HER2 + And treatment experience

Ada85

I just started chemo TCH ( Taxel, cyclophosphamide and hercepton) but have been noticing a lot of talk about TCHP what is the difference and the percentage benefit of adding this to treatment? I haven’t a clue and would like more insight from others who are HER2 positive only and what their experiences were with TCHP.

I’m in Canada so I’m pretty sure this practised here but my onc didn’t jump into this specific drug. I been getting feedback on why he hasn’t prescribed it along with hercepton which seems to reap benefits long term so looking to find more info from people who have experience with the same regime.

Thank you and can’t wait to hear and read your replies.

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ElaineTherese

Hi!

The "P" in TCHP is Perjeta. It is more widely available in the U.S. than Canada so I'm not surprised that your oncologist didn't include it in your treatment plan. Perjeta is fairly new, and there are only a few studies available which discuss its benefits. I believe that its benefits for early stage HER2+ breast cancer are smaller than for Stage IV HER2+ breast cancer. Hopefully, someone will be along with the links to the relevant studies.

KCMC

Hi, I am ER, PR and HER2 positive. Stage 2A diagnosed at age 47. I received six rounds of Taxol Carboplatin Herceptin and Perjeta from July to November of last year. Then Herceptin only for 3 times. In January of this year my oncologist said the FDA here in the United States approved the use of Herceptin and Perjeta for early stage breast cancer for the year so I added it in January and will receive Herceptin and Perjeta till end of July. I believe prior to January the Herceptin and Perjeta combination was used for advanced stage Her2 positive breast cancer. I could be wrong but maybe someone else will chime in here.

Last week Shawna Ginsburg from Rethink Breast Cancer in Canada contacted me to do a phone interview about Perjeta being used for early stage Her2 positive breast cancer. There is a survey Rethink Breast Cancer is doing on this site and I decided to answer their questions. If I am correct, what I understand is that the Canadian Health care system is looking to add Perjeta for the year for early stage HER2 positive breast cancer.

I hope this helps. If you would like I can PM you Shawna's email address.

Ada85

thank you Elaine...

It’s already hard enough to wrap your head around cancer to begin with and then all the other stuff surrounding it. You get overwhelmed easy, I liked to know my onc has the best treatment for me as I’m sure everyone else does. I just read a couple of topics that that said it wasn’t available in Canada yet as KCMC Just conformed it. Thank you by the way....

KCMC if the outcome outweighs the reoccurring down the road it really is a no brainer. It would give me peace of mind knowing that I can sleep and live without having cancer in the back of my mind after treatment. I have signed up with them recently hoping to be more active in the year to come and share my experience as a young BC women.

It’s so important to be aware and educate yourself because some doctors just want to clock in and out . How I wish I was more proactive in learning about cancer when my dad passed away from it 3 years ago. Makes a world of difference and doesn’t seem scary as much.

Thank you very much ladies!

I look forward to adding this to my treatment once it’s approved. I mean there’s no losing in trying.