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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
recurrence invasive ductal carcinoma
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
recurrence invasive ductal carcinoma
by tmouse, Jul 22, 2001 12:00AM
After having a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation my wife is 2 1/2 years out from treatment and has a recurrence. She is scheduled for a mastectomy. What type of follow up treatment is availible?
Her 1st tumor was said to be Her2neu hormone neg and her current tissue is said to be her2 neg and hormone positive, is this possibl?
Her 1st tumor was said to be Her2neu hormone neg and her current tissue is said to be her2 neg and hormone positive, is this possibl?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Jul 23, 2001 12:00AM
Dear tmouse, The treatment of recurrent breast cancer varies depending on where the cancer has recurred.
The current standards are: If there is no internal disease and recurrence is confined to the area of the original tumor, surgery and/or radiation therapy is used, plus tamoxifen in selected cases. If there is no life-threatening disease involving major internal organs, if there has been at least 2 years since mastectomy and positive hormone receptors, the standard treatment is tamoxifen or removal of the ovaries in premenopausal women. If patients respond to hormonal therapy and then relapses, other forms of hormonal therapy are used. If major internal organs such as the liver are involved chemotherapy is usually given. The type of chemotherapy/combinations varies. Your surgeon and oncologist will discuss their recommendations with you and your wife based on the specifics of your wife’s case.
Her2neu and hormone status are two different markers. Hormone status tells if the tumor or tissue has estrogen or progesterone receptors which, if positive could indicate the tumor is stimulated by estrogen. Her2neu is a gene which, can be found on the surface of tumor cells. Both of these provide different information about how the cancer might behave and be treated. It is possible to have negative Her2neu status and positive estrogen receptor status at the same time.
The current standards are: If there is no internal disease and recurrence is confined to the area of the original tumor, surgery and/or radiation therapy is used, plus tamoxifen in selected cases. If there is no life-threatening disease involving major internal organs, if there has been at least 2 years since mastectomy and positive hormone receptors, the standard treatment is tamoxifen or removal of the ovaries in premenopausal women. If patients respond to hormonal therapy and then relapses, other forms of hormonal therapy are used. If major internal organs such as the liver are involved chemotherapy is usually given. The type of chemotherapy/combinations varies. Your surgeon and oncologist will discuss their recommendations with you and your wife based on the specifics of your wife’s case.
Her2neu and hormone status are two different markers. Hormone status tells if the tumor or tissue has estrogen or progesterone receptors which, if positive could indicate the tumor is stimulated by estrogen. Her2neu is a gene which, can be found on the surface of tumor cells. Both of these provide different information about how the cancer might behave and be treated. It is possible to have negative Her2neu status and positive estrogen receptor status at the same time.
