hormone therapy in place of chemotherapy

ForMyMother

Hello.  My mother was diagnosed with stage 3b (considered inoperable because of the chest wall involvement) breast cancer in March.  We started with chemo (Taxotere and Cytoxan) every three weeks and have had 4 rounds.  She has been able to tolerate the SE's well, but the chemo doesn't appear to be shrinking the tumor much or at all.  Therefore, we decided to go to MD Anderson.  What the doc there mentioned to us was, hormone therapy in place of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor (she is estrogen and progesteron + and HER 2 -).  If we can get the tumor to shrink and possibly pull away form the chest wall, we may be able to have surgery.  I am just wondering if anyone of you have had anything similar?  I am a little concerned of not receiving chemo.  We are scheduled for a multidisplinary planning conference next Thursday at MD Anderson.  The doc seems to think that her colleages will also agree with her opinion.  Any information you can provide me will be greatly appreciated!!  I can't seem to find much on the net about this treatment plan and I want to educate myself before we meet with all the docs next thursday. 

Anonymous

When I first started treatment for my BC mets, the doctor I chose over the one who had allowed me to go from less that Stage 1 to Stage lV while under her care, said he would like to try hormonal therapy before jumping into chemo.  He was able to shrink my tumors 50% in the lung with tamoxifen the first three months and I remained on hormonal therapy and was considered stable for 10 years ( arimidex, aromasin and am now on faslodex) before having to go to chemo.  Some women seem to have a lot of SE issues with the hormonal drugs, but I did not and what I did experience was so minimal I forgot until I read my chart one day.  I wish I was still on them because the SEs that came with my chemo treatment are not something I am going to forget anytime soon.  I pray everything goes well for your mother.  MD Anderson has a great reputation. 

ForMyMother

Marybe--Thank you for your response....it makes me feel better about the hormonal therapy.  I also pray everything goes well for you to!  Fight like a woman!  I'm learning so much about BC and it's a very nasty thing.  I hope Mom's treatment works in shrinking her tumor as it did yours!  I know everyone responds differently.  Take care of yourself!  Hugs!

spar2

Formymother, just adding my well wishes and prayers for your mom.  I did have chemo and surgery but the hormonal therapy has kept me cancer free for the last 5 years. God bless.

ForMyMother

spar2--Thank you so much!  God Bless you to!  Hugs, Sherri

gunnergrandma

I am 71had a Mx right side 1limp removed. Stage 1 both drs said I didn't need chemo has anyone else had this    is it my age that they said it  Didn't have hormonal cancer either. I will see the oncologist every 6  months I am kinda wondering if I should have had chemotherapy

Racy

gunnergrandma, did you have the Oncotype test to determine whether you need chemo? Was your cancer triple negative? Is your oncologist at a major hospital?

As you are unsure and have questions, maybe a second opinion from another oncologist is needed.

Hopeful82014

For anyone who happens to stumble across this thread -

I am currently on endocrine therapy as a trial to see if it will a) eliminate the tumor in the node and b) seriously slow the growth rate of both tumors prior to surgery. If so, I may be able to avoid chemotherapy altogether. This approach is more frequently used with larger tumors in this country but is much more common in Europe, from what I've read.

For those who may not be able to handle chemo or its side effects this is a very legitimate approach and certainly easier to tolerate. It's usually possible to tell after a month whether there's a good response.

I'm pleased to be on this protocol and certainly would not worry if it's suggested for an older relative, etc. I've had no side effects whatsoever.

Meow13

My oncodx number suggested I would benefit from chemo. I decided not to do chemo but I have been on hormone therapy so far so good.

I hope chemo becomes a treatment of the past. I think immune therapy will be the treatment of the future.

farmerlucy

Hopeful - That is really exciting. Please let us know how thing go. Forgive my ignorance, by endocrine therapy do you mean hormonal therapy?