Estrogen Negative Receptor and Progestron Postive Receptor

[Kel Lee]

Hi I have a question.  My original biopsey reports the following findings:
Estrogen neg. 2% (unfavorable)
Progestron Pos. 12% (favorable)
Grade 1
I talked with my surgeon regarding this and he told me to be optimistic meaning that it may very well turn out to be postive receptors due to Grade 1 tumor.
I talked to my onc. and his view was the receptors were prob.  neg. due to the low %.  In the information i read it seems like most premenopausal women are in fact neg. receptors, but when i look on message boards it seems that most women are postive or at least ++, --, not - +.  I have just completed chemo.  and from my understanding women that have postive receptors may take tamox., so i need to know if i should have the receptors retested.  Please shed some light on this issue.
Thank you.
My age is: 32

[Afroza]

Dear Kel Lee, I have also ER-negative and PR-positive (score-6). My treating Oncologist advised and I am on Tamoxifen since April,02. Recently I took a second opinion from Prof. Michael Baum at the Portland Hospital, London. He agreed with my treating Doctor in  TMH, Mumbai, India. He explained, " The tumor had the rare phenotype ER Negative PR Positive which I tend to count as hormone responsive as I am sure you know you can't synthesise the pogestrone receptor protein without having an intact oestrogen response pathway." Therefore, he agreed with taking Tamoxifen, and believes to have benefit by improving the Prognosis.

[rkmsim]

I was ER negative (7) and PR positive (16.  All of my doctors were in agreement that I should go on Tamoxifen because of the slight positive reading on the PR.  By the way, the first test indicated negative on both.  My gyn said he feels the PR reading is the most important indicator of the two anyway.

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear Kel lee:  You could certainly ask to have them retested, although it is doubtful that the results would be different.  In general, tamoxifen is only beneficial to women whose estrogen receptors are positive.  It is true that most premenopausal women are estrogen receptor negative.  You could certainly discuss with your physician, the possibility of taking tamoxifen.  It may offer no benefit and the risks should be discussed within that context.