Progesterone Receptor Positive (PR+)

The drug is everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, added to an aromatase inhibitor (exemestane, known as Aromacin). The months that it “seems” to buy are time until the cancer worsens. This is an important issue because it can be confused with survival (i.e., how long a patient lives) but it is actually not (yet) known to prolong this. It also has some real, but manageable toxicities. It represents confirmation that inhibition of mTOR can be clinically effective but the relative value of this approach and its optimal implementation remains to be more fully determined. The drug is everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, added to an aromatase inhibitor (exemestane, known as Aromacin). The months that it “seems” to buy are time until the cancer worsens. This is an important issue because it can be confused with survival (i.e., how long a patient lives) but it is actually not (yet) known to prolong this. It also has some real, but manageable toxicities. It represents confirmation that inhibition of mTOR can be clinically effective but the relative value of this approach and its optimal implementation remains to be more fully determined.

Hello, congrats on NED. This is similar to another question about estrogenic foods. They are safe - studies have shown they may even occupy receptors the way tamoxifen does. Organic when possible (unsprayed).
We don't know any specifics to lower risk, what we have is a combination of foods - every color fruit and vegetable. NO SODA, fried foods, JUNK.

Avoid artificial ingredients of all kinds. Consider some exercise, a way to relax and enjoy, and some detox - using healthy cleaning products, avoiding parabens in makeup and the like.

Many supplments can build health but you need to get a baseline from an acupuncturist, naturopath or nutritionist to see what you personally may need. After treatment our DNA is messed up and definitely following a health path can help. Yoga is amazing too! Hello, congrats on NED. This is similar to another question about estrogenic foods. They are safe - studies have shown they may even occupy receptors the way tamoxifen does. Organic when possible (unsprayed).
We don't know any specifics to lower risk, what we have is a combination of foods - every color fruit and vegetable. NO SODA, fried foods, JUNK.

Avoid artificial ingredients of all kinds. Consider some exercise, a way to relax and enjoy, and some detox - using healthy cleaning products, avoiding parabens in makeup and the like.

Many supplments can build health but you need to get a baseline from an acupuncturist, naturopath or nutritionist to see what you personally may need. After treatment our DNA is messed up and definitely following a health path can help. Yoga is amazing too!

Anastrozole treats breast cancer by inhibiting the production of estrogen in tissues of the body of post-menopausal women.
- By inhibiting the production of estrogen, the estrogen receptor [ER]-positive and/or progesterone receptor [PR]-positive cancer cells cannot grow.
- Anastrozole operates by blocking the aromatase enzyme that converts androgen to estrogen in the tissues of women who have gone through menopause.
- Postmenopausal women get estrogen from the conversion of androgen into estrogen in the tissues of the body.
- In women who have not gone through menopause, they receive their estrogen from the ovaries.
- Anastrozole is categorized pharmacologically as an antineoplastic agent and as a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor and is indicated for postmenopausal women. Anastrozole treats breast cancer by inhibiting the production of estrogen in tissues of the body of post-menopausal women.
- By inhibiting the production of estrogen, the estrogen receptor [ER]-positive and/or progesterone receptor [PR]-positive cancer cells cannot grow.
- Anastrozole operates by blocking the aromatase enzyme that converts androgen to estrogen in the tissues of women who have gone through menopause.
- Postmenopausal women get estrogen from the conversion of androgen into estrogen in the tissues of the body.
- In women who have not gone through menopause, they receive their estrogen from the ovaries.
- Anastrozole is categorized pharmacologically as an antineoplastic agent and as a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor and is indicated for postmenopausal women.

Letrozole (Femara) is an antineoplastic agent. Antineoplastic agents are anticancer medications. Letrozole is also categorized as a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase inhibitors do not allow the aromatase enzyme to convert androgen into estrogen in the tissues. By blocking estrogen production in the tissues of the body, the estrogen receptor [ER]-positive and/or progesterone receptor [PR]-positive) breast cancer cells cannot grow. Letrozole (Femara) is an antineoplastic agent. Antineoplastic agents are anticancer medications. Letrozole is also categorized as a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase inhibitors do not allow the aromatase enzyme to convert androgen into estrogen in the tissues. By blocking estrogen production in the tissues of the body, the estrogen receptor [ER]-positive and/or progesterone receptor [PR]-positive) breast cancer cells cannot grow.

I'd love to jump in but it was such a complete answer, I don't have much to add! I will however reinforce that despite all of our advances, there is still so much that we don't know and there are still a lot of unanswered questions. Environmental influences probably play a greater role than we currently appreciate, and we are becoming more aware of the influence of lifestyle factors such as diet, activity level / weight, and alcohol intake. The balancing act continues. I was so lucky...I had a team of doctors who were very forthcoming in providing information I would need, so it's actually hard to say. I was also pre-menopausal so the options for hormone therapy were clear - tamoxifen was and remains the gold standard. I can tell you, however, that when I was diagnosed there wasn't talk about luminal A vs. luminal B vs. other cancers. I'm not sure when those categories came into view, but at the time Herceptin was new and Arimidex was just emerging from clinical trial (I THINK I have my timing right - please correct me if I'm wrong!) I'm obviously not a doctor, and I'd love to have one jump in here...

However, even today, the issues that remain for me revolve around what I can do to keep myself healthy. The challenge is that there is STILL so much we don't know about hormone status and also importantly, what in the environment (using that term loosely) impacts hormone levels. Since my treatments, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is OUT. I've yet to hear a final word on soy. Obesity and wine both produce estrogen. On the other hand, hormone-free animal products, from meat to milk, are widely available.

And then, we can rest assured that another threat is around the corner. As an example of what it lurking, I offer the pesticide atrazine. I was at a program run by the California Breast Cancer Research Program, with a primary focus on the role of the environment on breast cancer. It was there that I learned about atrazine, used particularly on corn (which is, of course, ubiquitous in today's ready-to-eat world of processed foods). According to studies, atrazine has not only led to the development of ovaries in male frogs, but those frogs have actually been able to reproduce (http://www.livescience.com/10957-pesticide-turns-male-frogs-females.html).

I'm not sure I answered your question directly and sadly, there remains so much we don't know. For what it is worth, I work hard at finding that balance between remaining aware and vigilant, with embracing a full, rich life.

If you are ER and PR positive it means that your tumor has estrogen and progesterone receptors on the cells surface that these hormones can bind with. It is ofen described like having a lock and key that fit together. When estrogen and/or progesterone bind with the cell they activate the cell to divide. Tamoxifen and Aromatase inhibitors can be used to treat estrogen positive breast cancers.

HER-2/nue (c-erbB2) is an oncogene (a gene which when turned on, can lead to development of cancer). A HER 2 positive cancer has high levels of this oncogene. These cancers tend to be more aggressive but the drug Herceptin, a targeted therapy, is very effective in treated HER-2 positive breast cancers.

I am not a medical expert and bet that your oncologist could explain it better for you! If you are ER and PR positive it means that your tumor has estrogen and progesterone receptors on the cells surface that these hormones can bind with. It is ofen described like having a lock and key that fit together. When estrogen and/or progesterone bind with the cell they activate the cell to divide. Tamoxifen and Aromatase inhibitors can be used to treat estrogen positive breast cancers.

HER-2/nue (c-erbB2) is an oncogene (a gene which when turned on, can lead to development of cancer). A HER 2 positive cancer has high levels of this oncogene. These cancers tend to be more aggressive but the drug Herceptin, a targeted therapy, is very effective in treated HER-2 positive breast cancers.

I am not a medical expert and bet that your oncologist could explain it better for you!

Letrozole is categorized pharmacologically as an Antineoplastic Agent and as an Aromatase Inhibitor. The action of Aromatase Inhibitors is to inhibit the production of estrogens by stopping the conversion of androgen into estrogen.

- Aromatase Inhibitors operate by blocking the aromatase enzyme from converting androgen to estrogen in women who have gone through menopause.
- Post-menopausal women get estrogen from the conversion of androgen into estrogen in the tissues of the body.
- In contrast women who have not gone through menopause receive their estrogen from the ovaries.
- By inhibiting the production of estrogen, the estrogen receptor [ER]-positive and/or progesterone receptor [PR]-positive tumor breast cancer cells cannot grow. Letrozole is categorized pharmacologically as an Antineoplastic Agent and as an Aromatase Inhibitor. The action of Aromatase Inhibitors is to inhibit the production of estrogens by stopping the conversion of androgen into estrogen.

- Aromatase Inhibitors operate by blocking the aromatase enzyme from converting androgen to estrogen in women who have gone through menopause.
- Post-menopausal women get estrogen from the conversion of androgen into estrogen in the tissues of the body.
- In contrast women who have not gone through menopause receive their estrogen from the ovaries.
- By inhibiting the production of estrogen, the estrogen receptor [ER]-positive and/or progesterone receptor [PR]-positive tumor breast cancer cells cannot grow.

Anastrozole (Arimidex) is an anticancer drug. It is a type of nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor. Anastrozole works by decreasing the estrogen production in the body by inhibiting the enzyme that converts androgens into estrogen. By decreasing the amount of estrogen in the body, tumors that need estrogen to grow are inhibited.
Anastrozole (Arimidex) is an anticancer drug. It is a type of nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor. Anastrozole works by decreasing the estrogen production in the body by inhibiting the enzyme that converts androgens into estrogen. By decreasing the amount of estrogen in the body, tumors that need estrogen to grow are inhibited.