Need stats on met to liver!

rdrake0

I have been given some hard choices by my onc today.  I have bc mets to my liver.  They are growing despite Arimidex.

So, ladies, which drug treats breast cancer mets to the liver better, Taxol (weekly for 3 weeks, one week off, forever) or Adriamycin and Cytoxan?  (Avastin or bevacizumab added every other week.) 

I mean if you had to choose just one regiment, which one do you think would be the best cancer killer?  (I know Taxol makes neuropothy, which is a permanent side effect.  But ya gotta live long enought to get it.)

Thanks for your input.  I need to decide before next week!

Ruth

konakat

Hi Ruth.  I had AC followed by dose dense taxol when I was first diagnosed.  About a year later when I had to go on chemo again I was given taxol but with the lower density -- the 3 weeks on, 1 week off regimen.  Carboplatin was included -- apparently it gives the taxol a boost in effectiveness.  This time the taxol was a lot more do-able than the dose dense taxol. 

Re. neuropathy -- it isn't a guarantee that it will happen nor is it always permanent.  My taxol was stopped for a number of reasons, including neuropathy.  Since stopping I no longer have neuropathy.  If you chose taxol, it may not be forever -- it most definitely could put you into remission!  Same with AC.

Back to your question...  I'm of the opinion to go with the strongest chemo you can tolerate -- hit it with the biggest guns you can.  I think AC is the strongest you can get -- if your onc approves it, go for it.  Since I've never heard of AC being used for recurrences of mets I'd use it now and save taxol for later, should you ever need more chemo (I hope not!!).  One caveat is that if you haven't had AC before, it has hard SEs.  Taxol is "easier", relatively speaking.  In any case, I'd try the AC first.

Good luck!!

Elizabeth

everyminute

I dont know the answer to your questions BUT my oncologists suggest taking l-glutamine and b6 with taxol to prevent neuropathy.

best of luck to you.

swimangel72

Ruth I'm so sorry you need to make these decisions.......I'm sending you a big hug through cyberspace..........you know that Adriamycin can cause heart damage, that's something to think about too. Also - I heard that Navelbine is great against mets to the liver - but since you've never had chemo before, your onc will probably want to try the bigger guns first. I had Navelbine with Herceptin.......my onc was convinced I didn't need "big guns" leaving the starting gate - he said I just needed Herceptin with any chemo, so he chose Navelbine since it doesn't cause heart damage or baldness. Hope this info is of some help to you and that whatever treatment you undergo totally annihilates the cancer in your liver - you are in my prayers!

rdrake0

Thank you, for your inspiration!  I wasn't sure which of those two were the biggest gun!  Or if there was a bigger one out there.  I have intestinal issues, too.  Tests say no cancer there, but diarrhea every day since March.  And I believe both AC and taxol can rupture a weak intestine.

In truth, the onc offered me a clinical trial where I will randomly get one of three chemos, Paclitaxol, Nab-paclitaxel, or Ixabepilone.  These are all in the same family of chemo drugs.  Is anyone else out there doing this trial?  How long have you been on it and how are you doing?

Ruth

Think_Pink88

I went on Taxotere for awhile, and my liver mets shrunk to about half, and sum spots totally dissappeared, but I dunno if it was the work of just that drug or a combo of my previous treatments with Epirubicin, Cyclophosphamide, and Fluoracil, but it could be helpful

leggo

Ruth, sorry you have to make such a decision. Any chance you can get the opinion of an additional onc and go with the one they both think would be best? They are the experts and I would hope that they can lead you in the right direction. As for the neuropathy, yes it is a pain....I have it and it is permanent....but it's a small price to pay if it's going to save your life.

dreamwriter

My goodness Think Pink.  That is exactly what I was on FEC then Taxotere.....

Where is Kaministiquia?  Im in Toronto.

Think_Pink88

Dreamwriter,

WOW!! exact same treatments... Kaministiquia is close to Thunder Bay, Ontario