Cease of Perjeta due to febrile neutropenia

lazarber

Dear all,

I have a question regarding cease of Perjeta in neoadjuvant setting.

My mother got diagnoses with Her2 positive breast cancer.

She has received 4 cycles of AC chemotherapy, and recently has started neoadjuvant setting with Perjeta+Herceptin+Docetaxel.

First time she received the P+H+D therapy, after a couple of days, she suffered severe diarrhea, and developed fever, which doctors related to febrile neutropenia. She had to stay for about 2 weeks in the hospital due to this condition, and she got antibiotics in infusion.

Because of this condition, she received the second cycle 4 weeks later (instead on 3 weeks). Medical exams showed normal leukocyte levels at that time, and Ultrasound showed that her cancer has reduced a lot (21,5x13,5mm to 9x5.5mm). However, the doctors decided to continue with Herceptin+Docetaxel therapy (discontinued Perjeta), and explained that the decision on therapy change is due to the fact that she developed febrile neutropenia in the first Anti HER2 therapy cycle.

Could you please confirm whether such a decision is correct one, and that febrile neutropenia is the reason that Perjeta should be discontinued? (having in mind all the benefits it provides when administered with Herceptin).

Thank you in advance for your answer.

Best regards,

Lazar

Edited by Mods to remove personally identifiable information.

Moderators

Hi Lazar, and welcome to Breastcancer.org,

We're so very sorry to hear of your mother's diagnosis, but really glad you've found us. You're sure to find our Community an incredible source of information, advice, and support -- we're all here for you and your mom!

It's a little quiet around here on the weekends but we're sure someone will be by soon to weigh in with their thoughts and experiences. You may also want to try posting on the Herceptin/Perjeta thread, where others undergoing this treatment can share their thoughts.

Please keep us posted with how your mom is doing.

--The Mods