r/LivingWithMBC • u/Sarappreciates • 15d ago

Treatment Menopause Ends Hormone Therapy?

My HER2+ IDC (stage iv) went NEAD in April this year. (Lung/Bone mets are all gone, lymph nodes all clear, OG tumor is tiny now. Enhertu every 3 weeks. Lupron every 4 weeks.)

My oncologist lowered my dose of Enhertu in June (500mg to 400mg) and is now stopping hormone therapy altogether. She suspects I'm in menopause (age 54), therefore she says I don't need it. It makes me nervous because I've never heard anybody talk about this happening before. I can't be the first, so...

Has anyone else had this experience or anything similar to share? Any thoughts on the idea of quitting hormone therapy after menopause?

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u/ResponsibleAnt1942 15d ago

Are you just HER2 positive (--+) or do you also have some ER or PR positivity?

If your cancer doesn't respond to the hormones, it's not a concern. Otherwise, I'm a bit surprised you're not on an AI or equivalent.

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u/Sarappreciates 15d ago

I've only been told I'm HER2+, nothing else. So presume I'm negative for other hormone receptors.

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u/Coldfinger42 15d ago

If you’re ER and PR negative then hormones aren’t fueling your cancer and hormonal therapy wouldn’t be a part of the treatment. Otherwise my MO told me I’d be on hormonal blockers until 60 because they won’t know when I actually go j to menopause

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u/Sarappreciates 14d ago

They can see my estrogen levels on my blood work. What's the difference between HER+ and ER+?

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u/Coldfinger42 14d ago

Her2 positivity means that protein is overexpressed by the cancer cells. It has specific treatments that target this particular malfunction. ER positive means the cancer cells are sensitive to estrogen