Hi everyone

Hello and welcome. I presume you have the brca gene then? I have brca 2 but had her2 negative breast cancer which was successfully removed last year. Just coming to the end of chemo now, one of the drugs given to me was to break up the gene. 

Did you have triple negative then? I think that’s the genetic type isn’t it? 

I’m glad to hear you mum and sister both survived it, that’s fantastic and I’m sure will be the same for you although I know it’s worrying xx 

Hiya,

I haven't had the results of the genetic test yet. I was told there wasn't enough history to have the test before, but they'd put me on extra screening. I'm hoping the results will be back soon. 

I've actually got oestrogen positive, HER2 negative which I think is a good sign. There's so much to learn!

Xx

Hi HealWithHope and another warm welcome to the forum. My cancer was similar to yours (all in my profile). I found the lump, was told because it was oestrogen positive that it wouldn’t be hereditary (my mum and her aunt died from breast cancer, mum’s was definitely oestrogen positive as she was given tamoxifen). A few years after my diagnosis I asked again and got referred. Turns out I have a mutated ATM gene which carries a moderate risk of BC and is likely why I got it. I’m surprised that having 2 direct relatives wasn’t enough to qualify you for genetic testing before. Good that you got the screening though. Horrible to get BC but better to know and get it evicted! Love and hugs, HFxx

That’s the same as me, HER2 negative, oestrogen positive. Yes there is a lot to learn! 

So you are awaiting pathology results and treatment plan? 

I had mastectomy and lymph node removal. Just 1 out of 3 sentinel nodes were affected but had to have all lymph nodes removed which were clear luckily. 

I’ve had 10 sessions of chemo to date with 2 left. I have oncology appointment next week to discuss next treatment plan of radiotherapy and long term medication and removal of my other breast and ovaries (due to gene). Just to give you an idea of what your treatment plan might be. 

Do you have the same type as what your mum and sister had? I guess you will have an idea of what to expect from them xx

Wow, that's a lot. How are you coping with it all?

At the moment, the plan is for 5 years of Letrozole to stop oestrogen uptake. I've started on them already which has put me firmly back into menopause symptoms. They're hoping not to have to do chemo but definitely radiotherapy. The genetic results could completely change that, though.

My sister chose not to do the genetic test but the type was the same, and my mum's was a really long time ago so she's not sure xx

I’m ok, due to my age (41) they said the oncologists like to throw everything at you! I have a friend similar age I have met on the chemo ward and she has similar treatment plan bar the removal of other breast and ovaries but another friend with the exact same type as me is 67 and they said she didn’t need chemo. The oncologist said to me that given mine was a grade 3 tumour they would always recommend chemo. 

That’s good you have started on the drugs already, they’ve not put me (or my friend) on drugs yet. 

That’s good if you can avoid chemotherapy and apparently with regards to radiotherapy they have just released the results of a trial carried out in 2020 which shows that 5 sessions with high dose is as effective as 15 sessions so something to ask about if they try to get you to do more.

I had an oncotype dx test that tests the tumour and scores the likelihood of it returning and the benefit of chemo and it came back saying I would benefit from chemo so wanted to at least try it and here I am 10 sessions deep! Never in a million years did I think I would be able to cope this far with it. 

Sorry for delayed reply, I've been spending some time with my daughters. 

It sounds like you're being really positive and that's so important. For me, I feel like it's all so new, I haven't really processed any of it yet