Cancer free after surgery, is chemo still required?

dltvlt

My wife is a cancer patient and she was HER2 positive and estrogen and progesterone negative.  She also had one lymph node involved.  She had 16 weeks of chemo, Carboplatin every 4th week and Taxol each week.  Three weeks after chemo she had a bilateral mastectomy and the Dr removed a few lymph nodes.  We got the pathology report after surgery and there was no sign of cancer.  The chemo had completely eradicated the cancer.

The original plan was to follow up with two rounds (3 weeks apart) of Carboplatin and Taxol.  The Herceptin will be continued for a year.  My wife is thinking since there was no sign of cancer that there is little benefit in more chemo.  The oncologist can't give us any survival or recurrence statistics either way.  She is just recommending to follow the protocol.  The surgeon said if he was betting he thinks the cancer is gone but can't be certain.  

My wife is concerned about the chemo side effects and wants to minimze the exposure.  Does anyone have experience with this treatment plan and is there a compelling reason to continue with the follow-up chemo treatments?  She has a couple of weeks to make the decision.

Thanks,

Dennis

Annie54

Hi Dennis,

The HER2 postive is the trump card...very agressive and sneaky cancer. I've known women (some on these boards) with no node involvement that end up having a re-occurence with mets.....so benign nodes are no guarentee. I've been told that Her2 positive re-occurance usually happens in the first 2 years after diagnosis. It is a personal decision but I would throw everything you can at the beast now - because down the road you don't have the choice anymore. Herceptin is a life saver for many of us Her2 positive gals but it doesn't always do the complete job. If you have more in the arsenal, I'd go for it!

Annie

christina0001

This is a very serious thing to make a decision on. I would encourage you and your wife to get a second opinion. Fresh eyes reviewing her situation can be so helpful.

Cowgirl13

Chemo and Herceptin absolutely needed for HER2+.  I would suggest that you get a second opinion from an onc that can clearly communicate the pros and cons of continuing treatment.  (BTW, I am HER2+)

ruthbru

You absolutely need to finish off the chemo & Herceptin. With present testing, there is no way to be sure that micro-cells have not already escaped. Being estrogen negative means that chemo is your only shot to kill any cancer cells that might be out there (if she were estrogen positive she could take 5 years of an anti-hormonal), and HER2 positive cancers are aggressive and more likely than others to recur.....herceptin is essential in giving it your best shot that it doesn't.

Letlet

You mentioned Herceptin will be continued? Does this mean she has started it already when she started on the Taxol and will finish the one year regardless of further chemo or not? I agree that getting Herceptin is vital ... It is a diffucult decision...the further chemo is for "insurance"..,she just has to decide what she can be at peace with. 

dltvlt

Thanks for the replies. The Herceptin will be continued until she completes 12 months which will be in March.  She has no problem with that.  She is just struggling with having to take two more rounds of Carboplatin and Taxol.

Dennis

ruthbru

Most hospitals have review boards, ask that they look at her case and give a recommendation.