Tell me I am Reading this Wrong

Pure

If this is true then what the heck are we on taxol?

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy/new_research/20090515b.jsp

lexislove

Pure the link doesnt work...

Can you retry?

GryffinSong

lexislove, I cut and pasted the address into my browser and it worked. The article is pretty interesting. I didn't have all those side effects from taxol, but I've got neuropathy in my toes from it, which is really annoying and hasn't lessened in the seven months since I finished chemo. They kept stressing "for early stage", so I wonder what the stats are on those of us past stage 0 or 1?

janincanada

What's the name of the article.  I couldn't get the link to work and don't want to have to read all othe articles about chemo.

clariceak

Sequential Docetaxel: No Benefit in Early Breast Cancer

everyminute

Well taxotere and taxol are not the same BUT the point is they dont feel there is a stastical reduction of recurrence by adding taxanes. 

Oddly - Dr Ellis is my friend's doctor.  She was diagnosed as stage 2 triple neg and he did prescribe AC and then Taxol.  hmmmm.

I didnt have horrible side effects from taxol - sure I would have liked to have been done sooner but I am glad I got it all.  

Pure

If you can copy and paste it will come up.

So strange-I though TAXOLS were one of the big discoverys of the past 10 years.

KerryMac

You know, I have also read things that say there is no benefit from the "A" drugs....what I understand from this, is that although there may be no general statistical advantage, you may get a personal advantage.

As far as I can tell, your chances are not lessened, just not improved. So, I am glad I got both, just in case one works for me!

lexislove

Ok...the Taxane thing....

The studies to date have shown that Triple - and Her2+ woman benefit from the Taxanes. For Er+ woman...its still up in the air. They think....think...that anti hormone meds work the best for Er+ only woman. But right now, today, we just arnt sure.

I did get some se's from Taxol....like neropathy in my hands (very sensitive to heat) and numbness in my toes. My left big toe I could not feel for 4 months after I finished Taxol.

It took 3-4 months for everything to return to normal.

lexislove

The Taxanes ARE a major advancment.....for TN and Her2 woman. Just not quite sure abou the ER+ only.

I agree with Kerry.

KerryMac

I have always thought that the Hormonals were my most important weapon.

Even though Taxotere was very hard on me, I still don't regret it. Why not cover your bases.....

rayofsun

interesting though i am not early stage but i had been doing well for a few days and today i have spent in bed with aching feet and leg muscles, to receive 10th taxol this week. the more that i laern and read about breast cancer it is obvious there are so many conflicting things and looks like we need to hang on for the ride and see where we end up.

Pure

I guess my thought is if the TAXOLS do nothing for us then why not get us on the anti hormonals SOONER then later.

sweetnvmbr00

WOW I was suppoesd to get Taxol after my four rounds of AC but had a bad reaction twice during the first treatment and was swithced to Taxotere. The side effects were awful. My Onc had to put me on Effexor XR becasue I was so depressed during this part of treatment. I remember everyone telling me that it was going to be so much easier than AC and I would feel so much better, So far from the reality. I agree...I guess we just hang on for the ride and hope we are the lucky one.

lexislove

Pure,

I have read that some woman who are under going neo adjuvant chemo...and the tumor has not responded....their oncs will switch them to anti hormones at that time.

Did I read right...somewhere, that docs will usually perscribe anti hormone to stage 4 woman at diagnosis right away? I think Ive seen cases around the board.

Kodapants

Taxol neoadjuvant did not help me.  Cancer in my breast developed in two area's. However,  AC+T helped with my nodes, thank god.  Taxol side effects now are some minor neuropathy,  but I also take Neurontin for hot flashes and that probably helps with neuropathy.  I'll try to copy and paste article.

 Peace all,

Koda

Pure

True for this trial which doesn't have much follow up but the big overviews with many more women have shown a benefit in all groups of women ...especially in premenopausal  node positive women. Bascailly taxens seem to be better for node positive premenopausal women-they wouldn't give this if it had little to 1% benifit.

geewhiz

My onc showed me a study that TCH had the same benefit as ACT, and without the reduced risk.And yes, TCH is a better regimen I was told for ER/PR negative and Her2 positive. It was my choice, and I labored over it.

 I know many people sail through the side effects of both regimens, but I can tell you that taxotere has been no picnic. The one week I didn't ice my fingers and toes...I twitched all month long. Bone pain is crazy. Crazy stuff. So I HOPE that I chose the right thing here!! 

kimber3006

I want to say I read somewhere something about a synergistic effect of the taxanes and herceptin?  Lexislove, you're up on that aspect better than I am.  Either way, I'm with Kerry.  They did say in that study that some individuals may still benefit.  I'm not having fun with this stuff - today's treatment #6/12 really roughed me up - but I'll take it for the chance of any benefit.