12 Week Paclitaxel?

distraughtdaughter

Anyone receive 12 weeks of paclitaxel + Herceptin (trastuzumab) as treatment for stage 2 bc? My mom has ER+, PR-, HER2+ BC which was 2.1 cm and multi focal but node negative. She recently completed the 12 weeks of paclitaxel/Herceptin and had to switch medical oncologists due to her MO relocating. New doctor now suggests that since she was texhnically stage 2, the paclitaxel may not have been sufficient and wants to add FEC. This has of course thrown a wrench in what we thought and trusted was the plan! Anyone else with similar stats get paclitaxel/Herceptin ONLY? Looking for any light anyone can help shed as we try to decide what to do next!

ElaineTherese

Hi!

Stage alone doesn't determine a BC patient's chemo. Indeed, what's driving your Mom's chemo treatment is the fact that she tested positive for an overexpression of the HER2 protein. Was your Mom's cancer Grade 3? That will also play a role in the decision to add more chemo.

It is true that women who have Stage I HER2+ cancer often receive Taxol + Herceptin, and that's it. I was Stage IIIA, and I got Adriamycin + Cytoxin (X4) and then 12 Taxols + Herceptin and Perjeta.

In your Mom's case, her new oncologist is suggesting FEC, which is similar to AC. So, she'd end up having a regimen like mine. By the way, my cancer WAS Grade 3 and very aggressive. I was glad to get a strong chemo regimen.

Hope this helps!