Delay to HER2 test

Hello,

I am sorry you are having this stressful wait especially as the tumour was found unexpectedly.

I think most people do have to wait a few weeks before treatment begins while they gather all the information. In my own case, I had a biopsy at the beginning of October, had to wait 10 days for those results to confirm the cancer then another week for the appointment with the surgeon. I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node removed for further testing on the 26th of November. A PET scan ordered by the surgeon showed nothing had spread but the tumours histology report surprised everyone as it was TNBC. This meant chemo and radiotherapy to help prevent reoccurrence. 

My cancer was found in 2015. I'm still here so that six week gap obviously didn't cause me a problem. 

I'm sure your results will be here soon and your plan can be formulated.

I know it's a worry but so many BC patients have a successful recovery and I'm sure many of those will have waited a few weeks as I did for treatment to start.

I wish you well. Keep in touch. If you need to chat either with questions or just general chatting, try the Awake thread. There is a lot of experience there plus time to relax and laugh......

Take care. Love Karen

Hi Karen, thanks for your reply. 

Just had to google TNBC as didn’t know what that was. It’s all so confusing. It’s such a shock when you get told and you don’t ask the right questions as you have no idea what you’re dealing with and therefore what you need to ask… my mind is scrambled!! 

The HER2 result does take much longer 

Hi Bazza, opefully youll have got results back by now! I'm in a very similar situation to you. My lump is 5cm and my HER2 biopsy was sent off around a week and a half ago. My consultant did mention needing a couple of tests but I did some research and they do 1 or 2 tests with a 1 to 2 week wait for each one if the first comes back as inconclusive. I have mastectomy surgery scheduled for 16th August but if the HER2 comes back positive, surgery will be postponed and I'll start with chemo instead.

Hi Jolly Clasher,

Sorry to hear you are in a similar situation. I did get my results after around a 3 week wait. Mine can back negative so I went straight to surgery and had my mastectomy last Friday. Now recovering and waiting for the results of the lymph node biopsy and the tumour testing to see if I need any further treatment. Lots of waiting and wondering in this game! X

Hi, I had my results 10 days after biopsy was done, which confirmed I has grade 3 invasive ductual breast cancer oestrogen positive and her2 positive, I didn't have to wait separately to hear it was her 2 positive, from diagnosis to treatment was 2 days under 3 weeks, I have my 2nd cycle of chemo on 2nd Aug.

Hope you get results soon and treatment started.

X

Thanks teeny1978. Seems its a bit of a postcode lottery over what kind of tests they run and when. All I know is I have a 5cm ER+ PR+ cancer at the the moment and lymph nodes look clear. It's so frustrating this waiting game!

Mine is 2cm but has gone into 2 lymph nodes, it was the fact it had gone into the lymph nodes that I realised as the main lump couldn't feel that came up on mammogramm and ultrasound. I can imagine how frustrating the wait is.