Hi, this is my first post on this forum. I just so happened upon your post.
My sister had her2 positive breast cancer. I have studied and studied it for 4 solid years. She had the same combo of drugs you are getting. She was er positive and slightly pr positive. Also.
Maybe one thing you could ask dr about is a drug called perjeta. I'm not sure about it for your situation. Also a good website to look at is called her2 forums. They have all the latest treatments and trials you could possibly find.
My sister died in September after 4 years of fighting. I can tell you from my experience that you go with your gut. If you do t feel good about dr get a second opinion. You be in charge of you care. That is the most important thing you can do. If you have any loved ones or friends who can be an advocate that is so important.
One important thing about her2 is get a brain scan early and often. They are finding that her2 breast cancer seems to go to brain. The drugs they have work so well in the body but the brain is not as protected. ( blood brain barrier) even if you have to lie and say you are having headaches to get one done. They are starting to come around and doing brain scans more often for her2 but, not every dr believes in doing them routinely. Look up her2 and brain mets. You will see what I'm talking about. Getting it early in brain is so important.
Maybe I'm a little paranoid about that but my sister got it in brain and it was too late for her. She fought and fought and never once had a scan on brain. I am still angry about that. It was obvious looking back. Her behavior changed way before we found it. Had we found it earlier maybe she woul still be here? I don't know.
I hope I'm not upsetting you by my post, but I feel I can't just read this and not say something. this is still so fresh for me. I loved my sister so much and it miss her terribly. I can't hard,y take the loss sometimes.
If you want any more advice I am here and willing to give any info I can. Just know you are in my thought and prayers. msg me anytime.
So number one, get second or third or fourth opinion. Go with your gut. Feel comfortable with your dr.
Be assertive with your treatment. Don't feel stupid.
Her2 forums
Ask about perjeta, also vaccines. Brain scans. Her2 forums has all of this info. You wil find all the info you could want on there.
Lastly, god bless you and you are in my prayers daily. Any questions feel free to contact me.
Welcome to Casinomeister, Im sorry your first introductory was me. Everyone here is amazing, the posts are informative, Casinomeister and Max are amazing. And I hope you get to meet amazing life long friends. I am so sorry about your sister, I am sorry that you both had to go through it, and that you still are. It is traumatizing, there is no getting around that. Since last Wed, I have cried, screamed, denial, cried, been pro-active, more denial. And like you I have read none stop about her2. Sometimes your brain needs a break from google. I have learned what foods def trigger it, and guess what? I was eating those DO NOT foods almost daily. I have learned I could be dead with or without treatment in 5 years, the chances go down dramatically after that. I have 2 adult kids that I love beyond words, beyond infinity, as I type this I am getting teary eyed. My fight is for more years with these guys. Dying at the age of 55 is NOT an option! Funny you should mention about a second opinion. A few things stood out for me.
1) I asked my family doctor if I could get a different Oncologist, and she said she has never had the request before, and doesnt know if she has the authority. I have had a great 26 year relationship with her, and trust her with my life. The reason I asked was because the Herceptin causes well known heart problems, and not once did the Oncologist suggest heart testing. I have to get a bone scan done in a couple of weeks once my breast heals, but not once did he say anything about my heart. I know that it can spread to the bone, lungs and brain. So why not a lung scan too? I stumbled across perjeta when I was doing research. Why was that not offered to me? I brought this all up with my family doctor and go see her on the 24th.
2) Wheres the counseling that is suppose to be offered at the centre? Oh there is but depends on your financial status. hmmmm!
3) I also read that certain parts of your breast will read differently. One part can read her2 positive, another sample from different area can read negative. Another .....hmmm
I have fought most of my adult life, it has never been easy. Some of it my own doing, most of it not.
I just want it to end, but not in death.
Oh and another thing. In all of your research, were you able to find out when this her2 + and - was discovered? Has the morbidity rates changed in a noticeable way? For instance if it was found the mid 90's, there should be a greater change, on the presumption that they can treat it with these cocktails of life altering drugs. I asked the Oncologist this and he said he had not data before Herceptin started mid 90's. Really????? What Oncologist doesnt do research?
. The link I am going to post is from our local paper and was from Friday. Also the medicine is covered if taken inside the Hospital, anything taken outside is not unless you have some sort of insurance. That isnt Canadas choice, that is the provinces. I posted a link a few comments back, it is an up to date of what is and what isnt covered by OHIP concerning Cancer treatments here. Again here is the papers article about our one and only hospital. Ironically this happened a day before my surgery. 
You guys are amazing by the way, if you havent been told enough 
