Her2 Positive

This is a rather late post in the fact that I got this information nearly 2 weeks ago.
Basically being Her2 positive is a good thing as it means I am suitable to take a relatively new but excellent drug called Herceptin.

The drug works by blocking the process of the Cancer cells dividing and growing, it's specifically for breast cancer tumors and only 1 in 5 patients have high levels of Her2 receptors.

My cancer is ER negative which means that it is not triggered by hormones therefore will not respond to any hormone therapy treatment. Not fab but better than if I was negative for the Her2 test too as that would make it a triple negative cancer and a lot more agressive and difficult to treat.

The Herceptin drug is administered over 18 sessions, 4 weeks apart (at Lister Hospital) and won't begin until my Chemo has finished (16 weeks following my operation). It will be given via IV line into a port that I will have to have put into my chest that will remain throughout the time I have the treatment. This is because the veins in my arm would not be able to withstand the amount of pricking and poking that I will be going through :(

I have looked but haven't come across any particularly worrying side affects from the Herceptin drug, however, because of the nature of what it does (i.e stops cells from multiplying) we are not allowed to try for any more children until 2 years after my herceptin treatment ends; which will be just short of 4 years from now plus the time it takes to fall pregnant and have the baby.

This is the worst bit of news I have had during the whole process so far.