Wait & see? Or chemo while she waits? (Tykerb & Xeloda)

mamma83

Hi all, I'm brand new to this forum. My mother was diagnosed last January with stage IIb, HER2+ breast cancer. She has since done several rounds of chemotherapy, had a mastectomy, and radiation treatment. She was on herceptin until about a month ago. Unfortunately, in December 2014 she had some really weird symptoms and doctors found that her breast cancer had spread to her brain. They found 3 tumors in her brain, which this past month have been "zapped" by precise radiation treatment.

Here's my question: She has to wait about 2 months until her next MRI to see if the brain tumors have been successfully zapped away and to make sure there aren't any new ones cropping up. Her oncologist has suggested she take Tykerb and Xeloda pills, 2 weeks on, 1 week off, while she waits for the MRI. My mom - who is currently getting weaned off of her last cancer-related drug - is fed up. She doesn't really want to go back on chemotherapy and feel the decreased appetite and severe fatigue like she had when she was on chemo last year. I'm calling out to the wisdom of those of you who likely know much more than I - should see wait & see with no chemo until her MRI? Or is it too great of a risk that once they do the MRI in 2 months, they'll find something so big, that treatment will be more difficult?

I've been searching the forum to see about side effects with these particular drugs and it has been very helpful. Any advice or opinions are welcome. I'd like to be able to get a broader perspective since my gut reaction was, "Take the pills, mom! Don't mess around with cancer!" I know chemo makes her feel crappy, so I'm looking for different points of view from people who have been through it all.

Thank you in advance.

inks

So sorry that your mom is having really difficult time with treatment. I have no experience with these medications but you may get more replies if you post in stage IV forum since the ladies there have more experience with these meds. It's great that you are supporting your mom and looking for more info about her treatment, if you understand the treatment and side effects better you will be able to make your decision better. Wishing you both the best!

Moderators

Hello mamma83,

Welcome to the BCO Community.

We're so sorry to hear what your mom has been going through and we hope you get the support you need from the caring and well informed women and men here.

You might also like to post your question in the Stage IV family and Caregivers Forum or in Brain Mets Sisters thread for more responses.

There's some info about Tykerb including how it works and it's common side effects on our main site and as well as a thread on here dedicated to Xeloda.

We hope this helps!

Sending our best wishes and hugs to you and your mom.

From The mods.