Testing for er/pr and Her2 standard?

Pastor Rich

Hello Leo;

My wife has seen the oncologist at the cancer clinic and it turns out that the original pathology testing in September did not include hormone receptor tests. So the samples were ordered from the hospital where the surgery was done and the tests are being run now.

From all that I have read, I would have thought that testing for this would be so totally standard that to not have it done would be exceptionally unusual.

This has slowed everything down by almost 2 weeks.

What do you think? Is it unusual?

Thanks,
Pastor Rich

MuttsMom · Guest

Hi Pastor Rich,
I'm not Leo and I'm sure he'll have info for you, but personally, I've never heard of someone not knowing if they were er/pr + or - when they found out what type of breast cancer and everything. I'm so sorry it's delayed things, this is something I know you and your wife want to get started so she can be done with the treatment and start her life after cancer.
Nancy

Pastor Rich

[quote="MuttsMom"]I'm so sorry it's delayed things, this is something I know you and your wife want to get started so she can be done with the treatment and start her life after cancer.
Nancy[/quote]

Thanks for reminding me that there really will be life after cancer..... Right now it seems like this will go on forever!

Blessings,
Pastor Rich

BFagan2067 · Experienced user Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 54

Pastor Rich, As Nancy ( Hi Nancy) has said that it is unusual for them not to test for er/pr and her2neu when they do the initial pathology... however I also note that you are not from the states, perhaps the process is different in canada. I know that women that I have knows from canada have had scans, testing etc on different time frames from me. You are talking about two different treatment delivery systems. I can also relate to the anxiety of the waiting... that is something that we all get accustomed to, not any less anxiety but used to the wait... hurry up and wait... but I can only say that from the time of my diagnosis and my intial chemo treatment was about 2 months... this was 6 years ago, next month. In most cases Ihave been told that cancer does not spread rapidly in two weeks and that in actuality it is around for many many years before it starts to be able to be seen or screened in many. I hope that this would help a little... though I am not a doctor and you would probably feel better hearing this from Dr. Leo. Actually when I was first diagnosed they actually did test for both these things however there were women that were diagnosed 6 months prior to me that had to have their docs go back and have theirs tested, especially the her2neu, In PA where I am from they keep pieces of your tumors or lesions for many many years in order to retest if something comes up... according to the docs around here. So even in six years we have made some progress in what is going on around us...
I Wish the best for you and your wife in this journey, and will keep you in my prayers and thoughts...This journey, though not an easy one, it is doable and as Nancy says there is life after this part of your journey, I would also add that there is a whole lot of life even when you are dealing with all of this it just refocuses your priorities.... a whole lot of living and life! Just Hang in there!
HUGS!
Barbara

leo · Owner Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Pastor Rich,

Thanks for posting. I hope things are going well. Currently for all newly diagnosed breast cancers, it is pretty standard to test for ER/PR status, and most places also do HER2 identification. HER2 status is more complicated since it uses a different technique and it may take a few days.

Maybe some institutions prefer to have the cancer diagnosed, and if the patient accepts therapy, run the tests later on. It may just be an option to save money. Imagine if we get a biopsy on a very old lady and knowing that it is cancer she refuses treatment...the ER/PR/HER2 would be unnecessary, right ? I understand Canada has a different health system, and that may be the reason...

regards,
Leo
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