Need your help please , I'm stage IV

liz2528

Hi

I am stage IV( recurrent) recently diagnosed with lung and bone mets,i have been on tamoxifen for 2 years since i had ER + PR+ and HER-2 equivocally positive My Oncologist's choice is Cisplatin+Gemcitabine . I am just a little reluctant because i have very rarely seen someone (infact no one) being treated with these chemo drugs , any suggestion? would this combination be appropriate?

Thanking in anticipation

TarheelMichelle

I am sorry to hear your breast cancer is back but I am glad you are part of this supportive group.

Do you know why your doctor is treating you with chemo? There are more advanced treatments for hormone positive, metastatic breast cancer. I was diagnosed with lung and bone mets almost 5 years ago, hormone positive, and my doctor says I will probably never need chemo, because it's not the best treatment for hormone positive tumors.

liz2528

TarheelMichelle Thank you for your prompt response and i am glad to know that you are disease free for 5 years now . May you be disease free decades more , prayerful for you

zarovka

Two things.

First download a copy of bestbird's guide to current metastatic cancer treatment options. There are so many ways to treat stage IV cancer. You need to be well armed with questions about treatment options when you talk to your doctor, regardless of the situation. This is the best summary I've seen.

Then, get a second and third opinion. This is very important. You are managing your care. You are paying more attention to this situation than your doctor. Respect your instincts.

I am not completely clear on your diagnosis. If you fill out your profile with your history and diagnositics AND make it public, you will get responses that more directly address your situation.

>Z<

liz2528

zarovka i am thankful for your reply , it indeed is helpful and yes i will put up my history too . best wishes for you

pajim

Liz, the combo suggested would make sense if you were (a) HER2+ OR if (b) your doc wanted to attack the lung mets with the intent of moving you to hormonal meds in after a couple of cycles. Or maybe he thinks he can get a cure? Did you ask your onc's rationale for starting with those drugs?

I would suggest a second opinion at a major cancer center near you before agreeing to Carbo and Gem. Those are tough tough meds.

Kandy

I wanted to welcome you to this awesome group of ladies. Sorry you had to join us though. I agree with others that they usually start with hormonals. Please inquire as to why this line of treatment. Also please request Best Birds guide. It will be most useful. Wishing you the best.

liz2528

Thank you Kandy and pajim for taking out time to write , my best wishes for both of you

txmom

Just my two cents but the gold standard for treating triple positive is the Cleopatra trial which is Taxotere, Herceptin and Perjeta and a bone strengthener for your bone mets.  Do a little research.  Good luck to you.  Let us know how it goes. 

Becs511

Welcome! You said your breast cancer was recurrrent, correct? What/if any chemos where you on before?

I am currently on gemzar and carbo (the brand names of the chemos you were asking about), as well as herceptin. I find them very easy to tolerate and have had no issues other than some mild fatigue and low platelets. I have been on this protocol since August, 2015 and so far it has continued to work for me. I hope to be able to stay on it for a long long time!

liz2528

Thank you txmom and Becs511 for the response . stay helathy and blessed