brac1 brac2 her2 question - Cancer: Breast Message Board

marcine26 · 02-10-2009, 01:59 PM

OK I hopefully make this quick.

My mom has breast cancer. I told my dr and she said I should meet with a genetic specialist. SO I called my mom and asked her if she had the brac 1 or brac2 gene and she said she had neither, she was her2 postive. Me, know ing absolutely nothing said ok and went to my apt. I told the specialist this and she said being her2 positve is not a gene its a protein that activates the cancers cells. I said ok but I think she got genetic testing done so cant you just look it up. she said with hippa she cant, but she did say that since my mom and I go to the same hospital that she would have had to meet with her before any genetic testing could be done, and that she hadnt met with her. so who what do I do know. my aunt and I are going back and forth. I say my mom needs to be tested and my aunt is saying, no she already did she has her2.
can someone please help me figure out whats going on and the difference between brac1 brac2 and her2?

thank you

leea1206 · 02-11-2009, 12:53 PM

Hi Marcine

The Brca 1 and 2 ARE genes that indicate a person is at higher risk for breast and/or ovarian cancer. I tested negative for the brca genes but do have a family hx with my mom, maternal grandma and aunt. I developed early stage br cancer in May 2006 and am doing well.

The counselor is right. Her2 is a protein that causes breast cancer cells to replicate faster. For this, hercepton is usually given and works well. It sounds like your mom was tested for her2 but most likely did NOT have the brca test. The brca test is a blood test and the her2 test is a test on the tumor, to see what features it has.

The brca test is very expensive. Insurance usually pays for at least part of it.
The reason I believe they would like to have your mom tested, is that if she is negative, it will indicate you donot have the gene either. - In other words, then you don't have to test too.

Hope this helps.
Leea

marcine26 · 02-12-2009, 07:40 AM

Thank you Leea, its does help. I just dont want to nag my mom, I think she thinks she got tested but I dont think she did just because when I asked her if she had brca1 or brca2 she said no i have her2. And the fact that the councelor said "she would have met with me" and she hadnt.

Thank you. I will discuss with her when the time seems right.

mocity · 02-12-2009, 10:47 AM

I am not a doc but have been on the breast cancer ride since May 2008. BRAC1 and BRAC2 are totally different than HER2+. I did the BRAC testing due to a very strong family history. I tested negative.

HER2+ is part of the pathology. For example, after my bi lateral mastectomy the pathology report came back and showed me that I am ER+ (Estrogen), PR+ (Progesterone) and HER2+. Those three indicators help explain what your cancer is feeding from and what type of treatment will be best for you in the future.

Testing for HER2 is not genetic testing like the BRAC1 and BRAC2.....

Just my 2 cents

Good luck to your mom!