Hi everyone, my first post here and if it seems like I am not making any sense, it is because I have had chemo a couple of days ago, and most of you know what that does to the brain! I have also copied this post to the "breast cancer" section, because I wasn't sure where the best place was. First of all, this site is great, so many inspirational stories, so much love and support, and an Australian site to boot! I won't bore you with all the nitty gritty details about my C-History, it is all in my profile, but in short, for the relevance of this query/comment/wondering out loud, this is it: was diagnosed with breastcancer in 2002, lumpectomy, Her2+, joined clinical trial with AC/Taxotere/Herceptin and radiotherapy. March this year, I found another lump, same breast, different side. Biopsy was done under ultrasound, result came back as Her2+ again. This time I had a mastectomy with an immediate free flap (from the tummy) reconstruction. Had a port put in (ugly little bugger it is!), awaiting chemo, this time carboplatin/taxotere/herceptin. Low and behold, biopsy report from mastectomy came in, and the tumour is not Her2+! Herceptin cancelled, and I am now faced with the idea, I have had 2 completely different cancers in my breast. This tumour is classed a triple negative breastcancer, which means it doesnt have estrogen, progesterone or her2 receptors! This also means, that after chemo there is no "blocking" after-treatment, and that's scary. From what I read, this is a far more aggressive tumour and has a very fast recurrence rate, and more likely to be a genetic tumour. I am considering prophylactic mastectomy of the other breast after my chemo is done. The one thing that keeps going through my mind - and it may be that only a professional can answer this one, none of the people I spoke to in the hospital had an answer to this - is this; if I wouldn't have had Herceptin in the first round, would this tumour have been a HER2+ tumour? Has Herceptin blocked that particular receptor, making the tumour an even more agressive one? Second question, has anyone here have had 2 different type of tumours in the one breast? Third question, I know I am being greedy for my first post, but these things are bugging me.. Is there a genetic testing available in Australia? I have read about it in Overseas sites, but haven't seen any local ones. Thanks for reading my rambling, hope it makes sense. take care everyone, Barbe xoxo
