There are many different types of breast cancer. If you’re diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer, this means your cancer cells have higher than normal levels of HER2.
HER2 stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. The HER2 proteins are found on the outside of breast cells and promote the growth of cancer cells. These cancer cells often grow and spread faster than other breast cancers, but also respond well to treatments that directly target the HER2 protein.1 The status of your HER2 can help determine how aggressive the cancer is and what treatment will be most suitable.
Around 15-20% of all breast cancers are HER2 positive. HER2 positive breast cancer is also more common in younger women below the age of 60.