Don't know what to do

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NanaB516
NanaB516 Member Posts: 25
edited June 2014 in Second or Third Breast Cancer

Ater nearly 5 years of being cancer free, 3 months agomy cancer returned for a visit.  It is in my left pelvic area.  I had been on Arimidex and after metastasis my oncologist put me on Aromasin.  After 3 months and another PET scan which showed the liver and C3 vertebrae had lesions.  Dr took me off Aromasin.  Had a liver biopsy today to see if the cancer was HER2+, which the orginal breast cancer was.  Go to oncologist next week to get results.  Right now I losing confidence in my oncologist because she seems to be grasping for what treatment to do.  I am considering getting a second opinion but will wait until I know what her avenue of treatment will be.  The "newer" meds (Herceptin and Arimidex) didn't seem to do anything.  She is talking about an oral chemotherapy.  I guess I am wanting a more tried and proven chemo treatment - such as taxol or taxotere. 

 Any words of advice or encouragement would be welcomed. 

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  • heatherpalmerton
    heatherpalmerton Member Posts: 2,247
    edited March 2009

    Nana, I'm in the mist of seeing if femara is going to the trick. I will have scans April 20th.

    Taxotere was my first line of treatment. I did really well after they figured out I was allergic to it. It sure knock the cancer out. My last treatment was Nov 12th 2008. went on tamoxifin for 3 months, that did not work. so we did Ooph and tubalectomy. and started Femara. The nice thing is that there are alot of various treatments to try. If your her2+ I'm surprised your not on Herceptin.  There alot of ladies that have more knowledge than me I'm sure they will give you there advice. Also I am learning it's not a bad idea to get a second opinion. I hope that all is figured out and all will be good. Hug Heather

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  • Fitztwins
    Fitztwins Member Posts: 7,969
    edited March 2009

    Herceptin often works best with a chemo agent. Oncologists really don't know who will respond to much. I push and prod my guy all of the time. We make all of the decisions together. This time out I did taxotere and rads (rads first on the pelvis). Most of my cancer was knocked to the curb! at the next scan.

    I am on Hercepting/zometa/aramosin. On a holding pattern.

    You could try xeloda and tykerb. Don't give up hope on Herceptin, it just might need some help!

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  • NanaB516
    NanaB516 Member Posts: 25
    edited March 2009

    Fitztwins

    Thank you for the information.  I had Herceptin after my first treatments of chemo were finished.  However, my oncologist did not start me on the Herceptin until almost 3 months after I finished chemo.  I was on Herceptin for a year.  My oncologist then put me on Arimidex.  After the metastases in the bone I was on Aromasin for 3 months until the lesions showed up in the liver.  Prior to that I had rad on the bone tumor, which greatly diminished in size as did my pain.   think my oncologist will do the Herceptin if biopsy is HER2+.  She has also said something about oral chemo but for some reason I think I will feel better if I get the chemo through IV. 

    Your twins are beautiful!  I became a first time grandmother a little over 2 months ago.  She is what keeps me going!

     Again, thank you.  This is the first time I have joined a discussion group.  I am finding it very helpful.

    NanaB

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  • mrs_X_Sunneedazee
    mrs_X_Sunneedazee Member Posts: 541
    edited March 2009

    I am sorry that you have had your cancer coming back.  I am surprised that your onc didn't start you on anything stronger than the Aromasin.  Hindsight is 20/20.  I am doing an oral chemo right now called Xeloda.  I previously did Taxol, which worked for a while, then became ineffective as the cancer mutated.  The success rate of this oral chemo is not as high as the Taxanes.  What chemos did your originally do with your breast cancer ?  That is good that they did a biopsy of your liver to see if it is still her2+.  Welcome to the board, and if you have any questions, don't hesiate to ask!

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  • NanaB516
    NanaB516 Member Posts: 25
    edited April 2009

    Thanks for the information.

    I just got the results of my liver biopsy.  The cancer is HER2 - .  The dr. said my treatment would be Taxol, Avastin, and/or Abraxane.  I will be a part of a study where one arm gets one thing and the other gets something else or they alternate treatment.  Am not sure. Go for a brain scan before starting chemo and then begin chemo on Monday.  Apparently there are some issues of bleeding with the Avastin and she wants to get a baseline before starting treatment.

     Is it better to be HER 2+ or HER2-??

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  • ICanDoThis
    ICanDoThis Member Posts: 1,473
    edited April 2009

    It sorta depends, doesn't it?

    Her2 is usually a more aggressive cancer, so it's "better" to be negative, but

    it does mean that Her2- ladies don't have the Herceptin tool in their toolkit.

    If you are ER/PR+, the hormonals should be able to do a lot.

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  • ElaineD
    ElaineD Member Posts: 2,265
    edited April 2009

    Sorry to hear that you've got further problems, but rest assured that there are many treatments which you can try. Don't be too despondent about herceptin not working-it didn't work for me, and I'm HER2+! Like a few others I'm on xeloda(+tykerb)-likely the oral chemo that your onc has suggested. I believe it can be very succesful-think many of us initially feel that becasue it's oral, it might not work as well, but that doesn't really seem to be the case. Good luck with the treatment.

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