Radiation and Herceptin then Chemo

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wbts
wbts Member Posts: 56
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

I'm wondering if anyone has gotten treatment in the order my mom is.  this is her second bout with breast cancer, this time it is Her2 3+. She had the tumor taken out, Has started and will have 33 radiation sessions. Got the port in today, heart scan tomorrow and starts weekly Herceptin the next day but doesn't start her chemo until a week or two after radiation is done.  Seems backwards from what I'm reading here. Anyone heard of this treatment plan??

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  • wbts
    wbts Member Posts: 56
    edited May 2011

    Bumping.  Anyone heard of having radiation and herceptin before chemo and Herceptin??

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited May 2011

    a friend of mine just had a lumpectomy. It is a 2nd diagnosis for her too. First time did lumpectomy and radiation. She is now about to start radiation. Still waiting for the oncotype testing. Her onc told her that if the test indicates she needs chemo she will be doing it after radiation. She ER/PR+ but HER2-

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  • wbts
    wbts Member Posts: 56
    edited May 2011

    Thanks for responding, Lago.  My mom is HER2 positive and it seems all HER2 positive cancers get chemo first.  I dont' want to question it to Mom.  I'm sure the doc has his reasons. 

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited May 2011

    wbts the window for chemo from what I have read is 5-8 weeks after surgery. Granted my friend will be outside that window. Since you mom is HER2+ and is getting Herceptin right away that might be the reason why they can wait. I'm sure there is a reason. Remember that there might be some special need for your mom to do it this way.

    Have you asked the onc? There's nothing wrong with asking the question. I know I asked my BS why I wasn't doing chemo before surgery. He wasn't put off by the question.

    If you ask I would love to know the rational.

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  • wbts
    wbts Member Posts: 56
    edited May 2011
    I had my sister ask the oncologist and he said it was a good question.  Smile  He said mom's Her2 positive cancer is not recurrent so he's using radiation to 'sterilize' her chest first and then will hit it with chemo.  So she's currently doing radiation and herceptin. Good thing b/c she developed MRSA and they would've had to stop chemo until they get that resolved so at least they are still hitting her cancer with radiation.
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