Hormone Positive followed by Herceptin positive breast cancer.

Hi @jayjen, sorry to hear about your sister, I don't know how common this is but it sounds very similar to what happened to my aunt, my only relative who has had breast cancer. She was diagnosed at 60yo with er/pr +Ve breast cancer and had lumpectomy, chemo and radiotherapy, then 10 years later had her2 cancer in other breast, again had lumpectomy, chemo and herceptin. I think this was a big reason why when I got er/pr +Ve breast cancer at 41yo, I decided to have a double mastectomy. 

Sounds like you have a great team.

Hi jayjen great followup from DR to be proactive is to be extra vigilant esp if already had bc ...mammog dont show the whole picture so  i feel Ct follow up is very  important after a few years of first diagnosis..

Well I saw my breast surgeon who was extremely comprehensive as always. No guarantees of course but she ordered a bone scan and a ct head chest pelvis. These I had done this morning and will ring her for results tomorrow. I am sure all is well. Surgeon has also suggested six monthly ultra sounds for myself and my girls (aged 40 and (nearly) 42), Something I pray I haven't passed onto them!!

Will keep posting if anything new develops and once again thanks for the positive and generous feedback. Jayjen

Hi @jayjen, sending you a big hug. So sorry to hear about both you and your sisters diagnoses. But crossing fingers for you that you don't follow the same path. Very wise to be seeing your surgeon even if only to put your mind at rest. Xx Cath

Hi Jayjen I had Grade 3 HER2+ with high proliferation. Had lumpectomy, chemo radiation and 12 months of Herceptin. At the start I couldn't believe i would be having treatment for a year. I finally finished the Herceptin last Nov. It went much quicker than I thought it would. It must be difficult for you after what happened to your sister. But that may not happen to you. Wishing all the best for you. Nadine

Hey! @jayjen I'm sorry to hear of your sister and her recurrence. I've been on this roller coaster 6yrs now and Ive had a recurrence at the 4yr mark, but it was in the same spot in the same breast. I was treated with chemo in 2015 after major lumpectomy for the 2nd time, clear nodes and only ER+ I had the Gene test and it was negative, it helped decide the next step though. I had a left breast mastectomy 14 months post chemo and diep flap reconstruction. The Geneticists said this was their recommendation based on the history and diagnosis. They along with all my Specialists did say too though...that the odds of me getting anything in the other breast wasnt that much higher at all, my chances are as much as someone getting it the first time. Hang in there. Hugs Melinda xo

Hi there good advice from everyone. My tumour wasn't HER2 positive but one lymph node was, so treated as if all was including Herceptin and hormonal therapy. Getting close to the 5 year mark and well, so think positive! Best wishes.

Thanks so much for your responses. This site is very encouraging and gives us hope. It is always good to know that someone else is on the same trip with this wretched cancer. I will post again after I have seen my breast surgeon. It does show us though that we must be conscious to keep getting the medical tests available as well as self examination. In my case my cancer was large, 8cm x 2cm, but softish so I couldn't feel it. It grew between mammograms as did my sister's. 
Thanks again for your responses. Very grateful.

Hi @jayjen, sorry to hear about your sister. My radiation oncologist told me our breasts are separate entities but because we have had breast cancer once we are at higher risk for other breast than the general population and the cancer can be a completely different one so it is not unusual for your sister to have an entirely different cancer & I am sure they have worked out the best plan for her.