Breast Cancer/cancer prognosis

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Expert: - 5/13/2009


Question
My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, she has ductal carcinoma with a lump about 2.54, her erpr is neg and her HER2 is positive. They suspect she has had it for about 5 years. Not sure of the stage yet but she is scheduled for an mastectomy next week.. what is her prognosis or survival rate

Answer
Is her tumor measured in cm or inches? (I suppose you mean 1 inch = 2.54 cm, right?). If indeed it is 1 inch in size it is probably too big for a lumpectomy especially if HER2 positive. So I agree that a mastectomy is the best procedure followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Since it does not have hormonal receptors hormonal treatment is not an option. However to estimate her prognosis I do need to know her stage and the grade of her tumor. Otherwise I can only guess which is not much of a help. A HER2 positive tumor is often more aggressive which makes special chemotherapy important.

Breast Cancer

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Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.

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I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience in diagnostics and treatment of breast tumours.

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I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy educated & trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps.You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 I have no restrictions on the number of questions there.

I also answer questions about Oncology (General Cancer), General History, Military History, Brain Tumors, Colon Cancer

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I'm a medical doctor and specialist in medical oncology and radiation therapy.

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