Concern for Mom's Chemo Treatment

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lieberman1
lieberman1 Member Posts: 42
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
Concern for Mom's Chemo Treatment
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  • lieberman1
    lieberman1 Member Posts: 42
    edited August 2009

    1st some good news.  My mom's scans all came back negative.  The oncologist told us today he did see a small spot on her liver but it is to small to biopsy and as of right now he dosen't consider it cancer.  Here is my concern.  My Mom is stage 3c IDC ER/PR negative and HER2+.  The Dr. is going to start her with TCH Chemo.  He said that is taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin.  I am extremely excited about the herceptin.  Herceptin was not available for my sister in law years ago and I think it would have saved her life.  My concern is that the Dr. wants to put her on Taxotere and Carboplatin because he feels she may not tolerate a more aggresive treatment because she is 68.  I don't want my Mom to be be deathly sick from Chemo but I want to lesson the chance it will pop up somewhere else.  She had 20 out of 23 positive nodes.  Everyone I see on the boards seems to be a stage 2 or 1 that is on this regimine.  Is my Mom really to old to tolerate stronger medication? 

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  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 1,203
    edited August 2009

    TCH did as well as AC-TH in the BCIRG 006 trial and it has less heart risk and less side effects overall. We do have a stage III person on the TCH thread. She had TCH neo-Adjuvant chemo and it removed all sign of disease. Even if I was stage III, I would have trusted TCH to do the job.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited August 2009

    I don't know about the various chemo regimes at your mother's age, but I do know you both should feel comfortable with what you're dong. If a second opinion would help, then that's what you should do.

    Best of luck.

    Leah

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited August 2009

    Lieberman ~ Age alone may not be as much of a factor as overall general health.  These days there's a wide range of 60-something women -- some very athletic and youthful, and others who seem much older due to health conditions and lifestyle choices.  But I agree with Leah about getting a second opinion if you or your Mom aren't comfortable with the present recommendation.  And while Taxotere may be easier than some chemos, and has been shown to be easier on our hearts than Adriamycin, rest assured it is by no means a light-weight chemo!  It took me several months to regain my strength after 4 infusions of it.   Deanna

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