Daughter’s Scans

Birchbark26

my daughter has stage IV breast cancer with metastasis to chest wall, liver, cervical spine, and lymph nodes under arm

Her latest scans show that the lymph nodes under her arm lit up active but have not grown since last scan

The doctors say she can opt to go back on chemo since right now she is on immunotherapy only (perjeta and herceptin) but if she does this now it takes the Taxol off the table for the next progression and since Taxol worked so well for her with minimal side affects they would like to save the option.

We are worried of the cancer spreading further and would like your thoughts

Thank you

vlnrph

I am sorry to learn that your daughter has such extensive metastatic disease. Perhaps you could post more of her background in the signature portion so we can better understand her history. That would assist us in offering intelligent comments. Is she ER/PR negative? Getting a second opinion might help clarify her options.

The other thing I wanted to say is that I like your Birch Bark screen name. I have a couple of clumps growing in my yard, one set against some evergreens for contrast. The Finns used to weave baskets and shoes out of it!

illimae

Is continuing on Herceptin and Perjeta and waiting for the next scans an MO approved option?

LoriCA

What illimae said.

Are her other mets stable or growing, and are they causing her any trouble? I have mets in the same places plus a few more so I understand what she - and you - are going through mentally. If the mets are stable and aren't causing trouble, I'd want to stay on H&P until progression. If they are growing or causing problems, truthfully I'd prefer to try Kadcyla (TDM-1) first, which is Herceptin plus a chemo, before going back to Taxol for a few reasons, especially if her other mets are responding to the H&P (some of mine respond well to H&P and some of mine just keep growing as if H&P is a fertilizer).

Kadcyla is the standard next line of treatment for HER2+ when there's progression. She may already be resistant to Taxol (which is what happened to me 2nd time around after it worked so well the first time), she wouldn't lose her hair on Kadcyla, Kadcyla doesn't have the neuropathy risk of Taxol, most women find it fairly easy to tolerate, and it would let her save Taxol to try again when she really needs it. Staying on Herceptin and adding Xeloda (oral chemo) is another alternative that wouldn't be as drastic as Taxol. Unless her mets are growing fast or causing her problems, I would hold off as long as possible before retrying Taxol. But that's just my personal feelings.