me - I had my menopause when I was 48 - so 5 years ago now).

Would love to know about preparing for surgery - I have tried to give her some tips but her operation is very different to mine. The post op exercises would also be useful thankyou. I am sure that she will get these at the hospital, but I know how these things can be shown and then instantly forgotten in the turmoil and emotion of a hospital visit.

She will stay the night before with me and then how ever many nights/days after she needs to. She works full time and we haven't a clue how much time she may need off (she has her own business so difficult to manage).

Thank you.

Hi Caroline

thought I would reply too.  

I am also her2 negative and pr and er positive.  I had a grade 3 tumour.  Last Thursday, one week ago, I had a masectomy and sentinal lymph node biopsy on one side and breast reduction the other side.  I was out if hospital the following day with the drain still in on the masectomy side.  This was removed on the Sunday.  I can honestly say that I have had very little pain and have full movement in both arms.  It was not as bad as I thiught it would be.  I still get tired if I do too much so have to try and slow myself down. Not sure what further treatment will follow until my results next week, although I will go on Arimidex for at least 5 years, I am post menopause.  Hope this gives you and your friend some reassurance xx

Thank you so much Lynne, and I am so pleased that you have taken the trouble to let us know. I think it is natural to always expect the worse and your after effects of the operation sound very good. I will let my friend know, I am sure it will help.

Good luck with your results next week.

xxx

Hiya,

Here are some links to four pieces of information.

Preparing for Your Operation and Recovery BCC Booklet

Exercises After Breast Cancer Surgery BCC Booklet

Problems After Surgery Seroma, Lymphodema, Cording and Other Post Op Concerns (BCC)

Know it looks a little like info overload but they can stay here until you need to check out the pathology results and post surgery problems leaflets. Alternatively you can save any of these for future reference when the pages open.

G n' J

Thank you so much,

I will read these with my friend when she comes to stay.

Will let you know how she gets on - I showed her how to register on here and did it with her  - but she doesn't have the confidence yet to use the site. I am sure I will get her more computerised by the time she has recovered!

Thank you.

Hi i was diagnosed in 2018 with grade 3 Bc HER2 negative .i had lump removed and 3 lymph nodes witch came back clear thank god ..I had chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy im know taking Anstrzol plus ibandronic acid its been hard at times i think the worse was losing my hair but nearly 3 years on i can say im on the mend . Its going to be a long hard battle for your friend especially with treatment but tell her to stay strong because there is light at the end of the tunnel. Feel free to ask any questions here to help xx